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I picked Kasey Kahne to make the Chase for the Championship last year and he let me down so I left him out this year.
Now this kid is making me look like a fool.
With the exception of an 11th-place finish at Daytona he’s finished in the top five at every other race so far.
Sure it’s still early but it certainly looks like the sophomore slump isn’t having any lasting impact on this team.
We kind of knew that they would get their act together eventually.
Ray Evernham is too much of a genius to have a mediocre race team and Kasey is definitely more than a pretty face.
I kept experiencing these strange and very foreign feelings during the race today.
The first one came as Robby Gordon was running in the top five.
It was a feeling that I want to say bordered on joy but it couldn’t have been that, right?
Then as Robby pitted late in the race and his shot at a good finish disappeared another weird feeling came over me. Was it disappointment? It felt a little like disappointment but it couldn’t really be, right?
Right?
Someone please tell me I wasn’t, uh, um – ahem – uh, rooting for Robby Gordon?
I almost wish he’d boot Jeff Gordon into the wall at Bristol next week so these crazy and ridiculous feelings will go away.
I found myself too happy for Robby and I think it is more I am cheering for what his team is to the sport, I would love for an owner/driver team to win. Even though I am a 24 fan I think the big team domination needs to be shaken up from time to time.
— Robert 03/20/2006 08:49 PM #
Robbie is a pure wheel man, with skills that often
go unnoticed by many NASCAR fans. I too would love to see a owner/driver team win.
— JU 03/20/2006 09:01 PM #
Robby’s charge: I loved every minute of it. He put on a spectacular show today. He’s the last of a breed, a real true racer. The day may have ended in disappointment but he has shown what he and the team can do. He will soon do it again. And look out Dakar Rally in 2007. He will win it this time, against all the big Euro/Japan factory teams. The desert is his true calling, as his Baja legend status proves. Most NASCAR fans know nothing of how revered his abilities are in the off road world. He will beat Africa like he has beaten Baja.
— TW 03/20/2006 09:37 PM #
I always thought that Robby was a great open-wheel and off-road racer.
He almost won the Indy 500 a few years back but ran out of gas if I remember correctly.
And he usually does well in the Dakar Rally. That used to be the only time I rooted for him because I wanted to see an American win.
I won’t lie – I loved his struggles last year. My brother and I made so much fun of him and laughed at his dismal performances. (We’re awful people.)
Now I’m becoming more and more impressed with what he can do in a stock car. His reckless days seem to be behind him and I’m gaining a lot of respect for him.
— Jaynelle 03/20/2006 09:47 PM #
Am I reading this right? Is this Jaynelle’s blog? Jaynelle Ramon?!!? ;-)
I love when he makes drives like that. He made one last year at one of the road courses (when he got stuck in the back because of tranny issues and ended up in 12th). In my book, the one yesterday ties with the one at Richmond when he drove up three laps to finish (I think) 4th as his best race because you wouldn’t expect him to be able to do that on an oval.
Even if his reckless days AREN’T behind him, I think people are just blind and/or haters if they can’t admit he’s one of the best drivers around. Tony Stewart even says so and, like him or not, Tony would know since he’s one of, if not the, best himself.
— Carrie 03/21/2006 07:07 AM #
Hi, Jaynelle. Loved your article. I think it beautifully sums up how Robby is finally winning over main stream fans. Robby has one of the most fierce and loyal fan bases (we have been clicking away incessantly to get him Voted In the past 2 weeks on the Nascar On Line Trackpass so we can listen to him and his CC during the race..which we have). His fans also stay up at 4am in the morning in January to watch computerized trucks move on a laptop screen in painfully slow semi-live time during the Dakar Rally…
In Nascar, I think his hard driving and.. admittedly here by a fan..hot temper made him an easy target to boo, jeer and hate. But thats why his fans love him. He drives every lap like it is his last…but as we all know that can get you in trouble in Cup. But it does make for some spectacular racing. If you have the tape..go back and watch Watkins Glen last year. He would have started on the outside pole, but rain washed out qualifying with just 10 cars left…so he started 37th. He was 1st by lap 25…then pit strategy backfired early and he was 30th…and he came marching back again to 2nd…pretty awesome.
I beleive he has really matured the last few years, races a lot smarter and has gained a ton of respect. The talent has NEVER been a question, Tony Stewart has even admitted Robby is the most talented cup driver on circuit. But the most talented is not necessarily the “best” (THAT title belongs to Tony..and arguably the most talented title, too).
But now with patience, good equipment and his rabid determination to succeed..I think Robby Gordon will one of the best stories..if not THE story of 2006…
and it will be tons of fun watching him do it!
— Mike 03/21/2006 07:15 AM #
its good to see an owner/driver actually succeed.. its rare.
i’m happy with kenseth winding up 13th after 2 seperate tire issues.
a shame he had them though.
— Gael 03/21/2006 08:19 AM #
And one other thing…how am I supposed to improve on my .500 season last year with Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards stinking up the joint?
My picks are not looking good.
Would anyone notice if I deleted that entry and pretended I never wrote it?
Or how about I switch Kyle for Kurt and dump the other two in favor of the Kasey and Kenseth?
— Jaynelle 03/21/2006 04:56 PM #
Hey Jaynelle,
You’re right about this “like”able driver and team. They are rising from the dismal ashes of 2005 to new levels every race of 2006. Its nice to see a hard working “underdog” team do well – better than some of the highest financially supported teams.
We’ve (Canadians) been following him for years, since his days of CART when he used to race open wheel – he races very intensely, just like Paul Tracy!
We’re definitely behind the number 7!
Robby Gordon is a wheelman, he isint a NASCAR Driver, he isint a off-road driver (But if he had to be anything it would probably be that), he isint a IndyCar driver.
Hes a wheel man.
If you enjoy racing in general then deep down inside you are a fan of Robby Gordon.
— Shane 03/24/2006 11:00 AM #
— Robert 03/20/2006 08:49 PM #
go unnoticed by many NASCAR fans. I too would love to see a owner/driver team win.
— JU 03/20/2006 09:01 PM #
— TW 03/20/2006 09:37 PM #
He almost won the Indy 500 a few years back but ran out of gas if I remember correctly.
And he usually does well in the Dakar Rally. That used to be the only time I rooted for him because I wanted to see an American win.
I won’t lie – I loved his struggles last year. My brother and I made so much fun of him and laughed at his dismal performances. (We’re awful people.)
Now I’m becoming more and more impressed with what he can do in a stock car. His reckless days seem to be behind him and I’m gaining a lot of respect for him.
— Jaynelle 03/20/2006 09:47 PM #
I love when he makes drives like that. He made one last year at one of the road courses (when he got stuck in the back because of tranny issues and ended up in 12th). In my book, the one yesterday ties with the one at Richmond when he drove up three laps to finish (I think) 4th as his best race because you wouldn’t expect him to be able to do that on an oval.
Even if his reckless days AREN’T behind him, I think people are just blind and/or haters if they can’t admit he’s one of the best drivers around. Tony Stewart even says so and, like him or not, Tony would know since he’s one of, if not the, best himself.
— Carrie 03/21/2006 07:07 AM #
In Nascar, I think his hard driving and.. admittedly here by a fan..hot temper made him an easy target to boo, jeer and hate. But thats why his fans love him. He drives every lap like it is his last…but as we all know that can get you in trouble in Cup. But it does make for some spectacular racing. If you have the tape..go back and watch Watkins Glen last year. He would have started on the outside pole, but rain washed out qualifying with just 10 cars left…so he started 37th. He was 1st by lap 25…then pit strategy backfired early and he was 30th…and he came marching back again to 2nd…pretty awesome.
I beleive he has really matured the last few years, races a lot smarter and has gained a ton of respect. The talent has NEVER been a question, Tony Stewart has even admitted Robby is the most talented cup driver on circuit. But the most talented is not necessarily the “best” (THAT title belongs to Tony..and arguably the most talented title, too).
But now with patience, good equipment and his rabid determination to succeed..I think Robby Gordon will one of the best stories..if not THE story of 2006…
and it will be tons of fun watching him do it!
— Mike 03/21/2006 07:15 AM #
i’m happy with kenseth winding up 13th after 2 seperate tire issues.
a shame he had them though.
— Gael 03/21/2006 08:19 AM #
— chris o 03/21/2006 11:34 AM #
My picks are not looking good.
Would anyone notice if I deleted that entry and pretended I never wrote it?
Or how about I switch Kyle for Kurt and dump the other two in favor of the Kasey and Kenseth?
— Jaynelle 03/21/2006 04:56 PM #
You’re right about this “like”able driver and team. They are rising from the dismal ashes of 2005 to new levels every race of 2006. Its nice to see a hard working “underdog” team do well – better than some of the highest financially supported teams.
We’ve (Canadians) been following him for years, since his days of CART when he used to race open wheel – he races very intensely, just like Paul Tracy!
We’re definitely behind the number 7!
Jeff
— Jeff DeVries 03/22/2006 06:36 AM #
Hes a wheel man.
If you enjoy racing in general then deep down inside you are a fan of Robby Gordon.
— Shane 03/24/2006 11:00 AM #