chico I agree that Gordon has to be a above average driver to win as he does. My point was simply that there are others who could have as much success with the team and equipment he has. Same thing for Petty in his time.
scotty, I certainly see your point, but how do you think drivers get picked up for the big teams in the first place? Team owners scout and recruit, just like colleges to for players. Gordon was noticed by Bill Davis Racing when he was a kid, and then later by Hendrick Motorsports, because he could tear up the track, no matter what he was driving. From go-carts to the Cup Series, he's won everywhere he's been. To refute the thinking that anybody could win with the kind of support Gordon has, look no further than Kyle Petty or Dale Jr. Both have incredible name recognition, and a pile of money behind them, and both have been disappointments. Granted, Junior still has the potential to succeed at a level like Gordon and Dale Sr., but so far he hasn't lived up to it. Also, look at the rocky road Gordon had to traverse after Ray Evernham left to form his own team. The money, the sponsorships, and all that other stuff were still there, but the chemistry with Robby Loomis wasn't right, and wins were few and far between. I know we tend to simplify things in NASCAR, but there's a very delicate balance in putting together a team that can sustain a championship level year in and year out. Granted, I have a bias as a Gordon fan, but I firmly believe he's the second-best driver of his generation, only because I still count Dale Sr. in that group. For those that point to Richard Petty as the best ever because of his 200+ wins, I say yes, that's very impressive, but it would be nearly impossible for anybody to break that record. Petty could win three races in one week back in the day, and they all counted. That'll likely never happen again.
