2008 NASCAR running thread

So, since we're talkiing NASCAR here, how soon does Toyota win a race? At the end of last year I was saying second Pocono. Now I'm starting to think before the end of April.

 

Yee-haw!

 

Based on the speeds from Daytona, I think the 500 is a possibility.

 

A scary thought, but yeah. And the Dodges were fast at Vegas. Could be a wild year (hoping). Or another Hendrick romp (likely).

 

And I don't know that Junior is really overrated. The fans love him to distraction, but I don't think any writers have ever painted him as the second coming. And it's not like he's a slouch with 17 wins and 11 of those at four of NASCAR's most-hallowed tracks. And at 33 years old and in Hendrick equipment ...

 

I do not believe in NASCAR conspiracy theories (you know the list), but I would be willing to bet a Toyota DOES NOT win at Talladega. Actually, I bet Junior does.

 

I'm thinking Tony Stewart finally wins the big one.

 

The print media definitely hasn't treated him that way, but the same can't be said about TV or Internet. Yes he's won some races (some big ones too) and he's been a contendor occassionally, but I just don't see all the talent I keep hearing people talk about. He's good. That's the limit I'll put on him. Sometimes you'd think Gordon and Johnson were the ones chasing him instead of the way it really is.

 

I'll even say he's very good, but not great, absolutely not.

 

I think we're about to find out. I don't know him to have an opinion on what motivates him, but I do believe he has as much raw talent as about anyone I've seen over the years. But part of the equation is equipment, and at this stage of his career he's either been in mostly inferior equipment or he's too hard on the equipment he's got. THAT'S what we're finally about to learn.

 

Junior said on the media tour that when the next "Top 50" drivers list comes out, he wants to be on it. He said he's proven himself to be a good driver, but not a great one. He knows this is his last chance to do that.

The kid's not delusional. (I call him kid even though he's got like two years on me)