Top Row Seat - NASCAR One-Third In Review
Dateline: 05/12/98NASCAR Highs
Certainly in 1998 nobody has had a better start to their season than Jeremy Mayfield. After struggling for years to even make the race each week Jeremy now sits atop the NASCAR Winston Cup points standings. For Jeremy, leaving the perennial struggles of a mid-dollar team to join Team Penske has proved to be the smartest decision he has ever made.
The easiest prediction I'll make in NASCAR in 1998 is that Jeremy Mayfield will get his first win this season.
NASCAR Lows
There is one low point of the season which simply overshadows the rest. I talked about it last week and since then I've seen many other people who agree with me. NASCAR Night In Hollywood is far and away the lowest point of the 1998 NASCAR season to date.
NASCAR Yo-Yo
Darrell Waltrip started off this season with a new sponsor after loosing Western Auto during the off-season. But Darrell just plain didn't have what it took to prepare a contender every week and very quickly found himself more often than not using the NASCAR Former Champion's Provisional to even get into the race.
Darrell hit a new low when his sponsor pulled out and he was forced to sell his team. However, this unfortunate situation has turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to him. Darrell has moved into the #1 Pennzoil car which has been temporarily vacated by the injured Steve Park. This move into well funded equipment has put Darrell Waltrip back on the NASCAR map. His fifth place finish in California proves that Ole' DW is now a legitimate threat to score a win in 1998.
One other guy who started off 1998 with a whimper but has come on with a bang is Johnny Benson. After missing the Daytona 500 in his brand new Jack Rousch Taurus. Johnny has exploded. Moving up to 15th in the points he is the highest placed driver who has not started every event. With three top fives and six top tens in the 9 races he has competed in, Johnny Benson is another guy who will likely get his career first taste of NASCAR Winston Cup Victory Lane champagne during the 1998 season.
Some Questions For You
What do you think the big story of 1998 is so far? Is there something I've missed? Something I've got all wrong? Stop by the bulletin board and let the world know. Or if you want to talk to me real time I'm available in the chat room every Wednesday night at 8pm Eastern to answer questions and defend my opinion.
