Most talented NASCAR driver as of the 1990s to now?
In my opinion I will put out Dale Sr., Tony Stewart, Busch brothers, Matt Kenseth, JJ (before he was a "cheater") and much more. However it has to be Jeff Gordon. He is an amazing driver. Before these new advanced cars came out and messed him up he used to come out every week and run to the best of his ability. In my opinion he has to be the second greatest NASCAR driver ever and best since the 90s (Even though Richard "The King" Petty's era wasn't as competitive to some 200 wins is just incredible). Who do you think is the greatest from the 90s to present. And don't be biased off of your favorite driver.
2013-05-20T17:05:25Z
I meant to put the first few drivers in the honorable mention list.
Anonymous2013-05-20T20:07:40Z
Favorite Answer
Being as NASCAR is more strictly regulated now than its ever been, suggesting that Jimmie Johnson is a cheater much makes the rest of your theory flawed.
Anyway, on to the rest of your bit.............. First off, your "these cars" argument is irrelevant. When Jeff Gordon won his first championship it was as a result of a "new car" that the veterans had to adapt to, and perhaps didn't adapt as well because they were used to Cup cars based on actual passenger cars instead of the one-offs tube-frame cars they went to in the mid-90s. As thus, he shouldn't be given any more credit for adapting then than he does for not adapting now.
Secondly, Gordon basically had a 10-year run, and then dropped off the map. His last championship was in 2001, and other than the fluke of running a distant second in 2007 he hasn't really competed for a championship in 12 years.... despite always having been in top-flight equipment.
Thirdly, not sure why you even mentioned Richard Petty, being as the King didn't even win a race in the 1990s - last race win was '84 - and in fact, was so uncompetitive by the '90s that they invented the "past champions" qualifying rule just so he'd make the field.
Fourthly, I don't care about your BS (cheater) crap, the fact remains that Johnson has won 5 championships to Gordon's four.
Fifth, how you could lower Dale Earnhardt's ranking below that of anyone on your list is unfathomable, and I don't care what math you use. He won races from his rookie season (1979), something Gordon didn't accomplish, all the way through his final season (2000) covering 21 seasons - and did it all not always running the best equipment. Won three Cup championships in the '80s and added four more in the '90s - and is tied with the King for the most-ever championships.
At best, since 1990, he can't be any better than 3rd-best - behind both Johnson and Earnhardt - and Tony Stewart fans could argue it's a tie, as he has an Indy Car Championship to go along with his 3 Cup Championships.
And finally, comparing eras is all but impossible. And all you've is shown your personal preference. biased, fan-boy, bit - as your arguments are weak and unsupported.
Try again when you can come up with some facts for comparison purposes.
Its between Dale Sr. and Jeff Gordon. Now I'm a huge Sr. fan. But you got to give credit where its due. Jeff came in and took over from Earnhardt like the way Earnhardt came in and took over for Petty. He carried the sport into the new generation. Both very talented and both great wheel men.
Now Jeff maybe the second greatest driver ever, but he ain't behind Petty. He would be behind Earnhardt. But that is a little bias considering I only saw Petty mostly at the end of his career. Also you can't compare drivers from different generations.
JJ's rookie season was in 2002 in what is now the sprint cup.So in the 90's he couldn't of been to much of a fireball.Gordon was one of the best in the 90's and has not been all that much of a fireball in the 2000's.Johnson would be the only one close to Gordon with the present Nascar drivers.He may be rated better than Gordon after their career's are over,but in my mind it will never happen.No one races Johnson hard and he doesn't have to beat and bang with other drivers.I have never seen him in a fight with anyone or show any backbone or courage because he never has to.He is Nascars pick and is always given the breaks.
What better indicator for greatness is there than championships? So I have to put Jimmie Johnson as number one with 5 titles. Dale Sr has had 4 since 1990, as well as Jeff Gordon. So call them a tie for 2nd. Tony Stewart has 3 so we'll call him 4th best.