Tuesday, February 1st 'What If' Question

Most of those who are reading this will probably never get to sit behind the wheel of a stock car and compete in a NASCAR event. And that event would probably never be the biggest race of the season, the Daytona 500.

That, however, has most likely never stopped them from thinking about it. Thinking about what it would be like to be a racecar driver for one day and live the lives of those who seem to have it all and get to it all. At least on TV it looks like being rich and famous can be fun.

Being able to trade places with another human though isn't possible. What is possible is to live vicariously through others and each weekend that's what NASCAR fans do with their favorite drivers. When the driver wins they win, when the driver loses they lose. Every emotion is felt in both the driver and the fan.

Some feel it even worse if they engage themselves in Internet fantasy racing games, or stock car challenges. Every week they set their lineup and hope that the guys in real life can get the job done for them. For a few months during the year these fans get to be the owners of a race team and put their hopes and dreams on their driver's shoulders.

What makes the challenges so much fun, or frustrating, is trying to predict which drivers are going to have success at which track. For some it's easy: Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin are always going to be at the front in Martinsville. Others, like maybe Las Vegas and Charlotte it's a little more difficult.

Games aren't real though and sometimes being off by one driver wont' ruin your fantasy standings. NASCAR team owners though have more on the line and every one of them feels they have the driver, the only one that can win at that racetrack. They have the driver that everyone thinks about when wondering who is going to be their biggest challenge

He's the guy that every team owner marks down as being the one they would pick to either win the race or want them driving their car. The fans can only sit back and hope to feel the pride in hearing their driver's name called.

But ...

What if you owned a team & you wanted to enter the upcoming Daytona 500, which driver (only one) would you hire to drive your car? #NASCAR

@Dizneydreamer I'd hire Harvick... Think he's going to be the man to beat this year

@ts14lady: Hands down, Tony Stewart!!

@BigBankHank18: I will copy AJ Foyt's and Junior Johnson's answer to that question: @KyleBusch I want to win races, and KB goes for it

@amarquis32: Chase Elliott... he's the real deal.

@smokinace88: Dale Junior

@Talon64: Kevin Harvick; most points scored in last 10 Daytona Cup races, 7.6 avg fin in last 5 Daytona 500's. #NASCAR

@Daniels_Caudill: I'd put @MPRacing in my car just to see how it would go. If I had unlimited funds of course.If not I'd go with @BrianLVickers

@Racergirl83: Thats an easy answer for me my driver would be Mark Martin, and if not him, Denny Hamlin

@TJIngerson: Ryan Newman...stays in contention, doesn't put himself into bad situations, and is always at the front for the finish

@Ks29Fan: I would hire @BrianVickers

@cruetten: Dale Jr.-- Regardless of how he finished, I would make a killing in merch sales!

@felipegana: Kevin Harvick, because he is the best in restrictor plate racing. Running up front should attract sponsors for our team!

@gareth_mott: I would put @Kenny_Wallace in my car cuz he absolutely drives the wheels off a car at @DISupdates and @TalladegaSuperS!

@MattEmbury: If you go by who's available on the market right now, I'd pick either Mike Wallace or John Andretti.

@NancyatStudioN: I'd hire kevin Harvick this year

@StrokerAce90: If I won the Lottery and wanted to hire someone to drive a car in the Daytona 500 for me I would offer first dibs to my favorite underdog in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The driver of the No. 90, Renee Dupuis.

Tim Simmons (via Facebook) Me