Driver of the Year?

[FS_Amy]

But what about all the times HMS cheated Smyler? Can you forgive Jeff and Jimmy?

A couple of points there-one, HMS has been caught a few times, but only once has the 48 been penalized after a race, several years ago for being to low.  The penalties were appealed and the penalty reduced due to the strong possibility that a part failure caused the car to be low.  That was the onlt time the 48 has been busted AFTER a race.  The other stuff was all found before the car ever raced.  IMO, there is a big difference between trying to get something new through inspection (not once did they have an illegal part on the car, just a different use of the legal ones) and gaining an illegal advantage during a race. Does that make it right-no-but the fact remains that the 99 was caught after a race with something that gave thema  distinct advantage.

Also, people like to come down on Chad Knaus for his um, "creative engineering."  That's fine, because cheating is wrong, but I have to say I AM curious as to who Todd Berrier isn't brought up in the same breath as an even bigger cheater-because he is.  He has been caught as many times as Knaus over the last five or six years.  One MORE time, in fact, if memory serves, and many of his cheats were blatant-remember the rig so it looked like the car was full of fuel when it was nearly empty so it could be run lighter during qualifying-a distinct competitive advantage and using parts that were complertely illegal to boot.  Or that time when they had holes in the fuel cell compartment to suck air into the trunk area and improve rear downforce.  IMO, that's much more blatant than having a fender that fit the templates but NASCAR didn't like the look of.  So, why isn't Berrier brought up in conversations about who cheats?  I've always wondered that-his cheats were blatant.  Is it because Harvick doesn't win as much as Johnson does?  I'm genuinely curious.

Now, as for driver of the year, I begrudgingly have to vote for Carl Edwards, because he had slightly better numbers than Johnson.  I really don't take into account the wins either Carl or Kyle had in the NAtionwide Series because frankly, that's like Manny Ramirez hitting homeruns in a little league game-sure, they're numbers, but they were basically bought, or gained in a manner that shouldn't even be allowed, whichever way you want to look at it.   I'm not impressed at all with their NNS numbers-frankly, they should be embarrassed to take advantage of a lower series like they did.  So given that Kyle Busch choked down the stretch like the 2004 Yankees in the ALCS, I'd give an edge to Edwards, though you have to admire Johnson for coming from SO far behind in spring to come back and win.

[SMOKEN14]

HMMM if my Memory serves me right Didn't Chad get a six week suspension for Cheating by trying to use a Hose clamp around the Wedge Adjuster bolt lifting the window up for better Aerodynamics ?

[FS_Amy]

HMMM if my Memory serves me right Didn't Chad get a six week suspension for Cheating by trying to use a Hose clamp around the Wedge Adjuster bolt lifting the window up for better Aerodynamics ?

He did, at Daytona a couple of years back, in qualifying.  Their time was tossed as it should have been.  I don't remember what they used, but they were legal parts; NASCAR didn't like the way in which they were used.

[20forLogano]

The amazing thing about Kyle Busch is the fact that he won a lot of races in all 3 series.  The crazy thing is that before he went on his winless streak the guy led a lap in pretty much every single race.  It amazed me how dominate he was and the awesome thing is that he won races on short tracks, intermediate, superspeedways and both road courses.  That my friends........is amazing!!  What is MORE amazing is how he went from dominating races to lucky to be in the top 5.  I would've never believed anyone if they would have told me he was going to finish the chase in 10th and his last win would be at The Glen.  What the heck happened??  Cousin Concrete Carl impressed me so much with his drive in both series.  JJ is awesome, but just at the end when it mattered, which is what wins the Chase.  Three Championships in a row is simply amazing. 

And the fact Kyle won several races with different teams and CC'S in Nationwide says a lot. 

[FS_Amy]

I'm just not impressed with Carl and Kyle's Nationwide wins.  I mean, I could go ride against beginners and green horses in classes way below my level and win a lot of blue ribbons, but I don't see how they would be very impressive.  In fact, I'd probably be embarrassed that I did that.  I'm really anything BUT impressed with the Cup guys raunning against actual development drivers and career NNS drivers with twice as much money and then being proud of beating those real NNS teams and development drivers. 

[Chris]

I'm just not impressed with Carl and Kyle's Nationwide wins.  I mean, I could go ride against beginners and green horses in classes way below my level and win a lot of blue ribbons, but I don't see how they would be very impressive.  In fact, I'd probably be embarrassed that I did that.  I'm really anything BUT impressed with the Cup guys raunning against actual development drivers and career NNS drivers with twice as much money and then being proud of beating those real NNS teams and development drivers. 

LOL@ AMy
I think you fail to mention that in MOST NNS fields there are about 20 - 25 CUP regulars...
SO it's not like Kyle or Carl were the ONLY CUP guys in the field running against a bunch of lower level guys... 

[FS_Amy]

LOL@ AMy
I think you fail to mention that in MOST NNS fields there are about 20 - 25 CUP regulars...
SO it's not like Kyle or Carl were the ONLY CUP guys in the field running against a bunch of lower level guys... 

True-I wasn't overly impressed with Bowyer winning the championship either.  But none of those other guys are having those wins held up as to why they should be driver of the year.

[Chris]

yeah.. I see your point..
I voted for Busch...
IMO I just thought he was impressive because he won in all three series,.. GOTTA admit BIG difference between driving the CTS, NNS, and CUP cars... I though he did a good job also winning for two different teams in the NNS... tough to get on the same page part time with ONE team.. let alone two.  You been around some Amy... You know thats a pretty impressive thing to do..

[20forLogano]

It's still impressive win playing musical cars and CC'S regardless but I AGREE 100% with Amy, I wish no Cup guys would run Nationwide and it truly would be a developmental series.  Then again these cup guys get the sponsors and help promote tv ratings so I understand why they are there. 

[Chris]

It's still impressive win playing musical cars and CC'S regardless but I AGREE 100% with Amy, I wish no Cup guys would run Nationwide and it truly would be a developmental series.  Then again these cup guys get the sponsors and help promote tv ratings so I understand why they are there. 

Oh I been around a long time... I remember when the NNS "was" a developmental series.  Granted the competition was pretty sorry, and the races weren't that good... but thats how the CUP guys worked their way up threw the ranks.
The NNS used to be like the ARCA series is now.  The Drivers with the most MONEY and the best backing and equipment won the most races, and championships by and large.
The ARCA series has gotten to that points now.  Thats why the drivers that run up from and contended for the championship in '08 were up where they were.  They had the "cubic dollars" behind them to put them up there... maybe not the talent.