Boris Said
2010 Rides: Latitude 43 Motorsports No. 26 Ford (Daytona, Fontana, Las Vegas, Atlanta & Sonoma), Red Bull No. 83 Toyota (Watkins Glen)
2010 Primary Sponsors: Window World (Daytona 500), Sacred Power/Southern Pride Trucking (Fontana, Las Vegas, Atlanta), Air National Guard/gtwgps.com (Sonoma), Red Bull (Watkins Glen)
2010 Owners: Bill Jenkins (No. 26), Dietrich Mateschitz (No. 83)
2010 Crew Chiefs: Frankie Stoddard (No. 26), Ryan Pemberton (No. 83)
2010 Stats: 6 starts, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 0 poles, 3 DNFs, 52nd in points
High Point: Undoubtedly, going by the statistics, finishing eighth at Sonoma in June would have to be considered the zenith of Said’s 2010 NASCAR Cup season. Said was actually the third-highest lap leader of the race with eight, behind Marcos Ambrose (35) and Jimmie Johnson (55). Boris netted 147 points and $108,850 for his day’s efforts.
Low Point: Again, going by statistics, one might think that the DNFs at Fontana and Las Vegas would equal rock bottom for Said in 2010. But who’s to say those DNFs were not actually by design, as both races listed the cause as a “rear gear?” No, I’d have to say the low point came at Watkins Glen, when a crash left him with a 38th-place finish while driving the Red Bull No. 83 Toyota. Anyone who knows Said, with his competitive nature and prowess as a road-course ringer, would no doubt agree that he threw away a chance at a top-10 finish in high-level equipment, if not an opportunity to win.
Summary: While his time in the Cup Series this season may have been less than spectacular, I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention that while driving in the Nationwide Series, Said finally found victory lane in Montreal after an exciting, down-to-the-wire, photo finish to beat out Max Papis. It was his first ever victory in NASCAR’s second-tier division and snapped a stock car drought that dated all the way back to 1998 at Sonoma.
Unfortunately, the rest of Said’s year was filled by disappointment. With hopes to run full time in Latitude 43’s No. 26 Ford, Said struggled through the first four races before getting shelved, only coming back to run the road course at Sonoma before switching over to Red Bull Racing for a one-off at Watkins Glen. Without the funding, equipment, or patience the No. 26 turned out to be a nightmare for Said, unable to receive a true audition before getting kicked out in favor of David Stremme.
Team Ranking: Heck, I’ve spent so much time looking up the above hodgepodge of information that I’m very apathetic about looking up and deciphering a team ranking! Whatever number one may assign to Said, it is fair to say that he is one of the most popular and jovial figures in the garage whenever it is his good fortune to have a racecar to drive – no matter who may own it.
Off-Track News: In an effort to revitalize or jumpstart his hopes for a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup Series, Boris has shaved his head and is sporting a whole new look. “Sponsors nowadays are so hard to get,” Said explained. “I’m just hoping one of these companies that are so apt to go with these ‘pretty boys’ will take a look at me and go with a whole new, yet unique, look.”
It also must be noted that I just made this whole section up just to see if anyone was still paying attention. Rest assured all you Said Heads (of which I am one!), Boris still has all his hair!
2011 Outlook: Although Said’s limited 2010 campaign in the Cup Series was less than stellar, rest assured that we will see him on the track again in 2011. As with most drivers in Said’s situation as a part-timer, one can never be sure where he will pop up. Sure, we all know Boris would love to run a full season for a competitive organization, but even if he can’t you know we’ll see him at the road courses if nothing else!
2006 Frontstretch Grade: N/A
2007 Grade: B
2008 Grade: N/A
2009 Grade: N/A
2010 Grade: C
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