nismoflip

iTrader: (57)

I've been away also. Does Scott Kimbrow still race?

Rockin Rich

iTrader: (1)

How about Brain Wynn and Mark Smyka?

stiltskin

iTrader: (103)

Kyle Klingforth
Mike Gee

CypressMidWest

iTrader: (1)

Chicky

Robbob

iTrader: (8)

Who?

vafactor

iTrader: (6)

if extra style points are awarded for being helpful to fellow racers ......then I cast one vote each for Chicky and for Dumper

Ivan Dickson

iTrader: (32)

What an impressive list of talented drivers, are we missing any names?
I remember some of these drivers from the early to mid 90's.

Anymore to add to this list?

Ralph Burch
Mike Swauger
Paul Lemiux
Josh Cyrul
Rick Howhart
Drew Ellis
Paolo Morganti
Chris Tossolini
Wang
Scotty gray
Andrew Hardman
Keven Hebert
Lia
Darroch
Knapp
Knudtson
Eric "EA" Anderson
Mike Haynes
Larry
Gael Lambre
Joseph Wright
Mike Hanulec
Vincent Jackson
Jamie Corrado
Gonzalo Cortez
EJ Evans
Kyle Klingforth
Ryan Cavalieri
Brain Wynn
Mark Smyka
Mike Gee
__________________

Chris Adams

Since your adding stock guys Cory Parsons and Craig X. Robbie D should be in that group as well. Some guys prob should not be on that list anymore if Im being honest.

Americans in Modified:
Paul
Josh
Rick
Wang
Ralph
Then there is about 10 of us that would fit in here. If you add the Canadians, they would prob be between Wang and Ralph.

bkspeedo

iTrader: (5)

I'd add Chris Adams as well, he did well at Snowbirds and Carpet Nats a few years ago, just doesn't travel to big event's, much like Scott Gray. He's being humble and not adding himself.

Rick Hohwart

Burch
Cyrul
Hardman
Haynes
Hebert
Hohwart
Knudtson
Lemieux
Lia
Wang

Rick Hohwart

Dave Ehrlich
Fred Hubbard
Sean Williams
Randy Caster
Barry Baker (when he races)
Steve Weiss

CristianTabush

iTrader: (13)

This is such a subjective question, so I'll try to be objective. This is the top 10 overall drivers as I see them, in ranked in specific order.

These guys could wheel any type of on road car, stock or mod and place top 5 in every category when they race. These are also the guys that are based in NA, and attend races more regularly.

The shoe ins-
1.Keven Hebert- while he does not have the overall TC wins of other guys, he is the only one that will be top 5 on asphalt or carpet, TC or 12th scale. He ranks this high more because he is either number 1 or 2 in 12th scale in NA and 3-4 in TC.
2.Paul Lemieux- Paul is still the undisputed best TC driver in the USA. He could be higher, but he does not race as much 12th and does not finish as high racing 12th.
3.Josh Cyrul- Josh is having a renaissance late in his now "Amateur" racing career. His asphalt TC results hurt him a bit on the list, but Josh has been the hottest American racer on the rug over the past year.
4.Rick Hohwart- the man, the legend is still getting it done when he attends an event. Probably the second best TC driver in NA.
5.Andrew Hardman- Andrew has come a long way. The kid is raw skill and the wins are starting to tally up.

The next group
5.5 Mike Haynes: leads the "next" group. Can always challenge for a win, in any class.
6.Drew Ellis: Faster than fast, Drew can wheel any type of car and often gets the hottest laps.
7.Donny Lia: when he races, he is a nearly unstoppable force in 12th scale.
8.Cory Parsons: very fast guy that can drive anything on rubber tires. Super fast TC mod guy. Need to stop racing VTA bud
9.Kody Knutdson: current Mod TC champ. Needs to travel more to be ranked higher, but the skill Kody has is very high can drive (and fly) anything.
10.Chris Adams: I race with this guy often and know first hand how fast he is. Chris is super smooth and talented. Top non factory USA guy at world's last year.

There might be other guys that could be argued to be in it, but until they don't get mod results they do not belong as top 10 guys (not that they don't have the skill, that's 2 different things. These guys in the list above would rock the House in spec classes as well- and often do). Modified is harder to drive (not necessarily more competitive or harder to win) and often driving mod translates over to spec classes while spec does not translate over to mod. Spec racing has it's merits, but is also far easier to drive and more equipment dependant.

(*edit- forgot Mike Haynes).

Ivan Dickson

iTrader: (32)

Thanks for all the feedback...let me know if I missed any class they race.

Anymore to add to this list?

Ralph Burch - Modified, Nitro
Mike Swauger - Nitro
Paul Lemiux - Modified, Nitro
Josh Cyrul - Modified, Nitro
Rick Howhart - Modified, Stock
Drew Ellis - Modified, Stock, Nitro
Paolo Morganti - Nitro
Chris Tossolini - Modified, Nitro
JJ Wang - Modified, Nitro
Scotty Gray - Nitro
Andrew Hardman - Modified
Keven Hebert - Modified
Dave Ehrlich - Modified
Fred Hubbard Modified, Stock
Sean Williams - Modified, Stock
Randy Caster - Modified
Barry Baker - Modified, Nitro
Steve Weiss - Modified
Kody Knudtson - Modified
Mike Haynes - Modified
Ryan Cavalieri - Modified
Mike Gee - Modified, Stock
Gonzalo Cortez - Modified, Stock
Donny Lia - Stock
Ray Darroch - Stock
Andrew Knapp - Stock
Eric "EA" Anderson - Stock
Larry - Stock
Mike Hanulec - Stock
EJ Evans - Stock
Kyle Klingforth - Stock
Brain Wynn - Stock
Cory Parsons - Stock
Craig X - Stock
Robbie D - Stock
Mark Smyka - Stock
Gael Lambre - Nitro
Joseph Wright - Nitro
Vincent Jackson - Nitro
Jamie Corrado - Nitro
__________________

Luke Hobson

I'm not entirely convinced that any "best" list can contain people than run primarily in any stock class.

I think Rick's list hits the nail on the head..... although perhaps a more telling (worrying) sign of racing in the US is how many stock drivers have made it on to a supposed "best" list in some peoples eyes.

Perhaps its about time for some to run a class that requires more than just steering input?

food for thought perhaps?

Nexus

iTrader: (42)

Interesting lists and chat.

One thing of note is the Paulie is more or less regarded as the top touring car racer in the USA by most of us. If he was a top offroad driver he would be a full-time paid Pro similar to the "Ryans, Tebo, and other top USA offroad drivers.

Of this list who is actually working in the industry?

Burch - employee of Xray still?
Cyrul - NavistarI think
Hardman - ?
Haynes - ?
Hebert - ?
Hohwart - works at/for Associated
Knudtson - ?
Lemieux - For sure not a full time paid Pro Runs Gravity RC on the side.
Lia - ?
Wang - College kid :P
_____

With all that said, who knows if Paulie wants to be a full time Pro and paid to travel/race. Just pointing out the big gap between on and offroad Pros. Of course a lot of people on this list run both on/offroad so there's a difference to note there also.

--

I'd add Weylin Rose to the list of TC guys who were throwing down back in the day.