Thats true...sponsorship means more these days than talent. If i driver has a sponsor then they will boot another, just like Petey had done to him in the truck series this year. Its an unfortunate part of the business. carpentier did pretty well though....so even if there is the gillette connection, he still proved that he belonged.

i think it has more to do with the money a name can bring not talent,this is to bad nascar will turn into f1 if it continues down this path. V demands $$$ that davis can use. and i'd bet a crate motor to a bent basset rim that you scratch hard enough there is a connection between carp. and gillette. just a thought,i also believe there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll too. could not resist the coveted shot thu.

Are you saying that Villeneuve doesn't have talent?  How about coming from two penalty laps down to win the Indy 505 in 1995 (and I am not talking "lucky dog" laps).  He was one of the most dominant open wheel drivers in the world during the 90's.  As far as NASCAR turning into F1, considering HALF of the previous 12 NASCAR championships were won by guys who learned their craft in cars without fenders (Gordon & Stewart), plus with how well Montoya is performing this year (top 20 with 1 win and top rookie), it seems to me that it has more to do with brining the most talented drivers to NASCAR, not just about sponsorship money.

where did i say that villeneuve had no talent, my point was there are a ton of stock car racers will a lot of talent who will not get this chance because they do not come with a up side to marketing. as for gordon as much as a despise the man he can plain flat out drive,stewart almost as good but his open wheel success came in a watered down irl. for every open wheel racer eg you have there are ten stock car drivers who did not get that shot because of a open wheeler coming with a marketing program. this is exactly what f1 does and it works so well.........or does it.

where did i say that villeneuve had no talent, my point was there are a ton of stock car racers will a lot of talent who will not get this chance because they do not come with a up side to marketing. as for gordon as much as a despise the man he can plain flat out drive,stewart almost as good but his open wheel success came in a watered down irl. for every open wheel racer eg you have there are ten stock car drivers who did not get that shot because of a open wheeler coming with a marketing program. this is exactly what f1 does and it works so well.........or does it.

I guesse being called the greatest midget driver ever was when he was racing a watered down midget field too...Tony Stewart is the best driver in North America right now....

I always thought Ron Fellows should have had a shot at Cup years ago... Both Jacques and his father, amazing drivers, and Canadian to boot. Good Nascar drivers don't necessarily have to come from the Southern US. Some of my favorite drivers drove everything well, and that just shows how great of a driver you are. Some people cannot transfer the skills from car to car to car. Some do well in one type and not as well in others. The ones who win in everything they drive are usually the ones I like... Mark Donohue (duh... just a little obvious), Villeneuve, Ron Fellows, Earnhardt Sr, even Rusty did well on road courses. Balanced drivers who can pick up a new car very quickly.