My Favorites:

Oldies:
Alan Kulwicki - his Ford looked cool
Davey Allison - that Texaco car was sweet and he could beat Earnhardt with it
Harry Gant - he achieved more success as he got older
Current:
Tony Stewart - His work with dirt track racing and bringing it to the spotlight, ability to drive different cars successfully
David Stremme - Location and family racing locally give him the "local" nod.
Tony Raines - Also local and felt like he did a lot with a one car team when in the 96
Dale Jr - Attitude and presentation in interviews and such is just genuine and strikes me as a cool person wrapped up in racing.
Kyle - He will drive a car beyond loose and hold onto it.
Robby Gordon - Goes it alone and does it his way - right or wrong - nuff said.
Jeff Burton - Restarted his whole career with RCR and is just clean driver

Un-Favorites:
Oldies:
Earnhardt - Put a Chevy into the winners circle too much
Geoff Bodine - Spelled his name with a "G" and that just didn't seem right
Current:
Jeff Gordon - Just seems too polished. Will admit he is one like Tony that can drive anything well.
Jimmie Johnson - Ditto the "polished" thing.
Kurt Busch - just can't put my finger on it - but think the same deal - doesn't seem genuine a whole bunch. Maybe that is how he is in real life - don't know.

Note how my early in life picks were based on color schemes or Fords - no real thinking logic to it I guess - more of a gut "I like this guy" deal.

It'd be really cool to hear Maurice or Chris or others that actually interacted with many Nascar drivers contribute to this (besides all of us normal tv watching fans!)

Oldies
Rich Sommers - was soooooo smooth, had a really good looking mustang fastback
JJ Smith - Could win on 1/2 dirt on saturday nite, take the same car to asphalt Sunday PM and win again

No one here will know those two, but they were good for me.

Butch Miller - could win anywhere, anytime. Drove sooooo clean and one of the nicest guys in the pits
Bobby and Davey Allison - Two of the best ambassadors for the sport in anytime
Tim Richmond - raw talent, unrefined
Cale Y - simply the best at the time

Current
Scott Hantz - is soooooo smooth.
Landon Cassill - mature beyond his years and never tries to get more than the car has
Kyle Bush - Tony Stewart in a cartoon character's body and attitude
Tony Stewart - just cuz he is Tony, exactly what the cup series needs more of

Favorite Driver!!!! Who else The ICEMAN himself, Terry Labonte.
Why: You never seen him have a temper tantrum. He was the winner of the first (very memorable) Nascar event I attended at Bristol Speedway. The race that he got spun out and finished the race backwards for the win. Who doesn't like Tony the Tiger and Kelloggs his big sponsors.

Unfavorite Driver: Michael Waltrip
Why: Do I have to elaborate more!! He always has excuses why he doesn't run well. Seems very arrogant it seems to me alot in front of the camera. Has the best equipment but never seems to perform well.

Oldies that I liked: (In no particular order)

Davey Allison : Earnhardt and Gordon wouldn't have as many Cup trophies if this guy never died. he was genuine and down to earth but could drive the hell outta a car.

Neil Bonnet: That Team Budweiser car was the cats ass! Plus, his show "Winners" was really cool!

Ol' DW: You can say what you want about "Jaws" but back in the day he was right up there with that 3#

Rusty Wallace: Although recently retired Rusty has over 50 wins and that in itself is a great accomplishment in Cup. Rusty was one of my favs way back.

Tim Richmond: Again, Earnhardt and Gordon wouldn't have accomplished what they have if this guy didn't have his life end early. Raw talent and NO BS!


David Pearson: Although I didn't get to see him race alot, I have seen some classic races from "Back in the Day" and the show that preceded it. The Silver Fox was one of the best......he didn't drive full time throughout his career but, if he had Petty wouldn't of had 7 championships! (Thanks for letting me borrow the Holman and Moody #17, this is where my number comes from! I always had a thing for the blue and gold car Pearson drove for H&M)

Dale Earnhardt SR.: The Intimidator, need I say more?


Current that I like:

Jeff Gordon: Say what you will, he can drive a racecar. He has the most championships and wins of any active driver. He has more wins in a shorty time period than the late great Dale Earnhardt.

Dale Junior: He's a driver still coming into his own. The decision to move to HMS will prove that. Genuine personality and pretty humble for someone so damn popular!

Tony Stewart: I used to not like Tony because of his antics but I came to understand it. Tony can drive a 3 legged horse and still win the race!

Mark Martin: A true racing gent. The best driver never to win a championship.


Drivers I don't like:
Kyle Bush: Yep, the kid can drive but needs to grow up some.

Jimmy Johnson: Someone mentioned polished...this dude is beyond polished....and we thought Gordon cried alot!

Matt Kenseth: Just don't like him, never have. I can't put my finger on it.

Denny Hamlin: I think he's the runner up spoiled brat at JGR.

Paul Menard: If my dad was(insert bad language here)Teresa Earnhardt that could be me, not to mention daddy spent a fortune getting his no talent son a seat with DEI!

Juan Pablo Montoya: Momma always told me if i had nothing nice to say than just shut up! I'll use that rule here!

This concludes my list for now. I'm sure I'll think of more later!

ROFLMAO!!!

OMG..........spit out Mt. Dew all over myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

favorites current
dale jr: great racer and is sponsored by mt dew
dave blaney: nice guy
clint bowyer: 07
ryan newman: dodge and raced quarter midgets.
brad keselowski: jr nation
joey logano: good driver and raced qm
carl edwards: always a happy guy

hate
busch brothers: cocky, dirty, and kyle is toyota.
tony stewart: dirty and just a jerk.
anyone from indy.

Favorite: Martin Truex, Jr.
Reason: Seems to have a good head on his shoulders and is a decent driver.

Least Favorite: Kurt Busch
Reason: He always seems like he is trying to be an intellectual. NASCAR drivers aren't intellectual.

Favorite: Jeff Burton, if he can't pass you clean, he won't.

least favorite: duh, shrub. he'll wreck you and have no remorse for doing it. He is a selfish punk

Oldie Favorites:
Davey Allison - I remember being a little kid and I didn't even know the guys name, but that Texaco car was the easiest car to pick out on the TV screen for a 6 year old.

Cale Yarborough - Shares the same birthday as me. Plus he was just plain tenacious behind the wheel.

Current Favorites:
Mark Martin - Favorite driver of all time. Always gracious win lose or draw.

Kyle Busch - Raw talent. Some say he's cocky, but to me he is just confident. I would be too if I had his talent. Also earned a little respect from me when he was at Winchester last year and when he broke a hub he was the one under the car working on it trying to get back into the race.

Carl Edwards - FORD driver and talented. After the Atlanta race where he passed Johnson on the high side, then after the race there was a brief shot of his chunked, cord showing tires. He's always been respectful and he still races on the local tracks supporting them.

Clint Bowyer - A fantastic dirt modified driver. I don't know if he will ever be a truly great NASCAR driver, but man the guy can wheel on dirt... and even though he's in NASCAR, he still owns his own dirt modified and races.

Robby Gordon - Can flat out wheel anything.. on road.. off road.. dirt late models... don't matter. He was the first "big time" driver that I got to meet at Indy when he was still in the IRL and he took the time to take pictures and give me an autograph. Also took me up in the teams hauler... never forget that.

Tony Stewart - Supports local racing beyond being a great driver. Tony also contributes more to others, Victory Junction, and other charities than any other driver in the world. Too many drivers "hord" their money, and it's great to see Tony give back to the world just as he receives.

Juan Pablo Montoya - Has a "don't take any crap" attitude... I respect that.

LEAST Favorite Drivers:

DALE EARNHARDT JR. - The single most overrated, under talented, driver in NASCAR. I don't have a problem with him "personally", but the hypocritical "Junior Nation" is what annoys the crap outta me and thus causes me to lose any respect for Dale Jr.

Jimmie Johnson - Too polished.... Very talented, but just doesn't impress me because he has no attitude.

Favorite: Jimmy Johnson - Just a regular guy driving a Chevy. Have you ever heard the guy complain? Seriously, it's always about their car, their set up, things he could have done better...

Least Favorite: Tony Stewart - the EXACT opposite of the above statement.

FAVORITE
Kyle Busch - Raw talent and can drive the wheels off gives a 110 percent every lap no matter how it handles
JEFF GORDON HE looks out for his fans trying to save them money how long has he been selling THE DRIVE FOR FIVE shirts you can buy one and wear it a lifetime





DALE EARNHARDT JR. - The single most overrated, under talented, driver in NASCAR.
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At one time I knew every driver out there, today I know very few and I am glad.

My favorites are based on the drivers personality and not his number of wins or his prowess on the track. My experiences with them had nothing to do with their race cars or accomplishments. Mine was strictly business, and thats where you get to know the true man behind the uniform.

Ricky Rudd - One of my all time favorites. Down to earth, witty and a thinker. He loved anything with a motor - race car, boat, plane, etc. He is also a hell of a pilot and knows airplanes inside and out. He is one of the few Cup drivers I would ever strap into a plane with and go flying. His wife Linda was also a real down to earth person. Both treated me like gold. Ricky is a BIG time family man. He loves his family and wants them around him all the time. He even insisted on diving his son to school whenever he could so he could spend more time with him. How many Cup drivers do you know that stepped out of go karts and directly into Cup cars and later won races ? Ricky did. He never ran short tracks and his Uncle and Dad built his first race car out of the family owned junk yard.

Kenny Schrader - Despite his popularity, he remained a good ol country boy. He was approachable and would talk with anyone. A true motor head, this guy loved anything that was fast. I hooked him up with an old buddy of mine Bill Baird who also happened to have a retired Mig Fighter jet. I believe he took Kenny for a ride and the two became great friends and partners in a race team. Kenny is just an awesome dude.

Davey Allison - What a huge loss to the race world. Another gutsy driver with nothing but raw talent. We never got to see his talent peak and I think he would have been one of our best. Inside a racecar this old country boy was focused and outside the car he was hilarious when he was pulling jokes on others. He was very well liked in the pits. I never got the chance to get to know him well as he died as I was just starting my career in NASCAR.

Big Dale - Sr. was a complex individual. Many thought he was a simple old country boy and yes he held true to his roots. In crtain situations he was like an old hillbilly and in other moments like he just stepped onto Wall Street. He was a huge fisherman, hunter and outdoors man yet he was a formidable foe in any business dealings. He had an eighth grade education but had one of the smartest minds among the drivers in regards to business. He built an empire in merchandising and was so good at it that other drivers had him handle their programs as well. When he was focused on setting the car up, he was in a world by himself and you left him alone. When he wasn't he could be like a school aged kid playing jokes on others. Him and Davey Allison I have seen joke around with each other a lot. I myself liked Dale and had a great deal of respect for him.

Terry Labonte - You wont meet a more down to earth guy anywhere. I never looked at him as a country boy but rather a polished country kid. Quiet, likable and witty. Its the silent ones you always have to watch out for as they can throw you for a loop with some of the hilarious things they say. I really liked Terry as he was a gentleman and truly a good person. His brother Bobby is nearly the same as Terry except a little more outgoing. Both are awesome people.

There were several others that I always enjoyed talking to and that I thought were really good people. Some you couldn't get away from in a conversation if the topic was something they enjoyed. Jeremy Mayfield ( one helluva great guy ), Kenny Wallace ( this guy would keep you in stitches ). Dave Marcis ( had nothing but was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet ). Buddy Baker ( loved his women and booze and would get you crying with laughter over his stories and experiences ). Rick Mast ( another down to earth guy ). Harry Gant ( loved racing and hated the PR end of it. He was a true mans man and would rather be building a barn then doing a PR event ). Ned Jarret ( this man had a heart of gold and was one of my mentors when I started doing broadcasting ). Benny Parsons ( We both shared a love for food which turned into Saturday morning doughnut fights in Junie Donlaveys hauler. This man was simply Golden. One of the best people I ever met ). Neil Bonnet ( If God placed an awesome man on this earth for all to enjoy, it was Neil. One of the greatest people around and a very close friend and hunting buddy of Dale Sr. ) There were many others as well that I met, was around or worked with and found them to be great people.

The Ones I disliked ? I got along with everyone in the garage area. But there were a few drivers who were nothing more then a plastic figure to the fans and displayed a nice guy personality on the camera and was a complete and utter horses ass off the camera and in person. I could write a book on this subject.

I have my reasons for not liking a few drivers and some of those reasons I cannot get into. They were either moments I experienced or witnessed and some were very personal and could bring heat down on a few people. Those secrets I will take to my grave with me. I witnessed, I formed my own opinions and I kept my mouth shut. You will not last long in NASCAR if you run your mouth.

I will also include an owners list as well later as some of them deserve mentioning here too.

Chris