Can it Happen in NASCAR?

CAN JIMMIE JOHNSON EXTEND HIS REIGN TO FIVE CONSECUTIVE CROWNS?

You bet he can.

Whether it’s mechanical reliability, crew chief Chad Knaus’ ability to pull the pin at the right time in any given race, flawless work, or a stellar driver behind the wheel, there are no weak links on the No. 48 team. That said, there’s no sure thing in NASCAR’s Chase format. Johnson has excelled in the playoff system, but all it takes to derail a championship effort – as Johnson nearly discovered at Texas last year – is getting ensnared in other drivers’ problems.

CAN DALE EARNHARDT JR. REDISCOVER HIS GROOVE?
Junior hasn’t been a dominant performer since 2004, when he scored six of his 18 career victories. He’s won just once in his past 134 starts, and last year’s 25th-place points showing was the worst of his career. That just shouldn’t happen to a driver with Hendrick Motorsports’ assets at his disposal. Given his 2009 performance, it wouldn’t take much for the upcoming season to be an improvement.

CAN RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS BECOME A TITLE CONTENDER WITH THE MOVE TO FORD?

No, not across the board. Elliott Sadler and Yates Racing holdover Paul Menard have given no indication they’re championship material, and speedy AJ Allmendinger is still learning the ropes. Kasey Kahne, on the other hand, could be the guy to capitalize on the changeover from Dodge. He and crew chief Ken Francis work well together, and Kahne swears he’ll only be more of a threat with Yates horsepower at his disposal. It’s not inconceivable that Kahne could emerge as one of the top two drivers in the Ford camp.

WILL ROUSH FENWAY RACING RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE HEAP AFTER A HIT-AND-MISS 2009?

Things could hardly have started better than they did last year, with Matt Kenseth opening the season with wins at Daytona and California. But other than Jamie McMurray’s victory at Talladega in the fall, Roush Fenway was shut out the rest of the way. Kenseth was blanked, and Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and David Ragan all posted big, fat zeroes. The only way to discern whether Roush Fenway has made a step in the right direction is on the all-important downforce tracks. Check back at the end of May after Vegas, Atlanta, Texas and two weekends at Charlotte for the answer.

WHO WILL BE THE SURPRISE DRIVER OR TEAM OF 2010?

Some say it could be Jamie McMurray back at Earnhardt Ganassi, but it’s more likely to be Michael Waltrip Racing and its affiliate, JTG-Daugherty. Waltrip has replaced himself as the team’s primary driver with 2004-05 Nationwide Series champ Martin Truex Jr., and with the maturation of the MWR operation, he could be a factor most weekends. Then there’s JTG-Daugherty’s Marcos Ambrose, a hard-charger capable of winning anywhere from Talladega to Bristol to Sonoma.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.