NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Calinoff’s Capsule Comments
Full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have the upper hand on road-racing specialists...
Mike Calinoff  |  Posted June 22, 2011   Concord, NC
Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon has enjoyed major success at the two road courses where the Sprint Cup Series competes. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
NASCAR’s two top-tier series venture out to road courses this weekend. It’ll be a test of patience, finesse and strategy. Both series typically boast an unpredictable winner. Or do they?

For so many years the term “road course ringer” was at the forefront of everyone's mind. Guys like Boris Said, Ron Fellows and Scott Pruett have been amongst those who have been hired guns for teams to gain an edge in a left and right environment — but with limited results.

Since 1998, the cumulative wins of road course “specialists” have been...zero. And while Juan Pablo Montoya has won twice — once each at Infineon and Watkins Glen — I still place him amongst those who are regular stock car drivers. My article, I get to make the rules.

So, over the last 12 years, what drivers have been prevalent in winning at the two Cup road course venues? Well, according to statistics, those drivers who have been successful racing sprint cars in their early years have taken home the top prizes. That’s right, sprint car drivers.

The correlation is far too deep for me to analyze, but the fact remains that Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne have been the most successful at road courses since 1998. It’s a total of 16 wins over the course of 22 races. To me, that’s a pretty overwhelming average.

Why is that? Well, I’m not too sure. But I can tell you this: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing is a series like no other.

The best drivers in the world compete each week in fields that are separated by mere tenths of seconds. Winning and losing is typically divided by a blink of an eye. You can bring in all the “ringers” you’d like, but our guys will not be defeated. They figure a way to come out on top. It’s truly why they’re the best.

Both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will have a smattering of so-called “ringers” this weekend. But, it won’t make too much of a difference. Our stock car boys will persevere at the end. It’s what they do and it’s why they are some of the best in the world.

Now watch: It'll be just my luck that Boris Said will win Infineon in James Finch’s car — and blow my theory all to hell.

Mike Calinoff is the Spotter for Matt Kenseth (NSCS), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (NNS) and Nelson Piquet Jr. (NCWTS). A 20-year veteran of the sport, Calinoff has many business interests in NASCAR and is the owner of the SouthEast Limited Late Model Series. In addition to spotting, writing for SPEED.com and FordRacing.com, Mike can be heard each week on Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128 every Wednesday with Dave Moody at 6 PM ET. An engaging figure with race fans, Calinoff regularly runs contests on his Facebook Fan Page for fans to win race tickets and pit passes to NASCAR events. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeCalinoff, join his Fan Page or visit his website. He can be reached at mike@mikecalinoff.com.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of Mike Calinoff and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, SPEED, Roush Fenway Racing, Kevin Harvick, Inc., Ford or Diageo.
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