[simple simon]

some drivers apparently just dont know when to say when .... who needs to walk away from the sport and enjoy retirement ?

Bill Elliot - Kyle Petty - Ken Schrader

there's a few to get the talk started

just hang it up already .... youre making damn fools of yourselves out there

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by simple simon

some drivers apparently just dont know when to say when .... who needs to walk away from the sport and enjoy retirement ?

Bill Elliot - Kyle Petty - Ken Schrader

there's a few to get the talk started

just hang it up already .... youre making damn fools of yourselves out there

Ken Schrader won't do it. He races just about anythin still. Kyle I believe won't do it mainly because of the Victory Junction Camp. His ride keeps attention towards that. Awesome Bill does need to just go. He needs to kick back and enjoy the good life.

[NASCAR Gnome]

It's already evident that the older drivers are being phased out.

In Bill Elliot's case though, he has a past champion's provision so if need be, he has up to six chances for the car he drives to make the race. I think his value as a past champion makes a huge difference for a race team from a strategic standpoint and perhaps they have made it well worth his effort to stick around.

It's surprising how in these types of discussions, no one seems to mention Mark Martin. Why? Because he's competitive. We can discuss who should go and stay all we want to but regardless of age, I believe the bottom line is it's not so much age but ability.

And it doesn't hurt if you are a past Champion. Just ask Terry Labonte!

[clutch]

Originally Posted by simple simon

some drivers apparently just dont know when to say when .... who needs to walk away from the sport and enjoy retirement ?

Bill Elliot - Kyle Petty - Ken Schrader

there's a few to get the talk started

just hang it up already .... youre making damn fools of yourselves out there

While Kenny may never have shone as bright as some of the stars in the top series............he has their respect, and they each know that racing identical machines against Kenny a race is gonna be on!!....and I mean even today

this weekend he gets a good car to try and qualify so this will be interesting and I wish him well

[jks812]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

It's already evident that the older drivers are being phased out.

In Bill Elliot's case though, he has a past champion's provision so if need be, he has up to six chances for the car he drives to make the race. I think his value as a past champion makes a huge difference for a race team from a strategic standpoint and perhaps they have made it well worth his effort to stick around.

It's surprising how in these types of discussions, no one seems to mention Mark Martin. Why? Because he's competitive. We can discuss who should go and stay all we want to but regardless of age, I believe the bottom line is it's not so much age but ability.

And it doesn't hurt if you are a past Champion. Just ask Terry Labonte!

I agree, it's not so much the age but their ability. Martin has proven he can still be competitive. The others, Kyle, Bill, and Schrader, have proven they can't be. Even Terry can't be competitive enough lately. A past champ provisional may be good, to a point, but I think they shouldn't be able to use one forever. I say 5-10 years should be the cut off.

[Phils20]

I would say Michael Waltrip needs to walk away, but since he owns his own team, we're stuck with him for a long time.

I agree with Petty, Elliot, and Schrader.

It's just enough. I'm starting to feel as though these teams need to announce who is driving where at the start of the season, and that we need to either do away with the past champions provosional, or that we need to lay down a rule that they can only drive for one team per year.

I would rather see some young drivers getting a chance than to see all these retired drivers like "Awesome Bill" or Terry Labonte driving.

These guys are just turning laps and getting paid, and it's time to end this farce.

Just my 2 cents!

[WestCoast]

This may be for another topic, but what gets me is guys like Morgan Shepherd and Derrick Cope, who just do one or two laps, get paid and go home.
That is a blatant abuse of the rules and should be discouraged.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

This may be for another topic, but what gets me is guys like Morgan Shepherd and Derrick Cope, who just do one or two laps, get paid and go home.
That is a blatant abuse of the rules and should be discouraged.

I agree 100%

BTW, love the Avatar! Classic!

Bill Elliott, just 4 years ago was winning races and finishung in the top 10 in points. (he came from 43 to 1st at the Rock and won, also would have won Homestaed if it had not been for a flat on the last corner of the last lap)
He can still race a car. Look at what he is driving.........WOOD BROS. FLAT OUT SUCK!!!!!!!!!!! You put him in Mark Martins ride or any other competitive ride and he wins races and finishes in the top 10. I will guarantee that.

[Havax]

all i can say is stanton barret....that guy still shows up but hes almost 100 so....

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Bill Elliott, just 4 years ago was winning races and finishung in the top 10 in points. (he came from 43 to 1st at the Rock and won, also would have won Homestaed if it had not been for a flat on the last corner of the last lap)
He can still race a car. Look at what he is driving.........WOOD BROS. FLAT OUT SUCK!!!!!!!!!!! You put him in Mark Martins ride or any other competitive ride and he wins races and finishes in the top 10. I will guarantee that.

Your appreciation of Bill Elliott is visible and admirable and probably well deserved but ...... at age 52 I believe his glory days are now well behind him. In his last 15 years he has 5 wins, none of which came in the last 5 years of driving part time. Many other drivers are also able to say had it not been for a problem on the last lap they would have had the winning car. Sometimes true, sometimes not.

My opinion is that Awesome Bill was Awesome Bill .... but no more.

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Your appreciation of Bill Elliott is visible and admirable and probably well deserved but ...... at age 52 I believe his glory days are now well behind him. In his last 15 years he has 5 wins, none of which came in the last 5 years of driving part time. Many other drivers are also able to say had it not been for a problem on the last lap they would have had the winning car. Sometimes true, sometimes not.

My opinion is that Awesome Bill was Awesome Bill .... but no more.

Like I said Bill could still win on this circuit, I am 100 sure of that but he is helping the Woods. and the Woods stink. And he won when he had good equipment when he was driving for himself he never won but finished in top 10 in point several times.

You will get your wishes anyway Bill has said that this will be his last year and NASCAR has not said anything about him all year, they always hated on Bill. He gets no love at all.

[3fanforever]

All this talk of older drivers walking away makes me think of what Ned Jarrett did when he retired as champion at the age of 34.
Instead of fading away, he left while he was at his peak...

"One thing I promised myself is that I would retire while I was at the top. I didn't want to go out while on my way down. It was a tough decision to make," said Jarrett.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Havax

all i can say is stanton barret....that guy still shows up but hes almost 100 so....

Well, he is in his mid-30's... so he's almost 100
Man, when is the last time this guy qualified? Seems like it has been 3 or so years.