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(Continued: On How to Pick Your Favorite Driver)
List of the top 35 Drivers
8. AJ ALLMENDINGER: Ding-dong – the Allmendinger bandwagon is here, and there's still plenty of room. 'Dinger seems to both live his life and race like one of those bouncy rubber balls: He's excitable and energetic, but occasionally all over the place. The guy has talent, though, and the slimmed-down Richard Petty Motorsports might set the stage for his breakout year.
9. JEFF GORDON: There's one big problem with Gordon – his history. Because of the way he came into the sport as a clean-cut California kid who piled up race wins and championships, Gordon was loudly booed for almost his entire career. But as a veteran who hasn't won much lately, Gordon has taken on an almost underdog quality. Plus, he's as nice of a person as you'll find anywhere – in racing or in life.
10. KASEY KAHNE: Great driver, nice guy. And if you're female, there's no reason not to like him. But what if you're a dude who works at a construction site? Can you really walk around with a Kasey Kahne T-shirt? Somehow, his massive female fan base seems to limit his appeal to men.
11. MARCOS AMBROSE: Damn, if this guy could just win a few races. With contagious enthusiasm for NASCAR and a smile that never seems to wane, Ambrose could be one of the easiest drivers to root for in years. There's just one problem: The Aussie's results are often Down Under the top 20 – except on road courses, where he's clearly the best.
12. DAVID RAGAN: Poor David. A couple years ago it looked like he was going to be a breakout star, and then he fell off the map. Still, he remains unfailingly polite and ultra-courteous – plus, there's a chance he'll be competitive again as long as he stays at Roush Fenway Racing. If you want a friendly Southern boy to root for, Ragan is your guy.
13. BRIAN VICKERS: If you like comeback stories, this one's for you. Vickers nearly died last year after blood clots were discovered in his leg and lungs, then had surgery to repair a hole in his heart. After sitting out most of the season, he's back in 2011 and ready to race again. In addition to his compelling story, though, he's both fan-friendly and capable of making the Chase.
14. MARTIN TRUEX JR.: The Michael Waltrip Racing driver only has one career win in five full seasons, so you might not get to see him drive to Victory Lane very often. But he's a friendly and likable personality, so if you can overlook the lack of performance, he might be worth supporting.
15. KYLE BUSCH: I'm confident the vast majority of NASCAR fans would have Busch ranked last on this list. He is truly reviled by many people because of his sore loser, spoiled brat image. But the guy wins – a lot. And when he's in a good mood, there's something delightfully anti-establishment about his words and actions. So if you want to go against the crowd and pick a guy who's difficult to love, there's no one better than Busch.
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