Zastava_101

So could this kid be the next big thing?

In his only 2nd Nationwide season he's the leader after 22 races with 2 wins, 10 Top 5s, 17 Top 10s and 3 poles. And he's driving the unsponsored car. For some reason Roush has two unsponsored cars (#6, #16) even though Stenhouse Jr. is the leader and Bayne was in Top 5 before his illness.

codeman94

The recent "next big things" havent been since...well...probably Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin. You could make a case for Brad Keselowski, but up and commers have been mostly duds in the top series..

Joey Lagano
Reed Sorenson
David Regan
Martin Truex Jr.
David Gilliland

They've all been racing for years, and only have one win a piece I'm pretty sure

Zastava_101

I wouldn't put Gilliland in the same class as everyone else. Other than being 35 years old, he never really showed any promise to be the next big thing.
Same with Logano, he barely drove any races at Nationwide series before jumping to the Sprint Cup when he was 18 or so.

Sooner or later drivers like Johnson, Ky. Busch, Harvick and Edwards will either retire or stop winning and some of young drivers will have to take over.

Moosetang

I'm really mystified by Roush's persistent sponsor troubles. Sure, NASCAR treats Ford like crap so I expect the second-tier blue oval teams to struggle for money. But Jack's cars are competitive and even leading while rocking no sponsorship or an uncertain future.

codeman94

I miss the days when a NASCAR Rookie would routinely get 1 or two wins in their first season... and even finish top 15 or ten in points like Kenseth, Jr, Newman, both Busch's...ect.

Kahne was very exciting as a rookie, but didn't win in his first season.

feel free to correct any errors, i'm just going by memory.

Zastava_101

I think there are no rookies at all this year at the Sprint Cup. At least nobody who drives a full season.

Things used to be different, teams used to get a young driver and be willing to wait few seasons before that driver becomes competitive. Now all top teams have a full lineup and want results right away because of lack of sponsors who don't wanna wait for years for drivers to adapt.

jacostang

He's good for sure, but he should have thanked Carl for pushing him over the finish line this past weekend...

Zastava_101

Teamwork.

Zastava_101

Partial Cup schedules for Bayne, Stenhouse in 2012? Roush Fenway Racing still is sewing up sponsorship on the Sprint Cup Fords of #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle, #17-Matt Kenseth and #6-David Ragan. Trevor Bayne said Wood Brothers Racing still is hunting sponsorship, too, and he would like to run full time in 2012 if the money were available. The #21 hasn't run a full schedule since 2008, and Bayne said he is slated for 13 to 15 races next year.(USA Today)
AND: Ironically, had Edwards not announced last week that he was not leaving Roush Fenway Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Trevor Bayne would have been in line for Edwards' Cup ride. Now, Bayne likely will return to a part-ride Cup ride in the #21 Wood Brothers car and run a full or part-time Nationwide schedule at Roush. Stenhouse said he has no definitive plan other than he'd like to run a full Nationwide schedule for Roush and part-time Cup schedule. Stenhouse mentioned that Richard Petty Motorsports, which gets chassis and engines from RFR, might be looking to expand.(ESPN.com)(8-10-2011)

jacostang

Wow, that would be awesome if the Wood Brothers could land a couple sponsors and bring up the 21 full time and another one at least part time, what numbers are still available? I know 28 still is but would never drive it again, needs to be retired..

Zastava_101

How about #98? I don't think Wood Brothers used it, but Holman Moody did back in the 1960s. It was used by Paul Menard until this season.

Zastava_101

Stenhouse could drive for Woods in 2012: Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Led Wood says a decision will be made in the next few weeks about whether Trevor Bayne will return to the legendary #21 Sprint Cup Series Ford next season, or be replaced by current Nationwide Series point leader Ricky Stenhouse. "If I had to say right now, I would say it would be that guy," said Wood, pointing to Bayne's name on the roof of the #21 Quick Lane Tire and Auto Ford Fusion in the garage at Chicagoland Speedway. "He's done an amazing job for us this season, and we'd love to have him back. But it's all up to Ford Motor Company and the sponsors." Wood said he expects to run a similar number of races next season, with "at least 12 and maybe as many as 18" events on the schedule. "If I tell you 12 (races) and it ends up being 18, that's great," he said. "Right now, though, I'll just say 12." He said a decision on who will steer the #21 Ford next season will be made by Ford Motor Company and Roush Fenway Racing, which whom the Woods have a longstanding technical alliance. "We'll probably have a conversation about that with (RFR President) Steve Newmark in the next couple of weeks," he said.(Sirius Speedway)(9-18-2011)

jacostang

Wow, talk about fast tracking a guy.....