The 43 Days of Daytona - 36th Place in 2005
Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.
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Bobbie Hamilton Jr.
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Hamilton Jr. raced for the #32-Tide Cal Wells-owned team last year. He ran in 33 races last season with 0 Top 5's or Top 10's. Though surprisingly, at number 36 in the points, he isn't the highest finisher who failed to score any Top 5's or Top 10's, that guy doesn't come up in our countdown to Daytona until spot number 29.
He failed to meet his expectations and the team failed to meet theirs.
His average starting position was 25.5. His average finish was 32.3. Based on averages, he was finishing 7 spots further back than where he qualified. Something during the race was seriously wrong with this team. Whether it was a failure of the team and driver to mesh, a failure of the driver's ability, or of the team's skill isn't known. We do know that Bobby Hamilton Jr. and the #32 Tide team have parted company going into 2006.
Despite all that, his winning for the 2005 season were $2,898,090. But winning purse money doesn't equate with success in NASCAR. Poles, Top 5's, Top 10's, Wins...above all Wins, and putting yourself and your car in the Chase for the Championship. This team as formatted last year wasn't going to do that.
According to InsideRacing.com, Hamilton Jr. is going to be driving for one of his father's Craftsman Truck Series teams full time this season, though he expects to be driving in NEXTEL Cup, occasionally, for unnamed teams and sponsors at some point over the year. Uh huh! Yeah! We've heard that one before.
This would be more believable if Bobby Hamilton Racing, that's his father's company, hadn't come back a few days later and said that this story wasn't necessarily true, but that details would be forthcoming. A few days later, they announced that BH Jr. would be running for Green Light Racing in a one-race deal at Daytona...then, a few days later, that he would be running for Bobby Dotter Racing at Daytona and would, then, run a limited schedule for BHR through the remainder of the season.
Uhmmmm...okay.
Bobby Hamilton Jr. fans...he could show up anywhere. Considering that the story has changed four times over four days, I'd keep an eye out for the truth.
Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Not applicable.
Do I think he could go win a championship? No.
Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Maybe in trucks. Any ride that he bounces into for a one-race deal in NEXTEL Cup won't be competitive.
----------------
Bobbie Hamilton Jr.
# -
Hamilton Jr. raced for the #32-Tide Cal Wells-owned team last year. He ran in 33 races last season with 0 Top 5's or Top 10's. Though surprisingly, at number 36 in the points, he isn't the highest finisher who failed to score any Top 5's or Top 10's, that guy doesn't come up in our countdown to Daytona until spot number 29.
He failed to meet his expectations and the team failed to meet theirs.
His average starting position was 25.5. His average finish was 32.3. Based on averages, he was finishing 7 spots further back than where he qualified. Something during the race was seriously wrong with this team. Whether it was a failure of the team and driver to mesh, a failure of the driver's ability, or of the team's skill isn't known. We do know that Bobby Hamilton Jr. and the #32 Tide team have parted company going into 2006.
Despite all that, his winning for the 2005 season were $2,898,090. But winning purse money doesn't equate with success in NASCAR. Poles, Top 5's, Top 10's, Wins...above all Wins, and putting yourself and your car in the Chase for the Championship. This team as formatted last year wasn't going to do that.
According to InsideRacing.com, Hamilton Jr. is going to be driving for one of his father's Craftsman Truck Series teams full time this season, though he expects to be driving in NEXTEL Cup, occasionally, for unnamed teams and sponsors at some point over the year. Uh huh! Yeah! We've heard that one before.
This would be more believable if Bobby Hamilton Racing, that's his father's company, hadn't come back a few days later and said that this story wasn't necessarily true, but that details would be forthcoming. A few days later, they announced that BH Jr. would be running for Green Light Racing in a one-race deal at Daytona...then, a few days later, that he would be running for Bobby Dotter Racing at Daytona and would, then, run a limited schedule for BHR through the remainder of the season.
Uhmmmm...okay.
Bobby Hamilton Jr. fans...he could show up anywhere. Considering that the story has changed four times over four days, I'd keep an eye out for the truth.
Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Not applicable.
Do I think he could go win a championship? No.
Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Maybe in trucks. Any ride that he bounces into for a one-race deal in NEXTEL Cup won't be competitive.
posted by Mark "Puff" Anderson | 9:32 AM
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