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MILLER: SPEED Performer Of The Year Conversations
It’s one of the best B.S. sessions of the year – the speak-when-you-feel-like-it forum.
It’s one of the best B.S. sessions of the year – the speak-when-you-feel-like-it forum to select SPEED's Performer Of The Year candidates. It usually lasts about an hour and it’s fast, factual and funny as some of the sport’s legends make their case for the best driver of 2012.
Mario Andretti, who the award is named after, anchors the teleconference and Dan Gurney is a mainstay of the group that included Darrell Waltrip and Don “The Snake” Prudomme for the first time along with the usual suspects from the SPEED staff.
There were 16 drivers nominated, from 21-year-old Kyle Larson to 57-year-old Sammy Swindell and an argument was made for all of them so it’s the largest ballot in the seven years we’ve been doing this.
In the interest of fair play and incrimination, here are some of the panel’s thoughts but they won’t be quoted by name.
Motorcycle ace Casey Stoner made the shocking announcement he was retiring at the end of the season but he didn’t let a nasty ankle injury and his future detract from winning five times.
“It was win or nothing for that guy and I love his spirit,” said one panelist.
“His leg was in a very bad way and he still comes back to win.”
“That was gutsy but this shouldn’t be a sympathy vote. He didn’t win the championship and that’s important.”
“That’s why it’s got to be (Sebastian) Vettel. Three straight titles in the biggest stage in motorsports, it doesn’t get any better.”
And that’s why Brad Keselowski figures to win a lot of votes. He won the most Cup races and was NASCAR champion.
“Brad breaks his ankle and then comes back the next week and wins at Pocono, that’s the kind of thing that separates the good ones from the great ones.”
“Brad is a throwback and he calls his own shots on the radio. He grabbed that championship by the neck.”
“Beating Jimmie Johnson head-to-head, that was impressive.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay got big props for how he scored his first IndyCar crown.
“To come back like he did, overhaul Will Power and then win the championship in the last race says a lot to me.”
“He won on all kinds of tracks and you have to be so diversified to win the IndyCar title.”
Nobody was more diversified than Larson, who competed in 121 races and drove 22 different cars in 2012 – racking up 28 victories in midgets, sprints and stock cars.
“This kid has won 50 races in the past two years, he adapts to any car or track and he’s amazingly composed at all times.”
“He reminds me of Jeff Gordon but he may be better.”
“He’s still in college, he hasn’t graduated to the big leagues yet but his day will come.”
“Don’t penalize him for not being at the top level, he won in USAC, WOO and NASCAR.”
Prudomme was 54 when he won his last Funny Car title and Andretti was 53 when he scored his final Indy car win but Swindell is crowding 60 and still kicking butt in the World of Outlaws.
“Sammy won the most races, most fast times and led the most laps and finished third in the points because he had too many DNFs.
“He still works on his own car and tows it. He’s what racing is all about.”
Max Biaggi, 41, also struck a chord for the graybeards.
“He was the oldest guy in World Superbike but he came back from a crash in the next-to-last race to clinch his sixth championship in the season finale and then announced his retirement.”
“If there is a better story than Biaggi, I don’t know what it would be.”
Possibly Ryan Villipoto, who won 9 of 15 SuperCross races before a knee injury ended his season but still won the title.
“He dominated this ultra-competitive field for a year-and-a-half and clinched the title with four races to go.”
Vettel had to overtake Fernando Alonso to register his 3-peat.
“With the money on the line, Vettel went to a different level.”
“I think his car was superior to Alonso’s but he got the job done.”
“Only two other drivers have accomplished what Vettel has done.”
The winner will be announced Jan. 27th on SPEED.
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
Mario Andretti, who the award is named after, anchors the teleconference and Dan Gurney is a mainstay of the group that included Darrell Waltrip and Don “The Snake” Prudomme for the first time along with the usual suspects from the SPEED staff.
There were 16 drivers nominated, from 21-year-old Kyle Larson to 57-year-old Sammy Swindell and an argument was made for all of them so it’s the largest ballot in the seven years we’ve been doing this.
In the interest of fair play and incrimination, here are some of the panel’s thoughts but they won’t be quoted by name.
Motorcycle ace Casey Stoner made the shocking announcement he was retiring at the end of the season but he didn’t let a nasty ankle injury and his future detract from winning five times.
“It was win or nothing for that guy and I love his spirit,” said one panelist.
“His leg was in a very bad way and he still comes back to win.”
“That was gutsy but this shouldn’t be a sympathy vote. He didn’t win the championship and that’s important.”
“That’s why it’s got to be (Sebastian) Vettel. Three straight titles in the biggest stage in motorsports, it doesn’t get any better.”
And that’s why Brad Keselowski figures to win a lot of votes. He won the most Cup races and was NASCAR champion.
“Brad breaks his ankle and then comes back the next week and wins at Pocono, that’s the kind of thing that separates the good ones from the great ones.”
“Brad is a throwback and he calls his own shots on the radio. He grabbed that championship by the neck.”
“Beating Jimmie Johnson head-to-head, that was impressive.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay got big props for how he scored his first IndyCar crown.
“To come back like he did, overhaul Will Power and then win the championship in the last race says a lot to me.”
“He won on all kinds of tracks and you have to be so diversified to win the IndyCar title.”
Nobody was more diversified than Larson, who competed in 121 races and drove 22 different cars in 2012 – racking up 28 victories in midgets, sprints and stock cars.
“This kid has won 50 races in the past two years, he adapts to any car or track and he’s amazingly composed at all times.”
“He reminds me of Jeff Gordon but he may be better.”
“He’s still in college, he hasn’t graduated to the big leagues yet but his day will come.”
“Don’t penalize him for not being at the top level, he won in USAC, WOO and NASCAR.”
Prudomme was 54 when he won his last Funny Car title and Andretti was 53 when he scored his final Indy car win but Swindell is crowding 60 and still kicking butt in the World of Outlaws.
“Sammy won the most races, most fast times and led the most laps and finished third in the points because he had too many DNFs.
“He still works on his own car and tows it. He’s what racing is all about.”
Max Biaggi, 41, also struck a chord for the graybeards.
“He was the oldest guy in World Superbike but he came back from a crash in the next-to-last race to clinch his sixth championship in the season finale and then announced his retirement.”
“If there is a better story than Biaggi, I don’t know what it would be.”
Possibly Ryan Villipoto, who won 9 of 15 SuperCross races before a knee injury ended his season but still won the title.
“He dominated this ultra-competitive field for a year-and-a-half and clinched the title with four races to go.”
Vettel had to overtake Fernando Alonso to register his 3-peat.
“With the money on the line, Vettel went to a different level.”
“I think his car was superior to Alonso’s but he got the job done.”
“Only two other drivers have accomplished what Vettel has done.”
The winner will be announced Jan. 27th on SPEED.
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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