Today’s posting of The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 will finally get us into the top 5 of the countdown. This installation will bring us to drivers #5, #4 and #3. None of the three drivers have ever won a Sprint Cup Championship but, will make a very steady run at it this season. Let’s get to the good stuff.
#5 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was born October 10, 1974 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Earnhardt,Jr. began racing at Concord (N.C.) Motorsports Park in the Street Stock division at the age of 17. After two seasons, he moved into the Late Model Stock Car division, racing with his half-brother Kerry and sister, Kelley.
Junior (as he is affectionately called) ran nine Busch Series races between 1996 and 1997 for his father’s Dale Earnhardt Inc. Junior ran the full season in 1998, winning the series title. He then repeated the feat by winning the title again in 1999. In 2000, Junior competed full-time in the then-Winston Cup Series.
In 2008, Earnhardt, Jr. had 36 starts, 1 pole, 1 win, 10 Top 5s, 16 Top 10s, an average start of 10.0, an average finish of 14.0, and he finished the season twelfth in points with 6,127.
I expect to see Earnhardt, Jr. to have a much better 2009 season. He should have four to five victories and have much improved performance during the Chase. There might be some added pressure on him and his crew chief in the upcoming season, but they will be in contention all year.
Earnhardt, Jr. will be back at Hendrick Motorsports, driving the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Drink Chevrolet Impala. Tony Eury, Jr will continue filling the crew chief role for the team.
#4 Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton was born June 29, 1967 in South Boston, Virginia. Burton began racing go-karts at the age of eight. At the age of 17 he began racing in the Pure Stock class at South Boston Speedway. Two years later, Burton had won six Late Model Stock Car races. By the time he was 21, Burton won seven Late Model races out of 21 and voted Most Popular Driver at South Boston Speedway.
Burton won his first Busch Series race in 1990, and won five races in that series out of only 13 starts in 2002. Burton made his Winston Cup debut in 1993 at New Hampshire. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1994.
In 2008, Burton had 36 starts, 0 poles, 2 wins, 7 Top 5s, 18 Top 10s, an average start of 21.0, an average finish of 12.0, finished sixth in points with 6,335.
Burton is known for being a steady, solid driver and 2009 will be no exception. Expect to see Burton near the front of the points all year because of his consistency. He will get the usual one or two wins in 2009, but he will improve his top 5s and top 10s numbers.
Burton will have a new sponsor in 2009. He will continue to drive the Richard Childress Racing #31 Chevrolet Impala sponsored by Caterpillar. Scott Miller will continue to be the crew chief.
#3 Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick was born December 8, 1975 in Bakersfield, California. Harvick began racing go-karts when he was five years old. After becoming highly successful in karts, he moved up to the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series, driving part-time while finishing school in 1992. He garnered Rookie of the Year honors in 1995 as a full-time driver.
Harvick gained national attention during the 1997/1998 NASCAR Winter Heat Series covered by ESPN2. In 2000, Harvick was signed by Richard Childress Racing to drive the #2 AC Delco Chevrolet in the Busch Series. He would win three races that year, finish third in the final points and win Rookie of the Year. Harvick moved up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2001 after the untimely death of Dale Earnhardt.
In 2008, Harvick had 36 starts, 0 poles, 0 wins, 7 Top 5s, 19 Top 10s, an average start of 18.0, an average finish of 12.0, and finished fourth in points with 6,408.
Harvick is continuing to improve his consistency each year. 2009 will be no different, as Harvick should find Victory Lane three or four times. He will be a regular in the top 5 of points most of the season and will go down to the wire for the championship.
Harvick will be back in the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing in 2009. Todd Berrier will continue with crew chief duties.
We are getting closer to that number one spot each and every day! Check back tomorrow to find out who I think will finish second in the 2009 Sprint Cup standings. I will have the post for the Champion spot on February 7th.
In case you missed the previous posts for numbers 20 through 6, here they are:
The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 1
The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 2
The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 3
The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 4
The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 5
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