What NASCAR Drivers Have to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

First of all I would like to extend a Happy Thanksgiving to all the people at Beyond the Flag and all of our loyal and increasing fan base. I would like to take this opportunity to examine what NASCAR drivers have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Gorgeous spouses and happy healthy children aside, this will be racing focused.

Kevin Harvick: He has a lot to be thankful for. Stewart-Haas Racing to start. After all of those years of futility at Richard Childress Racing, SHR rescued him, provided him a fast car all year long and a championship. Oh and a few crew changes through the year too.

Ryan Newman: Newman should be thankful for the new playoff format. Otherwise he would have been out of contention a long time ago. He fell one position short of a championship in a car that didn’t win a single race.

Denny Hamlin: See Ryan Newman, except he won a race. In a miserable year otherwise for Hamlin who did not start all the races, he made the Chase with a win and was a contender with 9 laps left in Homestead to win the race and the championship

Joey Logano: Penske Racing and the 22 team. Solid all year long. Very deserving to win the championship.

Brad Keselowski: Thankful he did not get his head knocked off by a multitude of champions of the sport. Gordon, Kenseth, Stewart to start. Throw in Hamlin, Newman, Kahne and well I am not sure he is going to get many Christmas cards in a couple of weeks. He also should be thankful of the cars given to him by the race shop week in week out. Wins leader for 2014.

Jeff Gordon: Alan Gustafson. Gustafson brought fast cars out every week for him and as a result had a resurgent year. Gordon had the passion and drive he did in the 1990’s.

Matt Kenseth: See Ryan Newman again. 0 wins and a shot to win the championship. Enduring a season winless, to be in position to win the big trophy at the end is all anyone can ask for.

Dale Earnhardt Jr: Steve Letarte. Those two finally clicked. Jr. had a multiple win season in forever and had Jr. Nation abuzz once again after years wallowing in self pity and hope.