Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin - will they ever regain their early success?

May be...

I don't see how you can call them "has beens"! They are all still racing, doing better than a lot of drivers out there. They all have rides with contracts to keep them going. What is has been about that? They are all doing just fine. Did you see the race yesterday?

*SHOQ*

Bias alert, but I know Denny will gain back his early success. He's been hit with some crummy luck, but I think he's finally gaining focus and will be on the prowl. Kurt Busch is a great driver but, like others pointed out, should probably seek a better team. I like Ryan but I honestly don't know about him so I won't say anything. I would not call any of these drivers "has beens" though. They're all awesome in their own right.

Hamlin has a good owner and that will help him a lot.

Newman is with a new owner and team; so I doubt he'll do anything any time soon.

Busch is an odd one I believe he can win some races, but I don't think he'll win a cup again.

i think hamlin has the best chance at it because he's the youngest with the best equiptment.

kurt busch might have a chance yet, depending on how serious penske gets with his nascar program.

newman might get a good shot in the arm once stewart-haas really gets going, but i'm not really sure.

i dont think newman or hamlin will win a championship.kurt will win races but not another cup though.

Kurt Busch will have to move to another, better team if he wants to recapture his success; he's not going to do it with Penske. I don't know about Hamlin. I know he's with a better team than the others and has made the Chase, but he just doesn't seem focused or something. He probably has the best chance of coming back of the three. Ryan Newman--I hope he improves because I like him, but he's with an unproven team.

All of these guys started their careers off great but seem to have really fallen off lately.

Denny Hamlin finished 3rd in points in his ROOKIE season, yet finished last in the chase the past two years

Kurt Busch won the 2004 championship, yet finished 18th in points in 08

Ryan Newman had 8 wins and 11 poles in 2003, yet has only 1 win in the past 3 seasons.

Will any of these guys come back or are they all "has beens"

For Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman I don't think and I certainly don't hope they are "has beens". So sorry but I can't say the same for Busch, what I can say is "Go Home"! I'm sick of those Busch boys!

Denny has never missed the chase in his 3 full seasons. The fact that he has had some bad racing luck during those last 10 races the last couple of years says nothing about his driving ability. He has had the dominant car in quite a few races the last 2 years only to cut a tire or have some sort of mechanical issue. This kid is every bit as talented as Kyle and might win his first cup championship before him. Kurt needs to get out of those Dodges if he wants a chance to win another championship. Ryan Newman should be better now that he is in a Chevy but we will have to see. He is the one that I don't feel as good about, ability wise, out of the 3.
4's FINE N 09!!!!

They ain't "has-beens" but I think each (possible exception of Hamlin who may get more) are going to get at most 10 more wins before retiring. I HOPE not, but that's what I feel.

Hamlin...no. Without Tony to mentor him, he'll be driving in the Nationwide series in the next couple of years.
Busch...no. A has been for the one championship he had, hope he enjoyed it.
Newman...PLEASE! Don't get me started on him winning the rookie of the year award over Johnson in 2003. I guess we see who really is the better driver now.
These guys are done. Newman and Busch will probably ride on their names for several more seasons, but I wouldn't be surprised if Denny didn't see the finish line first again.forum livery