the Big Ten: Top Drivers Not Locked Into All-Star Race
With NASCAR’s annual All-Star Race quickly approaching this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, I thought it would only be fitting to compile the top-ten drivers in the Sprint Cup Series that are not already locked into the race itself. For those of you that might be unfamiliar with the structure of the race, drivers & car owners that have won a race either this year or last year are automatically locked into the field, as are past champions from with the last ten years and former winners of the All-Star race itself. Then, fans are allowed to vote an additional driver into the field, and then the top-two finishers in the All-Star Showdown will also make it into the race.
10. Joe Nemecheck - 37th in points - 4 career wins / last win in 2004
9. Dave Blaney - 35th in points - 0 career wins
8. Michael Waltrip - 32nd in points - 4 career wins / last win in 2003
7. Robby Gordon - 30th in points - 3 career wins / last win in 2003
6. David Gilliland - 21st in points - 0 career wins
5. Brian Vickers - 17th in points - 1 career win / last win in 2006
4. Travis Kvapil - 18th in points - 0 career wins
3. Elliott Sadler - 28th in points - 3 career wins / last win in 2004
2. David Ragan - 12th in points - 0 career wins
1. Kasey Kahne - 14th in points - 7 career wins / last win in 2006
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POSTED IN: List of the Week, NASCAR
8 opinions for the Big Ten: Top Drivers Not Locked Into All-Star Race
Don
May 12, 2008 at 11:53 am
I think Khane is probably a close to sure bet for the fan vote. If not him than possibly Sadler. Eitherway, I could do without any of the fore mentioned 10 competing in the All-Star race. They don’t compete for a win during the regular season races, why should they compete for a win at an all-star event?
mike
May 12, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Isn’t Waltrip in because he’s won the All-Star race? I would add Reutimann and Sorenson over Nemechek and Waltrip. Sorenson has been awful this year, but th talent is there.
Tim Zaegel
May 12, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Don, I agree, Kahne would be the driver I’d most likely expect to get the vote from the fans, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if it went to either Travis Kvapil or David Ragan. I think both drivers have been drawing in a pretty heavy fan base throughout the year.
Tim Zaegel
May 12, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Mike, that’s a very valid point about Waltrip, but nascar.com is still taking votes to get him in the race. I’m thinking that maybe it’s former All-Star winners from the past ten years - just like the former champions rule.
RevJim
May 13, 2008 at 12:53 am
On “This Week in NASCAR” they affirmed that it is only past series champions and All Star champions from the past ten years. Waltrip won The Winston in 1996.
I think the most likely to race his way in would be Blaney, I know he’s been in Cup a long time without a win, but I still believe he has a win in him somewhere.
I think Tim’s prediction of Kvapil or Ragan being voted in is pretty close, but it wouldn’t surprise me if one of those two were to race his way in.
roc
May 13, 2008 at 8:00 am
I think maybe ruetiman will get the fan vote because the bubba the love sponge has been pushing him and he has a pretty good following.
Tim Zaegel
May 14, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Jim, I could definitely see Blaney racing his way in, and I almost predicted him to (stay tuned for my All-Star coverage tomorrow).
Roc, there’s no way Reutimann makes this year’s race … it’s just not happenin’.
roc
May 15, 2008 at 9:31 am
we’ll see howard and bubba the love sponge has pretty good fans to get people voted in.
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