[nascaraddict]

I know that NA_CAR is all about the "Young Guns" of the sport now; but there are still alot of guys that used to have a ride that still have plenty of talent left. These guys haven't dried up and left the sport, the sport has just left them in most cases.

The are guys that maybe had an injury, or the teams have downsized. Or have even closed shop all togeather.

The names I have thought of are guys like Steve Park, Kenny and Steve Wallace, and YES even Jeremy Mayfield.

I just wonder what ya'll think of these guys. Or can think of any others.

[mike honcho]

Mayfield screwed himself.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

I know that NA_CAR is all about the "Young Guns" of the sport now; but there are still alot of guys that used to have a ride that still have plenty of talent left. These guys haven't dried up and left the sport, the sport has just left them in most cases.

The are guys that maybe had an injury, or the teams have downsized. Or have even closed shop all togeather.

The names I have thought of are guys like Steve Park, Kenny and Steve Wallace, and YES even Jeremy Mayfield.

I just wonder what ya'll think of these guys. Or can think of any others.

Steve Park was on a fast track until he got his brains scrambled.
Ditto Jerry Nadeu
Ditto Ricky Craven
I won't comment on Kenny but his brother Mike has shown a definite talent on multiple occasions, notably in the #12 Mobil Oil car for Penske.
Steve still hasn't show me much in Cup Lite. But his daddy wants him in Cup so he'll be there in a couple years.
As bob stated, Mayfield is his own worse enemy and he's screwed himself on multiple occasions. He needs to join the Greens, back in Kentucky.

Also missing from even mediocre Cup rides are Scott Wimmer, Scott Riggs, Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil. I would venture to say that any of these could equal or maybe even out perform the likes of Reed Sorenson or David Stremme.

[nascaraddict]

Call me Old School, but I'm just not that much of a fan of the "Umbilical Cord Still Attached" drivers, when there's good drivers out there looking for a ride.

[nascaraddict]

Mike Wallace should be added to the list too. And Todd Bodine.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

Call me Old School, but I'm just not that much of a fan of the "Umbilical Cord Still Attached" drivers, when there's good drivers out there looking for a ride.

It would seem every team owner is looking for the next Jeffie-Pooh. Either that or they're only interested in former big names who have only a name and a past champions provisional to hang their hats on. So, some very good, talented and capable drivers go wanting for a ride, or humble themselves and settle for a Gunselman-type ride which is usually in the race for the title of "First Out," whenever they manage to actually make a race.

Once upon a time, before France Jr./Hendrick/Roush conspired to ruin the sport, such drivers could always find a ride that was of at least a middle-of-the-pack quality, and the young up and comers could usually get into a car which was field filler or back-of-the-pack quality, where they could tag along, get a feel for the game and maybe earn some credibility.

Now we have mega teams who skim the cream of the drivers, potential drivers and the best sponsors. Leaving the rest to fight for the scraps, like Nemechek taking sponsorship from EnZyte. Can we even write EnZyte here? I know ♫♫♫♫♫♫ is verboten) He must be sooooo proud.

[WestCoast]

Any of the Drivers mentioned above have a ride waiting for them.
All they need to bring is a Helmet and SPONSORSHIP.

[Racer Duck]

First, I want to correct something: NASCAR is NOT just the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, it encompasses many series. So to infer that because a driver isn't driving in NASCAR because he/she's not in a Cup car is flat out wrong. All of the drivers mentioned above are currently driving in NASCAR (as far as I know), some even get a Cup ride every now and then. For instance Mike Wallace will be in Gunselman's car at Daytona this weekend, and Steve Park has been in 7 races to date in the Camping World West and East Series.

That said, I'd like to add Johnny Benson to the list of MIA's 'cause he truly doesn't have a NASCAR ride (last I knew.)

[wardfan]

Ward Burton

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

First, I want to correct something: NASCAR is NOT just the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, it encompasses many series. So to infer that because a driver isn't driving in NASCAR because he/she's not in a Cup car is flat out wrong. All of the drivers mentioned above are currently driving in NASCAR (as far as I know), some even get a Cup ride every now and then. For instance Mike Wallace will be in Gunselman's car at Daytona this weekend, and Steve Park has been in 7 races to date in the Camping World West and East Series.

That said, I'd like to add Johnny Benson to the list of MIA's 'cause he truly doesn't have a NASCAR ride (last I knew.)

Point taken, Duck. I immediately jumped on the Cup bandwagon and discounted Cup Lite and CTS. My bad.

I think Mike and Wimmer is in Cup Lite on a relatively active basis, but do Kvapil and Riggs have regular rides? Another name which comes to mind is Jack Sprague and I "think" Ted Musgrave is available, even at his age.

[kerribear17]

I don't watch the track or "lite" races and don't really follow them at all unless something big happens and the show it during the cup race. So yeah these guys were ok in cup at one time, but not you have the big conglomerate teams so you won't see the lesser drivers there. I did think Mayfield was alright at one time but that whole team now is split up. I blame it on the gigantor teams but then again I don't watch every week to see those lesser drivers race. I'm sure it's also hard to get a sponsor these days. What company wants to dump money they don't have into a race car that's probably gonna finish 25th every week and never get mentioned on tv.

[Labontefan15]

Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton are the ones that I would like to add

[saltysenior]

jimmy spencer.......nascur needs some excitement.......

[mike honcho]

Originally Posted by Labontefan15

Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton are the ones that I would like to add

Sterling has 5 starts in the Sprint Cup this year.So I really wouldn't say he is M.I.A.

[Nevadastars]

It's not all about being young. A guy like Mikey Waltrip can survive on his mouth alone, which has me in complete amazement.

Bob, as far as the "Enzyte" sponsor for Nemechek, remember Mark Martin in ♫♫♫♫♫♫ colors?

edit: LOL, I had no idea what those musical notes were in your post..............now I know.