Maxx40....

[RedElephants]

Been around tailgaters my entire life that loved NASCAR but this year, literally is the 1st year where I can say...I'm hooked and love this sport now. Will be in Atlanta on the 5th for Alabama-Virginia Tech, and on the 6th in Atlanta for my 1st NASCAR race.....a night one at that.

My question is......who are the strong short track guys? I know Jeff Gordon is, and I followed enough to know that Rusty Wallace was one of the best at it.....but help me out here if you can.

TIA!

 

[hawk5]

Tony Stewart, Hamlin, the Busch boys.

 

[Maxx40]

This is a sport that you either love or hate, you either get it or you don't (its just not about going around in circles) and I'm glad it won you over...I've been around it and sometimes involved with it since I was a kid growing up in Darlington, love it and always have

I'm sure you'll have a great time at Atlanta, I just have this thing about Labor Day weekend and won't be happy about it until they give that date back to us at Darlington

As far as your question, there are definitely some guys that stand out on short tracks. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch are no-brainers but guys that are a little more off the radar are Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Dale Jr., and a bigger long shot is Marcos Ambrose.
If you look more specifically at Bristol you got to include Carl Edwards(2 time winner) and his teammates Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.

Hadn't really dug into it yet but off the top of my head I know I like Gordon, Stewart and Hamlin with Edwards, Harvick and Dale Jr three I know I will consider. Montoya and Ambrose as longshots and maybe two to be considered in match-ups if I can get any value.

Hope this helps.

 

[hawk5]

Great job maxx, I haven't considered Montoya or Ambrose but the way they drive and as good as they are becoming I'm giving them a hard look this weekend. Edwards had something figured out last year that nobody else had. Nascar took a little bit of it away when they outlawed that crazy looking crab car he drove so well. Edwards needs to be in this group but this year hasn't gone his way. Harvicks good here but has inferior equipment. Jr is running better and has nothing to lose....maybe. Anyway don't mean to jump anybody's threads, just love NASCAR. Good Luck to ya both.

 

[hawk5]

One more that needs to be looked at is M Martin. Just need to go look as his history here.

 

[Maxx40]

hawk...montoya and ambrose have done very well this year on short tracks.

JPM was 10th at Richmond, 12th at Martinsville and 9th at Bristol and he will continue to improve everytime he goes back to each track(all tracks) this guy is a world class talent and he is just now getting comfortable in these cars...have said since Daytona that I think he would make the chase (and still believe he will) and next year seriously challenge for more wins and the championship.

Ambrose has really surprised a lot of people, don't think too many realized he was this good. Just talking short tracks, this year he was 11th at Richmond, 14th at Martinsville and 10th at Bristol so I am hoping he will be undervalued somewhat when the lines come out

My thinking on Edwards (and Roush overall) is that he will hit his stride sometime before the end of the year. Has come on since Charlotte but not as strong as they are capable of. He is someone to keep an eye on at Chase time.

Dale Jr., even this year, has been decent on this type track (14th at Bristol and 8th at Martinsville) and he has shown signs of life lately. I think the chemistry between him and Lance McGrew is starting to pop.

Same with Harvick and RCR. Showing signs of getting their act together. The combined 3 teams have had 5 Top 10's the past 5 races...they only had 5 combined in the 10 races before that. I really don't think they have inferior equipment but something has been going wrong behind the scenes at RCR..hopefully they are starting to right the ship.

 

[hawk5]

Been digging around a bit and think taking Harvick at +2000 is worth the risk. That's just too big of a number to pass up.

 

[RedElephants]

Thanks guys. Appreciate all of the info.......believe it or not its the strategies of this sport that really got me hooked........road course driving strategy, fuel races...weather strategies in pitting (ie Logano), team strategies.

I went from watching the beginning and end of races for wrecks to not caring if they wreck at all. I guess thats when you know you're hooked.

But I'm not a true fan yet......I'm still searching for that one driver to pull for!