2016 NASCAR thread

A lot of people picked him as the cup winner this year. He is definitely a different driver since switching to JGR. Still can't get over that finish, so good. I know for a fact Carl would've dumped anyone else if he didn't feel like they earned that spot.

 

I'm not a harvick fan, but he earned that win. Especially with how off his car was.

 

so his family had money and he sold everything for a chance, and took it?.... how does a poor guy get into racing? hell I wouldn't care late model, k&n ARCA or wheelen...

 

Joey was in a JGR car...with less than spectacular results. I think he's a pretty good driver that's matured somewhat, and is now with a team where things have clicked. It's all about the chemistry.

 

kenseth has done better in the #20....

 

That's a fact. I've been a Joe Gibbs fan for a long time...mostly because I'm a Pontiac fan and they were a Pontiac team. I had no trouble remaining a fan when they went to Toyota. Wasn't a Kenseth fan when he was with Roush, but basically it was because I was not much of a Roush fan. He (Kenseth) is a pretty good driver. I don't know anything about his personal life, but in most of the interviews he's pretty funny. I was impressed with how competitive he was right off the bat in the 20 car.

 

these TRD motors are nuts they got...

 

I don't know if I'd call winning rookie of the year 'less than stellar'.

 

Yeah but he was only competing against Scott Speed and Max Papis. Not even sure Max had a full time ride at the beginning of the year.

 

Don't forget when Joey was in the 20, the whole JGR and TRD groups were running poorly and having engine issues.

 

been there done that. Matt

 

Good luck, can't get into any of those series without some serious cash to back you, hell even your local races most everyone is losing money in it.

 

JGR fanboys all up in here

 

Being rookie of the year in NASCAR is kind of interesting. I did a little research and found that in the last 30 years only 6 drivers that have been named rookie of the year have gone on to win a Winston Cup or Sprint Cup championship. Alan Kulwicki, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.

In that same 30 years, 4 drivers who were not rookie of the year have won championships..Dale Jarrett, beaten out for the rookie award by Davey Allison, Kurt Busch, beaten by Kevin Harvick, Jimmy Johnson, beaten by Ryan Newman, And Bobby Labonte, beaten by Jeff Gordon.

Prominent winners on today's circuit that won the rookie award are Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano.

Since Hamlin won in 06, we've had such well-known (or, not so well-known) winners as Juan Pablo Montoya, Regan Smith, the aforementioned Logano, Kevin Conway, Andy Lally, Stephen Leicht, Ricky Stenhouse, Kyle Larson and Brett Moffitt.

So, being named rookie of the year is kind of a mixed bag. Doesn't just, but also doesn't guarantee success.

 

When Chase Elliott or Ryan Blaney wins the rookie award this year, they will add to that list of championships won by RoY

 

Yeah, but where can u get the shit and race?

 

I remember when folks said the same thing about Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

 

He never won RoY though. He's still top 28 all time winner, so I think he panned out all right.

 

Matt Kenseth won both

 

Has anybody ever won xfinity/sprint cups championships back to back as rookies? Or is that even possible with rules and such?