Okay boys and girls, with less than two weeks til the Daytona 500, it's time to talk championships. NASCAR gave the media 35 drivers from which to pick our top 12. Each of of us ranked the drivers 35 to 1. This is a look at my ballot. We will start today with what I call the best of the rest, divers 35-13. Then over the next 12 days we will countdown who I think will make the chase, and I will revill my vote for champ on Sunday February 20, just before the green flag drops on the season.
THE BEST OF THE REST
35. Joe Nemecheck: I like Front Row Joe a lot. I really do. And I respect that he is just trying to race. Even as a start and park. He's starting and parking to make enough money to run a handful of full races. But he just doens't have the money or equipment to compete.
34. Michael McDowell: Another likely start and park. Talented guy, wont have a chance to compete. He has hooked on to run a number of Nationwide races for Joe Gibbs, so he might have a chance to get into a better ride next year.
33. JJ Yealy: I'm actually happy every time I see Yealy on the track. I love the underdog and I rooted for JJ the entire time he was at JGR. But he just doesnt have the stuff now.
32. Dave Blaney: He is a great driver, but he's been reduced to a start and parker. He is one of the better start and parks and will put it up front in qualifying a few times this year.
31. David Gilliand: Okay now we are getting into the guys that claim to try an run some races. Gilliand was once the hottest new star in NASCAR, and he is certainly the champion of more with less. But now he's with a team that still at times starts and parks.
30. Casey Mears: Confession time. For those who don't know me, Casey Mears was my first series favorite driver as a NASCAR fan. I can into the sport about the same time he did. And I still love the kid. I am thrilled to death that he has a full time ride. But Germain is still a newby on the cup scene. They are not ready to compete for a title.
29. Bobby Labonte: A former champion, and he's with a better team now. JTG Daurghty is legit. But he is on the downside of his career. Bobby can still race, but the competition is tough and fill with young talent on the upside of their's.
28. Paul Menard: Menard is a nice enough guy, but there are two reasons I feel the move to RCR is not going to work. First, RCR works better as a three team operation. They tried 4 before, it didn't work. Also, I'm just not that convinced that Menard is a good as the media has hyped him to be. But that's just me.
27. AJ Allmendinger: Is there a more charismaticdriver in the garage area? Maybe his teammate, but we will get to him in a minute. The Dinger can drive, but this is a rebuilding year for Richard Petty Motorsports.
26. Regan Smith: As far as I'm concerned this former Rookie of the Year already has his first cup win. I saw it with my own easy in Talleadega, even if NASCAR says Tony Stewart won that race. This is a kid that knows how to to more with less, and the Furniture Row team is coming into its own.
25. David Ragan: Ragan needs to win this season. But I'm not sure things will work out at Roush-Fenway for the kid. This season will be the test.
24. Brad Keselowski: This kid has been handed to the keys to the famous blue deuce. And he has a lot of talent. But he has to learn to harness it before he can be a true competitor.
23. Kasey Kahne: Kasey makes the move to Red Bull Racing this year, but it's just a one year arrangement. And as good as Kahne is, it's a tough situation to be in.
22. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Being in the best equipment is not always a recipe for success. Look at Jamie McMurray. He has has 5 time more success at Ganassi, then he ever had a Roush. Maybe it's time for Junior and Hendrick to admit that.
21. Mark Martin: See Kasey Kahne. With the kid breathin down his neck and a new crew chief, it's gonna be tough.
20. Marcos Ambrose: This is the year Marcos finally wins a race, my guess is Watkins Glenn. And although he has improved on the ovals, this will be a tough year all around for RPM.
19. Jeff Burton: I believe the addition of a 4th team will bring everyone at RCR down, and a the competition gets tougher, I dont see many chances to win races for Burton. He's consistent, but as tough as the cup scene is consistency is not enough.
18. Brian Vickers: I believe in this kid. I picked him to make the chase two years ago. But it will take him a while to get back in the grove after sitting out half of last season.
17. David Reutimann: He was a sexy pick to make the chase last season, and he could sneak in this season if he can win a race or two. But there just seams to be something missing at Michael Waltrip Racing.
16. Martin Truex, Jr: Which is why his teammate is right next to him on my ballot. Bith drivers are incredibley talented, but this is a tough crowd.
15. Juan Pablo Montoya: He's a good driver, but I am beginning to think that his run two years a go might be a fluke. Then again, I would be the least bit surprised if he made the chase.
14. Ryan Newman: Before there was Casey Mears, there was Ryan Newman for me. He was my first favorite driver. But they have got to find consistency, not just speed,if they want to make the chase. You have to finish the race.
13. Matt Kenseth: If I was Matt, I would feel like Rodney Dangerfield. It seems like every change to the chase is pointed at him. I think it's likely that he will finish well above the last two teams to make the chase, but because he did not win a race, be the first causality of the new format.
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On Wednesday, I will will start my countdown of the drivers I think will make the chase in 2011.
