The next first time winner in NASCAR
As a kid watching the races with my father, I remember that we always enjoyed watching a driver win for the first time. Unless it was Dale Earnhardt or Bill Elliott battling for the win, we would always root for the guy who was searching for his first victory. I was only seven years old, but I remember Kyle Petty’s first win at Richmond in 1986. It was the first time I had seen a driver win their first race. I also remember Rusty Wallace’s first win at Bristol, as well as Davey Allison’s at his home track in Talladega.
It was cool to watch Dale Jarrett edge out Allison for his first win. Sterling Marlin’s first win at Daytona came after a decade of near misses. Watching eventual champions such as Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart winning for the first time was memorable as well.
Even more memorable were the underdogs winning their first races, such as Brett Bodine in 1988, or Ward Burton in 1995, or John Andretti in 1997, or even Joe Nemechek in 1999.
The 2007 season was the year of the first time winner in NASCAR’s highest level of competition as Martin Truex Jr, Juan Pablo Montoya, Casey Mears, and Clint Bowyer all won for the first time. However, we had no first time winners in 2008. In fact, prior to 2008, the last time there were no first time winners in a season was in 2004.
Other than 2004 and 2008, first time winners have been abundant throughout the decade of the 2000’s. In 2000, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Matt Kenseth, Steve Park, and Jerry Nadeau all won for the first time.
In 2001, three of the first six races consisted of first time winners. Overall, their were five first time winners including Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Craven, and Robby Gordon. A year later, five more first time winners graced victory lane as Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, and Johnny Benson tasted sweet victory for the first time.
In 2003, Greg Biffle was the lone first time winner, and in 2004, most of the perennial race-winning contenders had already won.
The 2005 season marked the return of the victory lane newbies. Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Busch all celebrated their first victory. In 2006, Denny Hamlin and Brian Vickers won for the first time.
In 2009, the list of non-winners is fairly impressive. Prior to the start of the season, David Ragan was the leading driver on the list of future winners. However, that has changes since the start of the season. Here are the ten top prospects fighting to win their first Sprint Cup race in 2009.
1. David Reutimman- Michael Waltrip Racing
Reutimann finished fourth at Las Vegas, and he has consistently been a top ten contender throughout the season. Other than the road courses, he is solid at all types of tracks. He is not a twenty–something driver like some of the other prospects, but I would expect Reutimann to win his first race at some point during the season. His 2009 season reminds me of Clint Bowyer in 2007. Bowyer became the Cinderella story of the season.
2. David Ragan- Roush Fenway Racing
David Ragan is in top-notch equipment, and if he can free himself from some of the misfortune that has trailed him in 2009, he might finally score his first win. Ragan lacks the consistency that Reutimann has, but do not be surprised if he earns his first win of his career in the near future, probably at an intermediate track.
3. A.J. Allmendinger- Richard Petty Motorsports
Allmendinger is one of NASCAR’s top young prospects, and is taking advantage of the golden opportunity that Richard Petty Motorsports has provided him after he was unceremoniously dumped by Red Bull Racing last year. He vastly improved over the last year or so, and he will win a race at this level, though it may not be this year.
4. Marcos Ambrose- JTG Daugherty Racing/Michael Waltrip Racing
The Australian native could win a race when the series races at the road courses of Infineon and Watkins Glen this summer. He is a true road ringer, but he is rapidly improving on the ovals, as he proved at Bristol.
5. Joey Logano- Joe Gibbs Racing
Logano was probably right behind Ragan on the list of potential first time winners. However, a trying start to his rookie season has validated the fact the he was unprepared for NASCAR’s upper echelon. Still, you have to keep in mind that he is in better equipment than all non-winners, with perhaps the exception of Ragan, so if his team finds a magic setup at one of the intermediate tracks, Logano could emerge as a surprise winner.
6. David Stremme- Penske Racing
Stremme is another driver that could surface as a threat to win. He has produced some respectable performances thus far in 2009. He should continue to display improvement throughout the season. He makes far less mistakes than he did in his first tenure in Sprint Cup with Chip Ganassi Racing.
7. Paul Menard- Yates Racing
Menard was running in the top ten at Las Vegas when he wrecked with less than 20 laps to go. He also spent the majority of the race at Texas in the top fifteen. He is finally beginning to show some potential.
8. Scott Speed- Red Bull Racing
Speed’s best shot at winning could be at one of the road courses. Other than that, he is performing at the same level as all other open wheel transfers with the exception of Juan Pablo Montoya.
9. Sam Hornish Jr- Penske Racing
Hornish Jr is improving but he still has car control issues.
10. Reed Sorenson- Richard Petty Motorsports
He is a perfect example of a young driver who was rushed into the Cup series. Sorenson could have used another year or two in the Nationwide Series. Now, he seems to have lost his all of his confidence.
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The next first time winner in NASCAR
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