2020 Driver Ratings

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ddrap14

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Dec 26, 2019
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_ignitionblog
Did the part timers while bored in class.
Remember, this is based on overall performance compared to preseason expectations, not on overall performance compared to Elliott


BJ McLeod, Garrett Smithley, Josh Bilicki, Reed Sorenson: 5/10
They met what expectations they had but realistically spending your year bouncing around cars like the #7 and #53 isn't a good way for anyone to spend a year.

JJ Yeley: 5/10
He only gets a different entry to the others as he is full time and not part time. Don't think he'll return next year because he won't enjoy running 35th again

Joey Gase: 4/10
For a driver expected to lead RWB's entry, the fact he only did better than Yeley due to a 17th in an event Yeley did not start isn't great

Ross Chastain: 5/10
Three top 20s in only 8 starts is impressive, especially so when you consider that four are in the Spire car. If moves for next year were counted he'd get a 7, having landed the 42.

Timmy Hill: 6/10
Ran up front far more than being with MBM would suggest, nearly grabbed a top 10 at Daytona road course (I think) and generally is loving life running all three series.

Justin Haley: 7/10
The Superspeedway King. The big teams need to get him in a part time car for Daytona next year, he could be a smokey to win the whole thing

Kaz Grala: 9/10
Came from the clouds to put his name very much in contention for a 2021 ride by impressing on substitute duty for Austin Dillon at Daytona RC.

James Davison: 4/10
I hoped we had found another Marcos Ambrose. We hadn't.

Brendan Gaughan: 4/10
He had his usual speed but a top 5 went begging in his final ever race.

Kyle Larson: 2/10
Oh. This is awkward.
 

ddrap14

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Dec 26, 2019
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_ignitionblog
Quin Houff: 2/10
When you score double the points of Larson in nine times the races, maybe you just aren't cut out for Cup. Or you're Brian Scott. Being called out by Keselowski for being the worst driver in the series hurts too.

Brennan Poole: 3/10
Not sure how he found more sponsorship after losing it but it did allow him to get his first top 10, keeping him off the Houff basement floor.

Daniel Suarez: 5/10
For an unchartered car in their first full season, it was a big effort from Suarez to get it anywhere other than last of the full times. It should be noted that missing the 500 is crushingly disappointing

Corey Lajoie: 4/10
Meh is the best word for his season. Or at least his post-Covid break season. That Daytona wreck was anything other than meh.

Ryan Preece: 3/10
He was behind an unchartered car at halfway through the season. He did have some good late season form but I doubt it will be enough to save his job.

Matt Kenseth: 5/10
He was a bit poor but he was thrown in the deep end by Larson. Second at Indy is a highlight

John Hunter Nemechek: 5/10
Meh. Nice liveries though

Ty Dillon: 5/10
Should have won the Yellawood 500. Apart from that, a pretty boring season with a final year team

Ryan Newman: 6/10
I can't rate it any higher because of the crash but coming back from it to 25th in the standings is impressive. Bonus points for coming sixth at another superspeedwat three S/S races after that incident.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 5/10
Pole at Daytona, podiuns at Las vegas and Talladega and a stage win too were higlights of a pretty decent season for Stenhouse. He did wreck a lot though.

Michael McDowell: 7/10
I didn't call him beating Ty or either JTG preseason. No real highlights, just a consistently decent performance. With that said...

Bubba Wallace: 6/10
... Bubba won't like that he turned him in the All Star Qualifier. It was a symbol of Bubba's season as the same thing happened to him at Talladega. He should not be bullied either; some treatment from fans has been shocking. On track highlights include fifth at the Daytona RC.

Chris Buescher: 6/10
Buescher will be frustreated with how Talladega went but it's been a good year for him. He got a podium in the Daytona 500, and then unexpectedly became the effective team leader with Ryan Newman sidelined. He shows some maturity; 2 T5s and 8 T10s are a career best for him, as is 21st in the championship.

Chris Bell: 7/10
Standing on the podium two weeks ago at Texas capped a great year for Bell. He moves onwards to the 20 in 2021, and he's shown skill that he can cope with the pressure.

Tyler Reddick: 7/10
Same rating as Bell because he had the same season, just with a podium at Texas 1 rather than 2. A big factor behind the RCR resurgence is him making Hemric's wrongs right.

Jimmie Johnson: 5/10
Much romance off the track, and soem good results (third at Bristol and Dover) but he'll be disappointed not to have won in his final season. Will still be one of the highlight years of his life

Erik Jones: 6/10
Should have won a race. Both Talladega finishes were brutal on him, and he got three more podiums in addition to that.

Cole Custer: 8/10
Again, the same rating as the other rookies... except inflated for his race win at Kentucky.

Aric Almirola: 7/10
Another driver who should have won a race with that level of midseason form. But, he didn't.

Will Byron: 7/10
A bit of a pariah to Jimmie fans, but getting his first win was the big highlight from an otherwise boring season for the 24.

Matt diBenedetto: 7/10
MDB still can't win but apart from that he took the 21 to its best year since Ryan Blaney, and his best year in Cup to date.

Clint Bowyer: 5/10
Only two top 10s in his final season will disappoint the outgoing Bowyer but he seems content with his career.

Austin Dillon: 8/10
What a good year for RCR. Dillon winning Texas in a 1-2, standing on the podium twice more and finishing 11th overall... he isn't there just to make up the numbers

Kurt Busch: 7/10
Having a exactly as expected season in constrast with his teammate turmoil, Busch picked up his first win in over a year at Las Vegas. This pushed him into the Championship Eight.

Ryan Blaney: 8/10
Maybe he didn't deserve that particular win due to the contact with Jones, but winning *a* race was justified, with great form and bad luck pre-break being followed with great form and just missing out post-break. Could be a smokie for 2021

Kyle Busch: 3/10
Rescued from a one by the Texas win, Busch has had a poor year.

Martin Truex Jr: 6/10
He had some good races (a run of 8 podiums in 9 races in the midseason and 12 in total) but ultimately only converting one of those into a win, as well as going out of Darlington after dominating the opening 3/4 of the race, cost him dearly.

Alex Bowman: 7/10
Did't show enough absolute form to make the Championship 4 but a first win is a big milestone for him.

Kevin Harvick: 8.5/10
Can't give him a 9 after his run in cost him a certain Top 4 spot, but he did have a great year until then. Finishing every race really helps.

Denny Hamlin: 9/10
The co-dominator with Harvick, Denny also could have had a much better Playoffs, but highlights incude winning the Daytona 500 and having two of the three sweeps (Most Laps Led, and all three stages) of the year at Homestead and DOver 1 (the other was Harvick, Michigan 1)

Joey Logano: 8/10
A patchy start but good late form got him into the Championship Four again.

Brad Keselowski: 8/10
Despite an abhorrent run in the Playoffs (where he won one of the first six races and missed the top 10 the other five) he made the four and finished second.

Chase Elliott: 9/10
Champion. That's why you get on form at the right point in the season.
 

ddrap14

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Dec 26, 2019
138
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_ignitionblog
Stats:
Worst year (apart from Larson): Quin Houff
Best year: Elliott, Hamlin, Grala
Surprises: McDowell, Grala, Custer
Disappointments: Houff, Kyle Busch, Preece
 

Cola83

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Jan 10, 2018
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Stats:
Worst year (apart from Larson): Quin Houff
Best year: Elliott, Hamlin, Grala
Surprises: McDowell, Grala, Custer
Disappointments: Houff, Kyle Busch, Preece

I enjoyed ALL of the Stats and brief descriptions of the drivers, Great Job, but I think you could include Harvick in the Best Year Stat, if not at least Honorable Mention. :)
 

ddrap14

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Dec 26, 2019
138
43
_ignitionblog
I enjoyed ALL of the Stats and brief descriptions of the drivers, Great Job, but I think you could include Harvick in the Best Year Stat, if not at least Honorable Mention. :)
I guess he deserves it but that run in was the worst I've ever seen from someone as priorly dominant as him
 

Cola83

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Jan 10, 2018
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I guess he deserves it but that run in was the worst I've ever seen from someone as priorly dominant as him

I would have to agree with that statement.. he only needed to run descent to get in the final 4.

Hey one more Stat - worst in race performance - #2 pit crew at Phoenix, cost Brad a shot at Championship.
 
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