Toyota's Most Disappointing Driver

[Tyyrus]

Welcome Lumberg 1 ...hope you Enjoy your visits here on the Forum . I agree 100% with your comments
on Poor Almendinger..Bro !


P.S. Ok ..KBF..whats the scoop on Meegan , I'll be the Heavy and ask the Tough Question ! Simple difference of Opinion on Creative Writing ?  I Hope her all the Best in her future endeavours !
 

[paulfan]

This is a tough one because you can make a case for all of them except Ruttiman.  Blaney did better in an unsupported Dodge than he is doing in the Toyota, but he has had some bad luck being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In an interview on XM the crew chief of Vickers car on the day before testing in Bristol said he had never laid eyes on their CoT.  He said "I guess I'll see it tomorrow".  What the hell is going on here?  Who is building Red Bull's cars and why hasn't the crew chief been hands on?

BOLD PREDICTION:  Bill Elliott will be in Almindingers car at race number 7.

[KurtBuschFan]

Tyyrus....all I know is that Meegan is no longer writing for the site.  I have no other information besides that.

[ChromeHorn]

I like bold predictions, Paul, and that is pretty bold. Even better, take David Green out of AJA's spotter stand and let him race the thing for a while. AJA needs more Busch and Truck experience NOW. Let the boy run full BGN/CTS campaigns and bring him back next season when he has a better understanding of the tracks and the cars.

I mean seriously, are these sponsors SO hung up on having a young, cool, pretty, 20-something wearing their cap that they are willing to not make races?!?! If you think about it, it's pretty messed up.

[HUDSON HORNET]

I like bold predictions, Paul, and that is pretty bold. Even better, take David Green out of AJA's spotter stand and let him race the thing for a while. AJA needs more Busch and Truck experience NOW. Let the boy run full BGN/CTS campaigns and bring him back next season when he has a better understanding of the tracks and the cars.

I mean seriously, are these sponsors SO hung up on having a young, cool, pretty, 20-something wearing their cap that they are willing to not make races?!?! If you think about it, it's pretty messed up.

I think you've hit the head right on the nail, C.H.
Anymore it seems to be all about a pretty face rather than a track record.
Hollyweird influence?
I think so.
But pretty doesn't bring home the bacon. It just sizzles in the pan. Much like a flash in the pan. Throw 'em in and burn 'em out. Or up.
Plenty more where they came from. Right?


Who'll be the...................
N E X T !! in line.   

[Tyyrus]

Well the 20 something pretty faced kid...finally got a car that could handle...even if it's only a  Bull Ring at Bristol , Almendinger has Qualified into the Crash Fest known best as flying a F-18 in an Gymnasium . Well if that was not a Pleasant Surprise for Red Bull , it must have been just as much a disappointment and surprise for Ginn Racing  , when Front Row Joe Nemechek missed his 1st Race in 5 Yrs. I'll have to put my Money on the #24 or #20 followed by either JJ or another Young Gun who is overdue Mr Kasey Kane..Eh ! 

P.S. Yeah KBF...I'll be Rootin for Kasey..he's a Great Young Talent and classy individual !

[KurtBuschFan]

Kasey Kahne needs a good run....he's gonna be in real trouble if he goes into the race at Martinsville outside the Top 35 in owners points.

[ChromeHorn]

Tyy: Kasey is still feeling his way around BMS.
KBF: Can't believe Joe missed The Show.
As for AJA...I stand by my earlier statement.

-- Matt T.

[Tyyrus]

Tyy: Kasey is still feeling his way around BMS.
KBF: Can't believe Joe missed The Show.
As for AJA...I stand by my earlier statement.

-- Matt T.

I concurr about A.J. wish it was in our or A.J. Almendingers hands and he would most probably not be in this frustrating situation..but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth ..just ask Danny O'Quin ! I still can't believe Roush let Danny down  ! As for Almendinger ..it was a great qualifying run and a superior save , on a dangerously loose car set up ..again ...Matt !  Well enjoy the Race everyone ...I know I sure as Hell won't be bored ! 

[Tommy T]

Tyyrus wrote "As for Almendinger ..it was a great qualifying run and a superior save , on a dangerously loose car set up..."

That really was a great qualifying run.  A.J. apparently understood his predicament.  He had to "go or go home" and he drove that car for all it was worth.  It was obvious that he had decided to make the race or wreck trying.

[F1RusH]

I`d go with `Dinger in this one. Although it`s not surprising with his lack of background in stock cars. It`s just that new hot shoes are expected to excel much quicker.

[FS Becca]

Michael Waltrip, because he is the standard bearer for Toyota in Cup, yet he is the lowest ranking of all 7 drivers including the rookie Allmendinger.  He started the year and Toyota's Cup debut on a very sour note with the cheating scandal and even his fans are concerned about the amount of time he spends on TV commercials and truck race broadcasts and Inside Nextel Cup - and now he is starting his own radio program! 

I think it's time for MW to cut out all extranneous activities and concentrate on his race cars.  JMHO though       

Becca

[Tyyrus]

Michael Waltrip, because he is the standard bearer for Toyota in Cup, yet he is the lowest ranking of all 7 drivers including the rookie Allmendinger.  He started the year and Toyota's Cup debut on a very sour note with the cheating scandal and even his fans are concerned about the amount of time he spends on TV commercials and truck race broadcasts and Inside Nextel Cup - and now he is starting his own radio program! 

I think it's time for MW to cut out all extranneous activities and concentrate on his race cars.  JMHO though       

Becca

Why cut back ? It's just been Reported that Toyota has finished the 1st of their Officially Toyota 1-1\2 Mile Cookie Cutter Cars for MWR . So Mike don't sweat the Cars or xtra setup time Toyota will watch your back while you and the Boy's go and Play 18 Holes at Pebble Beach ! 

[Checkeredflag]

So many drivers, and I have to pick just one??? 

It's easier to say who hasn't been a disappointment.  While Brian Vickers has only made 3 races, he has 2 finishes of 15th or better, and got wrecked in Atlanta while doing just fine.  So, in some ways, his success hurts the rest of them, because it's not the engines, and it's not the cars.

David Reutimann has done OK as a rookie, especially considering the trainwreck MWR is appearing to be.  He's fast, which is more than anyone can say for his teammates.

AJ Allmendinger gets and Incomplete, because of his total lack of experience.

Jeremy Mayfield has been a disappointment, but no more so than his team, who has shot themselves in the foot preparing cars for qualifying.  It looks like a combined effort there to self-destruct.

Dave Blaney has been a disappointment, because he is the only driver who has been with the same team for a couple of years now, and the only driver who was locked in to the field for the first 5 races.  And, yet, he's done so poorly that he is now outside the Top 35 and has to race his way in for the foreseeable future.  Since he's been fast at the start of every race, he has no excuse, other than lack of performance, with a little bad luck thrown in.  Daytona was 100% his fault.  The rest of the races, he didn't do anything spectacular, so I don't remember. LOL

DJ - I respect the fact that the man won a championship, but I think his best days are behind him.  When all he can muster in every single race is a "last undamaged car running" finish, that's not good.  Especially when Brian Vickers can get those cars to the front.

Mikey - Not much to say.  At least Mayfield and Allmendinger made Bristol, and came out with more points than Mikey has.