For these Four, A Season to Forget
With just eight races to go before the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase to the Championship begins, there is a group of drivers whose season thus far have been a huge disappointment. Back in February, when this year’s version of NASCAR opened its season at Daytona International Speedway, there was a pretty good bet that these drivers would be higher up in the Chase standings. For these five teams, the season can be labeled a huge disappointment thus far.
Clint Bowyer: The happy go lucky Bowyer is mired in a season long slump. Since moving from the now defunct Michael Waltrip Racing Team to H Scott Motorsports Team, Bowyer has only finished on the lead lap eight times in 18 races. With an average finish of 23 in those races, Bowyer sits 26th in Sprint Cup points. The news hasn’t been all bad in the Bowyer household though. Clint and his wife are expecting their 2nd baby soon. Even with that great news I’m guessing Bowyer is anxious to get into his 2017 ride at Stewart-Haas racing.
Danica Patrick: The popular driver in the well-funded Stewart Haas Racing Team has not had anywhere near the success of her teammates, Kevin Harvick (1 win, tops in points), Kurt Busch (1 win, 2nd in points), and Tony Stewart (1 win). In her 4th season as a Sprint Cup Driver, the popular Patrick has yet to equal the enormous popularity off the track with success on it. This season just like her priors has seen little progress in her results. She sits 24th in points going into New Hampshire with zero top 10 finishes.
Greg Biffle: Perhaps the poster child of the fall from the top of the entire Roush Fenway Racing organization, the talented Biffle has not enjoyed the results which a driver with his talent should enjoy. In his 13th season in Sprint Cup, this could be his most disappointing. Biffle average finish of 20th has him sitting 22nd in Sprint Cup Points. His team has recently shown a bit more speed so there is still hope that Biffle can capture a victory and sneak into the Chase.
Kasey Kahne: As Biffle may be the Poster Child of Roush Fenway ailments, Kahne may be the same with the heavily funded and usually highly successful Hendrick Motorsports Team. With only two top 5’s going into New England, Kahne’s average finish is a disappointing 16th. With so many young drivers racing in the Xfinity Series, Kahne must feel very fortunate he’s signed through the 2018 season. All that said, Kasey and his team are absolutely capable of going on a roll and finding a spot in the Chase.
There are a few other drivers struggling more than one would have predicted at the beginning of the season. Jamie McMurray, Austin Dillon and even Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s seasons could be described as disappointing. With only eight races remaining in the season it’s time for these drivers to change their fortunes. One checkered flag is all it takes.
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