The Spin Out Zone – Overrated Winston Cup Drivers Get Bumped

Hold on – here is the bump and the SPIN OUT!

Have you ever found yourself watching a NASCAR Winston Cup race and
questioning why you like a specific driver more than another? Whether you like
Ricky Craven for the person he is or because you use Tide everyday when doing
laundry, there is something special about the sport we know as NASCAR that
pull’s us towards cheering for a specific sponsor or driver.

I believe that when it comes to any one of the NASCAR series, fans are loyal
first to the driver and in return become loyal to the sponsor of their favorite
driver. I am sure Jimmy Spencer’s fans love shopping at Target, Jeff Burton’s
fans fill up at CITGO when all possible and Mark Martin’s fans, well you get my
drift. But after hearing FOX, NBC and the drivers themselves on several
occasions state that 43 of the world’s best race car drivers are on the track
each weekend racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, I started asking myself,
is this true?

As fans I think sometimes we can be blinded by fan loyalty to a driver. Let’s
face it, we may not want to admit it but the odds of some of our favorite
drivers winning a Winston Cup race are slim especially with today’s talent. I am
sure Hillary Clinton’s chances of becoming President are greater than some of MY
favorite drivers chances of becoming a Winston Cup Champion. But, we’ll always
cheer for the underdog!

It’s possible in NASCAR to have 3 or 4 favorite drivers and that’s one reason
why as fans I think it’s easy to accept "overrated" drivers in our
sport. Let’s justify this. Maybe they aren’t overrated, maybe they can’t win
because it’s the equipment or the crew chief or even the owner. RIGHT! Well,
maybe sometimes.

Some may think that I am being to harsh by using the word
"overrated", but when you look at the BIG picture, this is a
performance-based sport. Do you think Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart will
ever have a problem keeping a sponsor or find themselves without a ride? Maybe,
okay NO!

If you are sitting outside the Top 25 in points, with the exception of 6 or 7
driver’s that are having an "off" year, you have to be worried.
Worried about keeping your ride, worried about being labeled
"overrated". Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT saying these overrated
drivers are bad people. I’m a fan of a few! I am sure they are very nice and
great friends to many, but in today’s NASCAR, business is business. Sponsors are
demanding higher performance levels and we are no longer seeing a select few
with the opportunity to win each and every week. Any one of the drivers in the
Top 25 can win on any given weekend and to be honest that is why this year’s
points race is so tight.

Folks, sponsors realize this and if you’re riding around only collecting a
paycheck, you’ll soon be done. The names will start falling and back to the
Busch Series or Truck Series they’ll go. Unfortunately, fan loyalty can no
longer keep them in the Winston Cup Series.

Let’s do this. Clear your minds. Think happy thoughts! Now imagine you’re an
owner. In your mind, create a driver. No one in particular, just think of
building a winning team, you know blood, sweat, and tears type of building. You
begin the 20th race of the season and your driver has yet finished in the top 15
and they’re sitting 30th in points. Winnings are down, your questioning your
team’s efforts, sponsor is mad because they see no marketing value and your
driver has brought home a few wrecked cars along the way. How much longer can
you stay with him or her? NOT LONG.

If my Director of Marketing hat is on, I am sure the 2003 sponsorship
discussions are taking place. Rumors are already flying about Kenny Wallace and
Mike Wallace taking rides from "overrated" drivers. Is that fair to
call them "overrated?" If you agreed with the above scenario, then
they are not one of the 43 best race car drivers and are basically
"overrated." Replaceable, because who would replace one of the best?

I guess and it’s a hard pill to swallow, but if we set loyalty aside and put
the best competitors on the track each week, we would see an even higher level
of racing. Sure, I know someone must be 40th in points, but when rookie’s are
coming into Winston Cup and winning while several veteran’s spend year’s at this
level, convincing themselves that changing teams will bring them a win, but it
still doesn’t happen, something WILL need to change. The sponsors will demand
it, fan loyalty is secondary if that.

This weeks SPIN OUT goes to – Overrated Drivers! Engines break, tires blow
and you’ll even get bumped and SPUN, but if your going to race in the Winston
Cup Series and be one of the 43 best, you MUST finish in the top 15 every once
and a while!

Until next week, happy bumping!