The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 2

Welcome to Day 2 of The Top 20 Drivers of 2009. This installment will cover who I think will finish 17th, 16th, and 15th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 2009.These next three drivers should be interesting to watch during the upcoming season, so here we go!

#17 Brian Vickers

Brian Vickers was born on October 24, 1983 in Thomasville, NC. Vickers started racing go-karts at eight years-old and lived around racing the whole time growing up. Vickers’ father, Charlie, was an instrumental player in racing around the state of North Carolina.

Vickers had some impressive runs in 2008, considering how new the team was. Vickers had 36 starts, 1 pole, 0 wins, 3 Top 5s, 6 Top 10s, an average start of 22.0, and an average finish of 21.0, finishing 19th in points with 3,580.

Vickers will be back with Team Red Bull driving the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry

#16 Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch was born on August 4, 1978 in Las Vegas, NV. Like many other drivers, Busch started racing go-karts at an early age. It was the Dwarf Car Series that got Busch recognized as a very talented racer. In 2000, Jack Roush hired him to drive a Craftsman Truck Ford, winning Rookie of the Year honors. Four years later, Busch clinched the 2004 Sprint Cup Championship.

In 2008, Busch had 36 starts, 0 poles, 1 win, 5 Top 5s, 10 Top 10s, an average start of 20.0, an average finish of 22.0, and finishing 18th in points with 3,635.

He will probably run a tad better in 2009. Just as in 2008, Busch will struggle on the intermediate tracks. Busch is able to shine the most on short tracks, road courses, and the superspeedways.

Busch will again be driving the “Blue Deuce” , the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger for Penske South Racing in 2009.

#15 Martin Truex, Jr.

Martin Truex, Jr. was born on June 29, 1980 in Mayetta, NJ. Truex also got his start in go-karts, but found great success in the Modified ranks, then winning the 2000 Rookie of the Year in the Busch North Series.The New Jersey native made his Sprint Cup debut in the 2004 Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and also won the Busch Series Championship the same year.

Truex, Jr. had an up and down season in 2008 making 36 starts, 0 poles, 0 wins, 3 Top 5s, 11 Top 10s, an average start of 17.0, an average finish of 18.0, and ending 15th in points with 3,839.

Truex, Jr. will continue his ride with the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in 2009.

That is what I think will be the finishing order in points for #17 through #15 for the 2009 season. I will present #14 through #12 tomorrow.