Underdog Driver's 2014 Preview
By Richard Tix
Well this time around NASCAR Behind the Wall is going to use the Driver Spotlight to take an even faster look at some underdogs going into the 2014 season. This will be a two part Spotlight featuring Rookies and guys who haven't quiet broken out yet. Because they haven't broken out yet NASCAR Behind the Wall has not done a Driver Spotlight directly for them. None the less, these drivers can still win and need some attention.
Paul Menard
For the second year in a row Paul Menard ended the season without a win in his #27 RCR ride. In fact, 2011 is still the only season he has won a race in Cup. Since that win in 2011 Menard has done a bit better then prior, finishing the season 17th, 16th, and now 17th in points (before that he had not finished better then 23rd). If Menard ever wants to make a run at the Chase the next few years will be key for him to start becoming more consistent or find a way to win. Another start to a season is appon us and most NASCAR fans have wrote him off to a 17th place points finish.
Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers has had a crazy career in NASCAR so far. He has bounced around, made some enemies, and then had some health scares along the way. In 2014, it seems he is full go to run full time for MWR as long as he stays healthy. Only 6 times in his career has he finished a full schedule, and in 2 of those 6 he had wins. He also won his 3rd race in his career last year while only running 17 races. Vickers has shown he can win, so he has a chance to compete, so we all hope and pray that his health agrees with him (for his healths sake and so we can see his potential in Cup come around).
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Well 2013 marked Ricky's first season full time in Cup, taking over for Matt Kenseth in the #17 Roush Fenway ride. He ended up as the 2013 ROY but he didn't have much competition. He ended the season with 1 top 5 and 3 top 10's. The plus side to those stats, all of them came in the last 11 races. So things could be looking up for him in 2014. Season two should be better than season one, but with so much competition how much better will it be?
Aric Almirola
2013 was Aric's second full season in a Cup ride with Richard Petty Motorsports. He did improve on his 2012 rookie campaign but just barely. He went from 20th in overall points to 18th in points while improving in top 10 finishes. All of that being said, he still isn't a front runner and hasn't made a big jump in the standings, plus he hasn't got his first career win yet. Aric just signed a new deal with Smithfield and RPM so maybe the extra confidence will help him improve his final finish, or at least find a win in 2014.
Marcus Ambrose
The 2013 season was not kind to Ambrose. Not only did Ambrose not win at either road course during the season, but he also didn't finish in the top 5 a single time. Marcus had posted a top 5 in each of his previous 5 seasons (including 2008 when he ran 11 races). He also fell off in top 10's (6) and his final spot in the standings (22nd). Also, 2014 is the last known season that Marcus is under contract at RPM so the pressure will be on for him to win.
These last few guys are true underdogs, and not many expect them to make the Chase, but none the less they still have a change. There are still a few more guys (one girl) out there who are even bigger long shots but are worth a mention. Danica Patrick, AJ Allmendinger, Casey Mears, David Gilliland, and a huge crop of rookies. Will these guys make the Chase? Most likely not, but they could possibly get lucky and pull off an upset win.
Well that's it for Part Two, let me know what you think on Twitter about how these guys will do in 2014. That is NASCAR Behind the Wall's last Driver Spotlight of Preseason. During the season some Spotlights will be done, but scattered about. Daytona is just about here!
Check out the Previous Driver Spotlights:
2013 was Aric's second full season in a Cup ride with Richard Petty Motorsports. He did improve on his 2012 rookie campaign but just barely. He went from 20th in overall points to 18th in points while improving in top 10 finishes. All of that being said, he still isn't a front runner and hasn't made a big jump in the standings, plus he hasn't got his first career win yet. Aric just signed a new deal with Smithfield and RPM so maybe the extra confidence will help him improve his final finish, or at least find a win in 2014.
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