Wednesday, May 4th 'What If' Question

Not everyone is cut out to be a NASCAR driver. There have even been some individuals who have come from other forms of racing where they excelled but couldn't do the same in NASCAR.

For Ohio's Sam Hornish Jr. he's hoping not to fall into that category but through the first half of his NASCAR career it isn't looking too promising. Coming from the IndyCar series where he's won races, including the Indy 500, and championships, Hornish Jr. was hired by Roger Penske to pilot his No. 77 for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season.

With limited stock car experience and with only a few Nationwide and Cup races under his belt, Hornish Jr.'s rookie season didn't go as planned. He only competed in 34 of the 36 races and finished 35th in the final point standings with zeros across the board. No wins, poles, top 10s or top fives. In 2009 things improved slightly when he finished 28th in the final point standings this time with seven top 10s and two top five finishes.

That season Hornish Jr. won a race, be it a non-points event in the Sprint All-Star showdown to transfer into the Sprint All-star race. In 2010 his statistics regressed when he finished 29th in points with only one top 10 and zeros across the rest of the board. Lack of sponsorship would remove Hornish Jr. from his ride in the Cup Series but Penske wasn't about to let him go.

For the 2011 season Hornish Jr. has an 11 race deal in the Nationwide Series. With four races already complete Hornish has one top 10 but has been running better than his finishes are showing. He's staying out of trouble, at least of his own doing, and hopes that his stint in the Nationwide Series will lead to him one day being able to make it back to the top.

Or maybe he'll find a home in the NNS. Some drivers are better suited in the lower series and are quite content to run there and not move up.

But ...

What if Sam Hornish Jr. ran in the NNS full-time would he a) become a contender and b) eventually return to the Sprint Cup Series? #NASCAR

@RTiongson: I think he'd be a contender in the NNS. Provided he has good equipment, he MIGHT return to Cup, but as a dependable run-in.

@kartracer3886: no

@ladybug388: I think Hornish would be in contention for NNS as he'd get the hang of the cars and probably run well. I think he'd also return to Cup eventually as he'd have some laps under his belt and the experience

@cruetten: a) no. b) no. I think it's about time for him to go back to open-wheel. He's had more chances than most--it's just not in him

@ollie1972: a) yes I think he MIGHT contend..if he'd stop WREAKING b) no sponsorship is way too tough to come by only way is be NNS champ

@Talon64: a) Yes, better than results in Cup, b) if the success translated into sponsorship to bring back 3rd Penske Cup team. #NASCAR