Driver Boris Said took offense to the suggestion that he is what has popularly been referred to as “a road-course ringer.” Said insisted, in fact, that the advantage at road-course tracks goes to the guys who are in Sprint Cup cars all the time - and not the other way around just because he and some others may simply have more experience making right-handed turns as well as left-handed ones.
“Being a Cup driver, racing these cars week in and week out, is a huge advantage. I just don’t think we have a huge disadvantage in these races. But by no means are we road-course ringers. I don’t know who even came up with that name,” Said argued. “That should be Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, Mark Martin … guys like that.”
Well, Said is sort of the exception to the rule. He turned down offers of substituting for another driver to enter his own car - and that of Brian Simo, who will start 43rd in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.
The real “ringers” are guys like Ron Fellows, who jumped in the No. 01 Chevrolet usually is driven by Regan Smith; or Scott Pruett, another road-course specialist (how about that instead of “ringer”), who is subbing for troubled Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Reed Sorenson in the No. 41 Dodge.
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2.0.5.4/467 Fri Sep 5 03:26:17 UTC 2008
5 Comments
smurfit
Jun 24 2008 18:26
Ringers No More!
I think that most of the drivers are getting a lot better on the road courses so the so-called ringers don’t really have that much of an advantage anymore. Just look where all the ringers finished last week. Ron Fellows finished 29th and that was the best finish of all the (ringers).
annticki
Jun 22 2008 11:46
Boris is right
And I don’t feel like he’s really in that category. He’s qualified his way into oval races very respectably. Not sure you can say that about Pruett.
What the owners are looking for at the road courses is points. They’re not looking for wins. They want to be able to “maintain” a certain number of points for the other races. Particularly if the car is near or about to fall out of the top 35…..which Sorenson happens to be.
rubbercatfish
Jun 21 2008 20:28
I agree with Boris
But based on results. When is the last time you saw a “ringer” win? In the time I have been watching Nascar, they have only been lucky enough to get a top 10 finish. Ringer? Nah, doesn’t fit at all unless you your a regular driver who wants to RINGER their neck for getting in your ride!
josieloves24
Jun 21 2008 19:01
P.S. Joe
it was pretty cool watching you Tradin’ Paint….
josieloves24
Jun 21 2008 19:00
I have to somewhat agree
with him. He has been in other Cup events that don’t involve the road-course. On the other hand, he’s pretty darn good at the road-courses simply because he has the “right hand turn” experience. I like the guy, so I wish him great luck tomorrow!!!