thing if you're a bank robber but not if you're in Cup series, driving a rolling billboard. Lots of drivers are invisible, but in order to win this award, they had to have been visible at one time. Both of these drivers managed to fly under the radar this season despite their best efforts not to.
The Energizer Bunny Award:
Mark Martin
Come on, you know the tag line. All together now, He just Keeps……
The George Jefferson Award:
Bad Brad Kesalowski
You know, Moving On Up. This year was huge for Brad. He went from being known as Carl's tackling dummy to a budding superstar and team leader. On a team (Penske) that's looking like it's finally ready to step up with the big boys.
The I Don't Live Here, I'm Just Visiting Award:
Kasey Kahne
This season finishes one of strangest deals I've ever seen. Looking forward to seeing what he can do in the 5 car next season. This is/was a Championship ride, but he may have his work cut out for him.
The Bill Clinton Award:
The winner/ loser, David Ragan.
It's the economy stupid! I said at the start, that this was make or beak, for David. Despite a win, it proved to be, too little, too late.
The Forest Gump Award
Brian Vickers
Life is like a box of chocolates. After last season's medical issues, I expect Brian was Really looking forward to this season. Red Bull deciding to exercise its wings just proved that Forrest was right. "You never know what you're going to get."
The 'This Makes it All Worthwhile' Award:
Again Multiple winners; Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith, Paul Menard, & Marcos Ambrose.
No matter how many races a driver wins, the first one is always special. One driver really doesn't belong on this list. This was really Regan Smith's second one. He just didn't have enough star power to keep the first one.
The Little Foss Award:
Denny Hamlin
This one is named after a character in one of my all time favorite movies, Little Foss & Big Halsey. It's about a couple of small time motorcycle racers. Little said, "I was going as fast as I've ever gone in my life. Then I fell off." This time last year, he was going as fast as he'd ever been heading into the last race of the season. Then he fell off and unfortunately he's never been able to get back up. Come on dude, watch the movie. If Little can do it, you can too.
Sand Bagger Award:
Tony Stewart
This was written before Phoenix, so I really don't know who's going to come out on top. But it really doesn't matter. After the season he had, this Chase run was one for the ages. Kind of reminds me of our St. Louis Cardinals, average season, but brilliant when it counted. The Red Birds pulled it off, we'll see about Smoke.
The Maybe I Make It Look Too Easy Award:
Matt Kenseth
Hands down, maybe the most under rated Champion in the modern era.
The “I want To Be A Cup Champion when I grow up” Award
Rowdy Busch
I've said, "not if but when he wins the Championship." He's standing at the crossroads now. It's all up to him at this point.
Golly, Gee, This is a Lot Tougher Than I Thought It Would Be Award:
This award could go to anyone in Cup, but my winner is Joey Lagono. Few drivers have come into Cup, with higher expectations on them. I still think, with another full season in Nationwide behind him. Things might have smoother.
Once More To The Mountain Top Award:
The Wood Brothers
This may be a new generation, but they are steeped in the history of the glory days when wins were expected. To stand in victory lane at Daytona had to have been the greatest feeling in the world.
Wondering If The Last One Really Was The Last One Award:
Once again multiple winners; Bobby 286 races since last win, Martin Truex 165, Casey Mears,160, Junior 127, Jeff Burton 111, Joey Logano 89, Kasey Kahne 81, Mark Martin 79, Jeff Gordon 66, Brian Vickers 58, David Reutimann 51, Juan Pablo Montoya 48, The Biff 41, Jamie Mac 39 and Kurt Busch 38,
Busch and Gordon, already have their answers. Sad to say, a number of others
on this list pretty much have theirs too.
I Should Have Checked My Parachute Before Bailing Out Award:
Clint Bowyer
When he & Richard came to an impasse, he probably figured he had plenty of options. One, by one, they all dried up. Leaving him with only one, kind of an "any port in a storm," type deal. I've read several articles about how Clint will elevate this program.
My thinking is that this program will drag Clint down to its level.
The “I'm Not An Idiot Why does everyone keep calling me one” Award
Juan Pablo Montoya
Think about this one for a minute. How many times have you heard other drivers refer to him as an idiot (or worse) either in interviews or over their radios. If you were paying attention and you have a good memory then your answer would be, a bunch. The only problem is that the guy is clearly not an idiot. You don't win the Indy 500, Cart Championship, 7 F1 races with a second class team, by being an idiot. He just has that fiery Latin temperament and is a very serious and a hard nosed racer. This guy just isn't wired up for the "after you, no after you, " type racing so many Cup drivers seem to prefer. In other words he's no Mark Martin. Just my kind of racer and he will win on an oval if Chip gets his act together.
So Close, But Just Can't Seem To Get There Award:
A J Almandinger
After being dumped on by Red Bull, he's found a home with the King. I fully expect to be able to include him among the first time winners next year.
They Say Nothing Lasts Forever Award:
Jimmy Johnson
The run of consecutive Championships has come to an end but the fact that it happened will last forever or at least as long as NASCAR does. He was the man to beat this year and regardless of who wins this year he'll be the man/team to beat again next year.
The streak stops at 5, the Championships won't.
The You Really Don't Want Me For An Enemy Award
Kevin Harvick
Kevin's not a personal favorite of mine. But if I were in Cup, I'd be careful how I raced him.
I Know a Good Thing When I See It Award.
This award goes out to the owners of the start & Park teams.
The My Day Can't Possibly Get Any Worse Award
Regan Smith & the Furniture Row crew
When you've just completely destroyed your race car while running a very good race to that point you might think things couldn't get any worse. Oh but they can. How about just burning up your hauler for an encore? Now that's a bad day.
The Something's Wrong With This Picture Award:
Kevin Conway
Read a press release from Kevin stating that he "had enough funding from his sponsor," (who I won't glorify by name)" that he would be able to compete(?) next season."
The Most Tasteless, & Annoying TV ad Award:
The award goes to Jimmy Johnson
Oh, did you think I was talking about 5 time Cup Champion? Nope, I'm talking about the football dude. You know the one with the television preacher hair that it looks like it's made out of fiberglass. Again, I won't mention the product but he's proven, at least to me that he's a whore for anyone, as long as the check clears. There have problems from this company about them paying their bills much as you might expect from such a sleazy product. I remember a few years ago when Derrick Cope had RedneckJunk.com lined up
to sponsor him, NA$CAR stepped in and nixed the deal. Makes me wonder about this deal. Gather around kiddies.
Man Of Constant Sorrows Award:
Steve Addington
This one was hands down, the easiest one to make. Steve was CC for Kyle Busch with Gibbs. Then he moved over to Penske and Kurt Busch, for the last three years. Now the word is out that he may be leaving at the end of this season. After listening to Kurt's radio rants this season, that one isn't too hard to figure out.
The Say What? Award:
Tony Stewart
Speculation is that Steve Addington is moving over to Stewart-Haas, to be Tony's CC. Four wins & counting, all won under the pressure of the Chase. I don't know but what I might have to re-thing that deal. Word to Steve, don't burn your bridges with Penske.
The Bi-Polar Award:
Carl Edwards
Carl is my wife's favorite driver, & I like him too. After all he's one of the home boys. My only question is who is the real Carl Edwards? If he's the smiling, back flipping
fan favorite, Cousin Carl we see in interviews then who's this dark guy who confronted his team mate, with a fake punch and has committed motorized mayhem on Bad Brad
not once but at least 3 times?
The Gone But Not Forgotten Award
Dale Earnhardt RIP
The Forgotten But Not Gone Award
Derrick Cope
The Thank You NASCAR Award
This might surprise you, but it has by far the greatest number of winners of any of the awards. The winners are taxpayers of Atlanta, Kansas City Ks., Daytona & Richmond.
These are the towns that lost out on the NASCAR Hall of Fame. At the time, they thought they lost, but as it turns out, they all won big time.
One thing about my awards, unlike NASCAR's, if the winners show up to collect their awards they all get to sit on the stage. That is all except for that last one. Even I gotta draw the line somewhere.
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