Heroes and Heartbreak: Choosing A Favorite Driver Hasn't Been Easy

The No. 6 UPS Ford of David Ragan and the No. 17 Ford of Matt Kenseth
on pit road prior to Coca Cola 600 qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In any sport, every fan almost always finds a team to cheer for above all others. It’s no different in NASCAR. Some fans choose a favorite driver simply because his car has their favorite number on the side. Others choose a driver based on their sponsor. A few choose their favorite driver because he is from the same state they are from. For me, it was none of the above.

 

As a kid, I spent many weekends at my grandparents’ house. They had a television, but it did well to pick up the local TV stations. Luckily, it did pick up the local FOX and ABC affiliates, which meant most Sundays and the occasional Saturday were spent sitting in the living room of my grandparents’ trailer watching NASCAR races. That was in the late 90’s.

 

In 1999, just before my 9th birthday that June, I became a Dale Earnhardt fan simply because he was my grandfather Frank’s favorite driver. I cheered for Earnhardt every race I watched. Then, in 2001, the entire community was rocked to the core as Dale Earnhardt tragically passed away in the Daytona 500. NASCAR lost a legend, and I lost my favorite driver. My grandfather stopped watching NASCAR after that fateful day, and so did I.

 

For over a year, I didn’t watch a single race. Then, in October 2002, something compelled me to turn the race on. I honestly don’t remember much about the race other than it was at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Jamie McMurray was filling in for Sterling Marlin. McMurray earned his first career win that night and surprised a lot of people. The excitement I felt that night watching McMurray win made me realize something about myself. NASCAR was my passion. And I had truly missed watching the races.

Now that I was a NASCAR fan again I was left with the problem of finding a new favorite driver. Of course, like so many of Dale Earnhardt’s fans, I chose his son as my favorite driver. Again, I was just twelve, and I really didn’t know too many other drivers so I went with who I knew.

So, how did I go from being a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan to becoming a die-hard fan of all of the Roush Fenway Racing drivers? It’s kind of a funny and unique story.

Whit's Picks: Michigan Results

Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after winning the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400.
Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

All eyes were on the Ford drivers on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, but in the end, it was a Toyota driver who took the checkered flag in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400. There were 21 lead changes in the race that lasted just over 2.5 hours. It was the shortest race so far this year, but that didn't mean it was short on excitement.

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were finally off probation following the incident between them at Darlington Raceway. While nearly everyone expected something to happen between those two, nothing did. Could Harvick be biding his time? After all, he did say Busch has one coming. Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who hadn't won a race since the race at Michigan on Father's Day in 2008 had a run-in with teammate Mark Martin late in the race, ruining his chances of a good finish. Young Landon Cassill, in the No. 51 Security Benefit / Thank A Teacher Today Chevrolet finished 12th, earning his career-best finish. Trevor Bayne, who returned to Sprint Cup Series action for Wood Brothers Racing after being out for over a month due to illness, finished 16th in the No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford.

Of course, the race might not have seemed that exciting to those who watched the race on television. The TNT broadcast lacked any enthusiasm from the commentators, and the network went to commercial more times than I can recall. But I digress.

On Friday, I shared with you my top 5 picks to win on Sunday plus 3 other drivers to keep an eye on. How did my picks do? Read on to find out!

Whit's Picks: Michigan International Speedway

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Brooklyn, Michigan this weekend. So far this year, we've seen two first time winners, unbelievably close finishes, and even seen a fan favorite lose a race due to fuel mileage. And at Michigan International Speedway, fuel mileage will no doubt play a major factor once again. In June 2009, Greg Biffle was bit by fuel mileage when his car coasted to the finish as it ran out of fuel on the last lap, and Mark Martin brought home the win.


New fuel cans were implemented in the Sprint Cup Series at the start of the 2011 season. The fuel cans, which were already being used in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, were meant to be easier to use and eliminated the need for a crew member to use a catch can. Still, some Cup teams have struggled with getting enough fuel in the cars. With fuel mileage on every driver's mind, teams will have bring their A-game for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400.


But it'll take more than just making sure the car has enough fuel in it for a driver to win on Sunday.