Moving on from Montoya
So where do I go now? What criteria do I use to find a new driver? I have no affinity to the number 42 my loyalty was to JPM. My starting point is usually someone from Britain, well that’s out (although there is a Union Jack on Marcos Ambrose’s flag) and there’s no indication that will change anytime soon. I’ve not been brought up on NASCAR so there’s no family support for a particular driver or number. I haven’t emotionally invested in any young and upcoming driver so supporting someone like Austin Dillon is out. That takes me back to the good old underdog. Sure there are a lot of drivers who run near the back and occasionally pick up a win, David Ragan at Talladega for example but there’s nothing that particularly pulls me to him, nothing gets my heart racing when I hear his name (that is not a slight on Ragan, I’m sure he’s a great bloke and good racer) and I at least like my underdogs to have a fighting chance at a win.
Aug 10, 2013; Watkins Glen, NY, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Sprint Cup Series driver Brian Vickers (55) during qualifying for the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
So what about Ambrose I hear you say, he’s not from your traditional NASCAR background, is certainly an underdog at most races but can put in good results and seems a really nice guy. The problem there is I’ve spent the last few years not wanting him to win on road courses as of course I wanted JPM to get the job done that I feel it would be hypocritical for me to now change my support. There in fact two drivers that I am leaning towards, Kurt Busch and Brian Vickers.
Vickers really has been an underdog story, working hard at Red Bull dragging the team into the Chase and looking to be on the rise. Only to be struck down with blood clots forcing him to miss most of the 2010 season. A year later his team would get disbanded and he was back at square one, looking for a drive. Only now after working hard racing where ever he could and racing in NNS is he finally back in the Sprint Cup full-time. Kurt Busch of course has been at the top of sport but nearly lost it all due to his anger issues and himself has been fighting his way back up. In the last couple of seasons has been your stereotypical underdog in a small one car team that has been able to mix it with ‘big boys’ and looks to be in a great position to make the Chase this year. Of course he also has the added advantage that he acknowledged an article I did on him earlier in the year so immediately went up in my estimation!
Jul 12, 2013; Loudon, NH, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (78) during practice for the Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
It’s a tough choice, where does my loyalty, my money, my reason for watching NASCAR go? I probably wont know the answer until the 2014 season gets under way and I naturally find myself rooting for one or the other. Of course I hope JPM stays in NASCAR but I have to prepare myself that his may not happen and I’ll have to move on. These decisions will have to be made by all NASCAR fans at one time or another, when Jeff Gordon hangs his helmet up where are his millions of 24 fans going to move too? So ask yourselves what would you do when your driver calls time on his NASCAR career and how would you move on?