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5 Drivers Who Deserve Sprint Cup Rides

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5 Drivers Who Deserve Sprint Cup Rides

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Drivers come and go every year in the Sprint Cup circuit. Here are five who deserve a shot, or a another shot, behind the wheel of a Sprint Cup car.

5. Juan Pablo Montoya

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5. Juan Pablo Montoya

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Sure, Montoya was just in a full-time ride with Petty Motorsports a year ago, and yes, he was replaced by rookie Kyle Larson who excelled. That said, there is little argument that the Petty cars (Larson and Aric Almirola) showed more speed than in recent years and Montoya may have finally been hitting his stride in his final season in 2013. A team in need of a driver could do worse than Montoya.

4. Chase Elliott

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4. Chase Elliott

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This one is more of a matter of time than anything, but why not now? Elliott set the racing world on fire last year, winning the Nationwide Series championship as an 18-year-old rookie. There's little doubt he's ready for the big time right now.

3. Matt Crafton

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3. Matt Crafton

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The two-time defending Camping World Truck Series champion is a bit of a sentimental favorite after grinding out a career that reaches back to the year 2000. He's qualified Sprint Cup cars for other drivers, but never one for himself. At 38 years old, Crafton doesn't have the time to toil away in the XFINITY Series. After 14 years of determination and his recent success, he deserves a Sprint Cup ride now.

2. Regan Smith

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2. Regan Smith

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Smith, a winner at Darlington in 2011, drove full-time in the No. 78 Furniture Row car in 2010 and 2011, but has never had a consistent, premier Sprint Cup car. Smith has finished third and second on the Nationwide circuit over the past two years, proving he has the ability to drive a car with competitive speed. Now would be as good a time as any for a second chance.

1. Elliott Sadler

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1. Elliott Sadler

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Speaking of second chances, Sadler's is long overdue. Sadler has found his stride in the Nationwide Series over the past four years, finishing second twice and fourth twice. One would wonder how Sadler, with over 18 years of Sprint Cup Series experience, would fare with recent rule changes. At 39 years old, he's hardly a spring chicken, but a team could find a gem in the three-time Sprint Cup winner.

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