2009 NASCAR Preview

On February 15, 2009, the green flag will drop and another season of NASCAR will begin and run through the middle of November. This season is not any different than any other season. The cars have been tweaked, the drivers have changed, and sponsors have changed. The economy has plagued NASCAR during the offseason. Forcing some operations to shut down, merge, or even shut down. But here are the four biggest storylines that are worth following in the 2009 edition of the Sprint Cup. Here they are in order.

4) The next generation. NASCAR is changing in 2009. Some of it isn't quite planned. But refreshing, is seeing the number of rookies and potential superstars coming into the sport. The headliner of this group of four is Joey Logano. Logano has been dubbed "The Next Big Thing" by some of NASCAR's elite. In 2008, he started his career in the Nationwide Series by becoming the youngest driver to win a race in the series, at the Kentucky Motor Speedway. He would also rack up 4 poles, 5 Top-5's, and 14 Top-10's in only 19 races. He will be driving the #20 Home Depot car, now that Tony Stewart has created his own team. The two guys that will no doubt be chasing Logano are Scott Speed and Brad Keselowski. Speed made a name for himself in the Camping World Truck Series. The Formula One transplant made a splash in 16 races by winning at Dover and recording 1 pole, 4 Top-5's, and 9 Top-10's. Keselowski has been groomed for the Sprint Cup series by superstar Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He has spent the last two season racing in the Nationwide Series under J.R. Racing. In 69 races, Keselowski has 1 Pole, 2 wins (in 2008 at Nashville and Bristol), 11 Top-5's, and 25 Top-10's. The last rookie this year is Max Papis. The Italian road-course racer is looking to make noise in 2009 and win the Rookie-of-the-Year from this stacked field.
3) The rivalry continues. For the last 3 years, two racing organizations have dominated the Sprint Cup series. They would be Hendrick Motorsports and Roush-Fenway Racing. In 2007 and 2008, the 5 Roush cars (6, 16, 17, 26, and 99) combined for 18 wins, 84 Top-5's, and 149 Top-10s. On the flipside, Hendrick racers (5, 24, 48, and 25/88) combined to get 26 wins, 96 Top-5's, 147 Top-10's. Yes, Hendrick has won the last 3 Sprint Cup Championships with Jimmie Johnson, but in 2006 and 2008 Roush-Fenway cars finished 2nd to Johnson in the points chase. In fact, in 2006, Roush and Hendrick cars made up half of the 12 car field in the Chase for the Championship. In 2007, 3 Hendrick and 2 Roush cars made it into the Chase. Yet again, in 2008, half of the Chase were made up of the two mega-powers of racing. 2009 figures to be no different. Casey Mears has exited the duties of the 5 car, and NASCAR legend Mark Martin (who ironically made his entire career with Roush) will pilot the car in '09.
2) Time for the "Golden Boy" to step up. 2009 just might be Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s last chance to prove himself to NASCAR fans. Sure, the loyal fans of the 88 (plus those fans of his father) will always stick behind him, but this year is the chance to prove if he belongs among the elite. Junior made the transition in 2008 from frontman of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to being the third best driver in the Hendrick Motorsports organization. Hendrick, in 2009, has brought Mark Martin on board to man his fourth car, giving more reason for Junior to step his "game" up and start competing for championships. If Junior cannot do it in 2009, or at least compete at the end, he may never have a better shot at it.
1) Can the 48 4-peat? The last 3 years have belong to Jimmie Johnson. The 34 year old racer from California has already accumulated 3 straight championships and aiming for number 4 this year. He hasn't always been the most dominant guy, but he does just enough to make the Chase on a yearly basis, and then makes a big run towards the end to win the Chase in seemingly a dominating effort. 4-in-a-row has never been accomplished in NASCAR, and very rarely in any professional sport. Johnson has never been known to make big splashes in the spring and summer, but come august, better look out for #48 to make a big run towards the championship.

Chase Predictions (in no order):
Jimmie Johnson (#48, Lowe's, Hendrick)
Jeff Gordon (#24, DuPont, Hendrick)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88, AMP/National Guard, Hendrick)
Carl Edwards (#99, Aflac, Roush)
Matt Kenseth (#17, DeWalt, Roush)
Kevin Harvick (#29. Penzoil, Childress)
Jeff Burton (#31, Cingular, Childress)
Kyle Busch (#18, M&M's, Gibbs)
Kurt Busch (#2, Miller Lite, Penske)
Denny Hamlin (#11, FedEx, Gibbs)
Tony Stewart (#14, Office Depot, Stewart/Haas)
Kasey Kahne (#9, Budweiser, Petty)

Rookie-of-the-Year Prediction:
Joey Logano (#20, Home Depot, Gibbs)

Breakout Racer of the Year Prediction:
Jamie McMurray (#26, Crown Royal, Roush)

Daytona 500 Prediction:
Denny Hamlin

2009 Sprint Cup Champion prediction:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.