Post by Dion on Jun 8, 2005 15:58:51 GMT -5
Aggressive Drivers
By Dion Martorano
Love them or hate them they have always been around and they will always be around. Today’s drivers may be a little bit more aggressive then in past years and the controversy is growing more and more around these drivers. Johnny Sauter, Shane Hmiel, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart are but a few and the more popular of the aggressive drivers. All have been fined at least one point in their respected careers. All have a seat reserved in NASCAR’s house of horror (AKA Mike Helton’s office). These drivers may be extremely aggressive but the results show that this style of racing is really working for them. Tony Stewart won the 2002 Winston Cup championship, he made many rivals but his racing ability was never doubted. He won the INDY Car championship in 1997, and was a USAC champion. He is the only driver EVER to win the Winston/Nextel Cup Championship and IRL Championship. His temper may be a problem but he always brings a little flavor to the race. His personality is outgoing, he donates millions of dollars to charities and many other foundations. Just because he is aggressive like the others does not make them out to be bad people. He pushed other peoples buttons, as he did last week at Dover. Granted I am not much a Gordon fan, Tony really should not have given the bump to Gordon. Johnny Sauter has made many enemies but he has gotten the attention of many race teams, he is a great driver and the results may not always show it but he is always a front-runner. He dominated the not extinct ASA series in his first season winning the championship and most of the races. He then rode on up to the Busch series driving the number 2 AC Delco car for RCR. He won his first race in only his 23rd start in the series. He finished 5th in his first ever Busch series start, as did Shane Hmiel. A driver must have a lot of talent to finish in the top 5 in their first NASCAR race, or any other series for that matter. Shane Hmiel although he is out of NASCAR indefinitely he made his mark in the racing world forever. He dominated the truck series in 2004 and if he had not have had bad luck he would have likely won most of the races. He lost some because he was aggressive, but where is the fun in that if you don’t put it all on the line to be number one. Last but certainly not least my man, Kevin Harvick, Happy for short. How can you not like this guy, he gives the racing world a new races and is a media goldmine. Not always in the best way, but you will always know where Happy is. Even though he has only been in the NEXTEL cup series for the past 5 seasons he has left his mark with his aggression and great racing. Like Tony Stewart, his Busch series driver, he does not have many friends on the track, but has a loyal fan base. Kevin is not a Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart, he is just another driver, but is well know like Gordon and JR. because of his great personality and enjoyable racing abilities. He has all the personality in the world and is just what Nascar needs to stay around. He and many others with their bonzi moves leave the fans stunned and amazed and always coming back for more. The difference between a aggressive driver and a layed back driver is that the aggressive driver wont give a inch and runs every lap like it is his last. The conservative, layed back driver takes things as they come. Some people think if you are aggressive you don’t belong in racing. What would racing be without the likes of these fine racers and their great personalities? Nascar would be nowhere without guys like Sauter Hmiel, Harvick, and Stewart.
By Dion Martorano
Love them or hate them they have always been around and they will always be around. Today’s drivers may be a little bit more aggressive then in past years and the controversy is growing more and more around these drivers. Johnny Sauter, Shane Hmiel, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart are but a few and the more popular of the aggressive drivers. All have been fined at least one point in their respected careers. All have a seat reserved in NASCAR’s house of horror (AKA Mike Helton’s office). These drivers may be extremely aggressive but the results show that this style of racing is really working for them. Tony Stewart won the 2002 Winston Cup championship, he made many rivals but his racing ability was never doubted. He won the INDY Car championship in 1997, and was a USAC champion. He is the only driver EVER to win the Winston/Nextel Cup Championship and IRL Championship. His temper may be a problem but he always brings a little flavor to the race. His personality is outgoing, he donates millions of dollars to charities and many other foundations. Just because he is aggressive like the others does not make them out to be bad people. He pushed other peoples buttons, as he did last week at Dover. Granted I am not much a Gordon fan, Tony really should not have given the bump to Gordon. Johnny Sauter has made many enemies but he has gotten the attention of many race teams, he is a great driver and the results may not always show it but he is always a front-runner. He dominated the not extinct ASA series in his first season winning the championship and most of the races. He then rode on up to the Busch series driving the number 2 AC Delco car for RCR. He won his first race in only his 23rd start in the series. He finished 5th in his first ever Busch series start, as did Shane Hmiel. A driver must have a lot of talent to finish in the top 5 in their first NASCAR race, or any other series for that matter. Shane Hmiel although he is out of NASCAR indefinitely he made his mark in the racing world forever. He dominated the truck series in 2004 and if he had not have had bad luck he would have likely won most of the races. He lost some because he was aggressive, but where is the fun in that if you don’t put it all on the line to be number one. Last but certainly not least my man, Kevin Harvick, Happy for short. How can you not like this guy, he gives the racing world a new races and is a media goldmine. Not always in the best way, but you will always know where Happy is. Even though he has only been in the NEXTEL cup series for the past 5 seasons he has left his mark with his aggression and great racing. Like Tony Stewart, his Busch series driver, he does not have many friends on the track, but has a loyal fan base. Kevin is not a Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart, he is just another driver, but is well know like Gordon and JR. because of his great personality and enjoyable racing abilities. He has all the personality in the world and is just what Nascar needs to stay around. He and many others with their bonzi moves leave the fans stunned and amazed and always coming back for more. The difference between a aggressive driver and a layed back driver is that the aggressive driver wont give a inch and runs every lap like it is his last. The conservative, layed back driver takes things as they come. Some people think if you are aggressive you don’t belong in racing. What would racing be without the likes of these fine racers and their great personalities? Nascar would be nowhere without guys like Sauter Hmiel, Harvick, and Stewart.
