What are the top 3 most talented drivers currently on the NASCAR circuit and why?

Question

I'm not looking for biased opinions. I don't care who your favorite driver is. In all honestly, who are the 3 most talented drivers. I'm not talking in just driving a stock car. I'm talking ANYTHING. What drivers can get into almost any type of racing vehicle and drive the wheels off!

Please stop putting Dale Jr without putting supporting sentences of why you chose him. Kahne, while probably put there for good looks, has proven himself in may forms of racing and I can understand the answer. Thanks to all who have answered fully and carefully, and especially to those that admit someone that do not like has a lot of talent. Remember, this question is for any driver currently on the Nextel Cup curcuit that can and has driven just about anything! Who has the most raw driving talent?!

Answer 1

1. Tony Stewart - He has 11 different championships in various types of cars and has won in 22 of the 23 types of race cars he has driven. The man knows how to race.

2. Robby Gordon - Robby can drive anything, anywhere. Whether it be a stock car on an oval or a Trophy truck in Baja, he'll drive it and do well.

3. Jeff Gordon - He has 4 Cup championships, 76 wins, and has had success on dirt as well. Although he has gotten away from driving dirt.

Answer 2

I think that they are all talented first of all. Second I only follow NASCAR so a driver who is multi talented in other areas of auto racing I would not know about. My answer is Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Mark Martin. I think there are some other great drivers but those probably are my top 3. I am a Jeff Gordon fan, but that has nothing to do wiht why anyone should think he's talented. He is. He has 4 championships, 76 wins, 59 poles, and 481 starts. He startted racing 15 years ago this November at Atlanta. He is a great driver wiht the best stats of anyone currently on the circuit. Mark Martin is well known and well respected. He has a great sense of driving and has made this his career for 20 years. Tony Stewart is a good driver wiht tons of talent and lots and lots of anger. He can drive practically anything and win wiht it more htne likely. He just needs to learn to control his temper. He has a very aggressive nature to him and that can sometimes get him into trouble on and off the track. So hope that answers your question.

Answer 3

Tony Stewart is the first person, I cant think of anyone else that has as many titles as he does on any racing circuit, not only as a driver but also as a owner.

JPM is a driver I put on here only because of the success he has enjoyed in open wheel from CART, F3000, and F1. Eventually he will win a couple of Nascar races, if he doesnt get kicked out of this series as well.

R. Gordon has enjoyed moderate success in everything he has driven as well. So he makes the list

I could include some other drivers like J. Gordon seems to be a hot choice, but I dont feel like going back to someones childhood to say they can compete and win championships in another series.

Answer 4

Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya. Tony Stewart because he can win at any kind of car he gets in. Jeff Gordon because he will likely break most of the important Nascar Nextel Cup records. And Juan Pablo Montoya who has won the Indy 500, CART champ in his rookie season and a very nice F1 career.

Answer 5

There are several drivers that come to mind,each are very good and talented.But here is the 3 I think are the most talented;
Tony Stewart,Drives hard in any type car sprint.open wheel,dirt stockcars,Indy cars,Rolex style cars,as wll as full body stocks(CUP-BUSCH)
Jeff Gordon,Knows when to pick and choose his area of the track.Having driven midgets,sprints,Busch,Cup and even tried an F1.
Ken Schrader,Yes he has not won in years,but if the car has wheels he will drive it.
Worthy of mention;Mark Martin,Jimmie Johnson,John Andretti,Juan P Montoya.

Answer 6

The first one that I think of based purely on talent is Tony Stewart. He will hop into a go cart and tear it up. Dirt, asphalt, it doesn't matter to Smoke. I don't really like him at all but respect the hell out of him. Jeff Gordon might not do all the dirt stuff that Tony does but you also have to acknowledge his undeniable talent. Dale Sr recognized Jeff's talent when he first started in the Winston Cup series and nicknamed him Wonder Boy. Jeff came from an open wheel background, like Tony did, and is very comfortable in the sports cars they run in the 24 hrs of Daytona. Jeff's talent can be seen at every type of track from Bristol to the super speedways and road courses. Jimmie Johnson is the last of my top 3, and I put them in the order they are mentioned. Jimmie came from a dirt bike and off road background growing up in California. He has shown his adaptability to the different types of tracks in NASCAR and has progressed faster than any driver I've ever seen come up to the cup series. He dominates on the intermediate tracks but really excels at the flatter ones. I feel it is tougher to negotiate these flat tracks and takes more understanding and finesse from the driver on how to approach the turns. Jimmie has also done well in the Rolex Grand Am series and proven his vesatility at the International Race of Champions. I think that how you strategize and adapt to changing conditions during a race are a part of driving talent and Jimmie is the best of these 3 at that. Robby Gordon has to be mentioned also because despite what many people think he is an incredibly talented driver. I'm not saying he always makes the smartest decisions but he can drive the wheels off of almost anything. His success in the Baja series cannot be ignored and he is very comfortable in the open wheel cars as well. Kyle Busch would be on my short list as well. Despite his impatience and lack of focus he is full of driving ability. He has a little Tony Stewart in him at times (driving fast but not making good split second decisions) but could end up being one of the greats if he ever learns to pick his spots better.

Wow, I forgot Juan Pablo Montoya. Like him or hate him that guy can drive. If Tony Stewart says he has more talent than 99% of the people he races against I have to give him an honorable mention also.

Hey cale 11 (above me): You say you would like to see how Jimmie would do with the crew chief of the 25 car. Last year Darian Grubb WAS his crew chief for 4 races when Chad got suspended for the infraction at Daytona. During those 4 races with Mear's crew chief Jimmie won twice, finished 2nd once and had a worst of 6th.

Answer 7

Tony Stewart, Dale Jr, Kasey Kahne

Answer 8

Montoya has shown this year that he can step in and drive just about anything. Mark Martin is the most consistent driver there is, he is rarely in a wreck and although he has a quite race he always manages a top 15 finish. Jeff Gordon has shown over the years what type of talent he has.

As for Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart yeah they've got talent, but I think most of their success comes from having great crews that always put a great car on the track.

Answer 9

Jimmy Johnson- not only is he consistent, but he can find his ways to the winners circle quite often.

Matt Kennseth- very consitent driver; tons of top 5's. Yeah, he may not see the winners circle often; but his consitency more then makes up for his lack of wins

Jeff Gordon- After a very rough 2005 season he has gotten his passion for racing back again; he is becoming more and more consistent. He is starting to regain his former form.

Answer 10

I'm an old fart compared to a lot of you guys.I was listening to the INDY500 on the radio with my dad when A.J.won his first 500.Over the years I have worked in the racing industry as a crewman,wrench and driver(as a driver-never on any PRO circuits,just amateur stuff)and I have not seen a driver since A.J. and Mario That could WHEEL a car like TONY STEWART.Any car -any time any surface.He is as smooth behind the wheel as JACKIE STEWART was ,and as bold as A.J. was.He drove an INDYCAR as well as anyone.SPRINT CARS--STOCK CARS--ENDURANCE CARS--IROC--You name it,SMOKE can drive it.Although I'm not a fan of JEFF GORDON,I think he's one of the best Stock car drivers out there right now.I'm not a fan of KASEY KAYNE either,but I've watched him in SPRINTERS--AMAZING CAR CONTROL. Those are my 3.SMOKE JEFF and KAYNE.