Who'll be the low man on the HMS totem pole in '09?

The "certain drivers get better equipment" conspiracy theory is one I struggle with. I'm not 100% sure it's true, but I'm also not 100% sure it's not.

If it is, I originally would have said Jr.

However.....Jr.'s a cash cow for Rick Hendrick, if he were to win a championship, merchandise sales would be enough to feed a third world nation for a month!!! (that's actually meant as a compliment)

Jimmie is currently the driver in the "zone" a 4-peat would be a historical event, that may never happen again.

Mark Martin is about to have his last hurrah...(again) and Rick will want to do everything he can to help him get a championship.

This leaves Jeff Gordon.

Right now I'd say Dale Jr. Even the 5 car ran better and had better cars than the 88 during the Chase. The 24 had top five cars in every race in the chase except for the first two races. The 48 is just good like they have been since 2004 and kick it into high gear in the Chase. I see all the HMS cars in the Chase but Jr will improve from 2008 in terms of stats but not sure if he and the team have what it takes to adjust the car from the beginning of the race until the end.

I don't think there will be a "low man" this year. They want Jr. and Martin to win for sentimental reasons. Gordon is going for #5, very rare feat. Johnson is going for four in a row, never been done. Any of these scenario's is great for HMS so the R&D will be equal for all teams. That being said, Martin may perform the worst because of being new and getting to know his crew chief and getting the cars set up properly.

Mears had many good races last year but he fell back most of the time so there is good equipment already there for Mark, just needs to tweak it to his liking.

Unfortunately I think it'll be Jr. Gordon and Johnson are always going to be up there since they are the key drivers of HMS. Martin is at the end of the road and I would think HMS would do all they can to give him every possible chance at that championship that has alluded him his entire career.

Mark Martin

One of them could get bad cars, but I think that they will all make the chase and do well. I think they will focus hard on Mark since this is his final chance for a championship. Mark made the chase every year before going part-time, so he could be in good shape. You can't count out Jimmie, either. Gordon already had some bad cars last year, but still did pretty good. Earnhardt started to fall back in points during the second half last year, but some of it was problems in the chase like wrecks and tire failures. My guess is Jr. But if they all make the chase, the lowest driver in points will be someone that has misfortune, and that could be anyone.

Mark Martin

I don't think there will be any, but I would say Martin. I agree with Winter Glory. Jr. winning the championship would boost HMS's bottom line dramatically; he would get the kind of publicity that you can't even buy.

I think the cars will be equal it is going to depend on chemistry within the team. Mark is questionable right now we will have to wait an see. I personally think if Jeff doesn't see eye to eye with his crew chief he will be the lowest man on the pole. Lowest still means top 10 in points which some drivers will never see in their entire career.

This will boil down to who has the worst luck in 2009..........All 4 drivers are good not matter what the Jr Hater Nation says.

P.S. I always have to laugh when people make the comment about drivers getting or not getting "The good cars".........that is such an indicator of a "casual" NASCAR fan!!