2008 Predictions

[KurtBuschFan]

It's that time again.  Start thinking about your predictions and post them here.  Also don't forget to check out the new fantasy games on the site by checking out Frontstretch Fantasy Racing Central

CUP Champ (well top 10 in order)
top 12 to get in chase.
BGN Champ
CTS Champ
RoY for all three series
How will Toyotas perform overall
How will Gibbs do.
Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota
Which drivers will get first career wins..??
Who will win most poles
How will Dale Jr do with HMS
Winner of Bud Shootout
Winner of All Star race
Winner of Daytona 500
How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race (I assume that is the idea)
Jr vs Ky Busch  ( or maybe some other similar heads up matchup)

[Fathead]

CUP Champ: Stewart

Gordon, Kenseth, Ky Busch, Johnson, Harvick, Biffle, Edwards, Hamlin, Burton


top 12 to get in chase.

Earnhardt Jr, Mears


BGN Champ

Another cup guy runs away with it.  probably Edwards


CTS Champ

Hornaday


RoY for all three series 

No idea


How will Toyotas perform overall

8 wins split between the 3 Gibbs cars


How will Gibbs do.

Just fine.


Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota

Stewart/Stewart


Which drivers will get first career wins..??

none


Who will win most poles

Newman


How will Dale Jr do with HMS

11th in points 2 wins


Winner of Bud Shootout

Johnson


Winner of All Star race

Kurt Busch


Winner of Daytona 500

Stewart


How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race (I assume that is the idea)

None.


Jr vs Ky Busch  ( or maybe some other similar heads up matchup)

Kyle Busch will have the better season.

[James J.]

Kyle Busch - CUP Champ (well top 10 in order)
J.Gordon
T.Stewart
J.Johnson
D.Earnhardt Jr.
M.Kenseth
Ku.Busch
K.Harvick
R.Newman
C.Bowyer

D.Hamlin - top 12 to get in chase
G.Biffle

C.Bowyer - BGN Champ

RonHornaday - CTS Champ

Justin Marks (Trucks) - RoY for all three series
Dario Franchitti (Nationwide)
Regan Smith (Sprint)

Competitive with multiple wins - How will Toyotas perform overall

As good or better as when they were in Chevy's. - How will Gibbs do.

Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch - Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota

"The 2 Davids" - Which drivers will get first career wins..??
David Ragan, David Reutimann... maybe even Dave Blaney

Jeff Gordon - Who will win most poles

MUCH better. Competitive, multiple wins, will make Chase & finish top 5 - How will Dale Jr do with HMS

Kurt Busch - Winner of Bud Shootout

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Winner of All Star race

Earnhardt Jr. - Winner of Daytona 500

Can do nothing but guess a number: 6.  - How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race (I assume that is the idea)

Kyle Busch - Jr vs Ky Busch  ( or maybe some other similar heads up matchup)

[Busch Babe 899]

CUP Champ

Gordon


Top 12 to get into the Chase.

Gordon
Stewart
Edwards
Johnson
Kenseth
Biffle
Burton
Jr
Kahne
Kyle Busch
McMurray
Kurt Busch

BGN Nationwide Champ

Carl Edwards, but as he had such a drop-off second half last season, I predict this year rather than racking up a huge lead in the first half, he'll start slow and come back to win it. As such, he won't win by such a big lead this time.

CTS Champ

Mike Skinner

RoY for all three series

Truck -- Colin Braun, for Roush.

Bu...errrr, Nationwide ($10 to the collection box... ) -- Joey Logano (Mark Martin tagged this guy when he was racing his son, told Jack to grab him...Jack was too slow, and Gibbs got him...his loss...last time Mark tagged someone as someone for Jack to take an interest in was Matt Kenseth. Mark's seldom wrong when it comes to driving talent. )

Cup -- Ragan Smith

How will Toyotas perform overall - I think we'll see a marked upswing, not just because Toyota now has the Gibbs power, but because all the Toyota teams improved remarkably over the season last year as they learned things. Any of the Gibbs drivers could win multiple wins, and I think we'll also see at least one win by David Reutimann.

How will Gibbs do. Several trips to victory lane, I think this group will seem like they haven't missed a beat. The talent is too deep, and all the drivers can drive the wheels of anything. If any hiccups occur, it will be manufacturer/garage side as Toyota and teams continue to iron out any bugs.

Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota -- Tony Stewart

Which drivers will get first career wins..?? David Reutiman, any of the "rookie" open wheel guys might grab a road course win like Montoya did last year.

Who will win most poles? Jimmy Johnson.

How will Dale Jr do with HMS Excellent chance of returning to Daytona Victory Lane in February. He will win several times and end up in the Chase, but won't be a championship contender this year.

Winner of Bud Shootout: Carl Edwards

Winner of All Star race: Clint Bowyer

Winner of Daytona 500: My heart will be for Mark Martin in the #8, with that glimmer that in the past DEI has dominated restrictor plate races (albeit a couple of years ago) and Mark came SOOOO close last year in the car of a new team, but I think Dale Jr is going to be so happy to be free of all the drama at DEI that we're going to see him get off to the fastest start possible...

How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race (I assume that is the idea) PUT MONEY IN THE POT!!! (It's NATIONWIDE now!!  )

Hard one, so many of them are capable. Brad Keslowski, Jason Leffler, Marcos Ambros, Bobby Hamilton Jr, and even the newly married (maybe it will calm him down on-track a bit) Johnny Sauter all have a good chance at a win this season. But with so many Cup regulars running both, once again it will be slim, and the Busch....errr, Nationwide-whackers, for lack of a better term, debate will rage on. On that topic, I expect that by 2009, any Cup regular running Nationwide races will not receive points, will just run for the wins, and we'll see very few (if any...Carl won't) running the entire season, just companion races. THEN people can continue to complain when they still take the majority of the wins.  AND a "regular" will be champ...but then the debate will rage when the Champ wins a lot less races than the Cup regulars who drop in....


Jr vs Ky Busch  (or maybe some other similar heads up matchup)

Despite their very different styles, I think these 2 are pretty evenly matched. It will depend on the teams they are with to give them an advantage over each other. Both will win this season.

Villeneuve vs Carpentier vs Hornish Jr All talented. Hornish has the added cushion of Kurt's points to get him in, so has a better chance of not missing any races...a lot will depend on how the others qualify. I don't know, I don't see any of them having a stand-out season like Montoya did, although any one of them could steal a road course win. Guess I'll have to go to Infineon again this year, see if they do it.

[flamehothead]

Well I've been out of the Nascar mix for awhile but give me a couple of day's and I should be as good as new lol.

Of course I have to go with Stewart getting Toyota their first Cup win and possibly their first Cup Title but there is going to be alot more than that come Daytona.

[Chris]

gee... Guess I gotta do my picks SOOON
couple are "Bud Shootout winner" and that is THIS weekend... and another is Daytona 500 winner, and that is just over a week away.

[Chris]

CUP Champ (well top 10 in order)
hhuummm gee this is always a shot in the dark... Guess I'm gonna say:
J Gordon
Johnson
Kurt Busch
Bowyer
Kenseth
Kyle Busch
Earnhardt
Stewart
Edwards
Hamlin

top 12 to get in chase.
Biffle
Burton

NGN Champ
Bowyer

CTS Champ
Sprague

RoY for all three series
CUP - R Smith / NGN - Dario Franchitti / CTS - Justin Marks
I'd say Laganno would be the NGN pick if he got to run the full season,.. but IMO He won't get the chance to have any 'throw away races, and in the long run that will hurt him..??

How will Toyotas perform overall
Guess I'm gonna have to go along with most other folks... I think Toyota will show marked improvement over 2007.  Even Mikey Waltrip showed big improvement towards the end of 2007 from the beginning.  Now that Gibbs is getting in if they all share the knowledge, everyone should benefit.  I think Stewart should get at least one win.  Not so sure Hamlin will get get more than one win, and Busch might get one win.  I'm not gonna say anyone else in a Toyota will get into victory lane.  But they all should have better fnishes than '07

How will Gibbs do.
Kinda covered that above.  If any of the Toyota do well... It'll be the Gibbs bunch.

Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota
Gotta guess it will be Stewart.... But if Stewart can't slip in a win at Daytona then he usually don't get the ball rolling until the summer.  SO I don't see a lot of hype until the weather heats up.  IMO I think he'll lead the gang out of the Toyota camp.

Which drivers will get first career wins..??
hhuumm I don't see ANY new drivers getting their first win this season.  Sorenson maybe.. thats would be about it.   A Indy car guy has a shot on a road course,.. but with Stewart, R. Gordon, J Gordon, and now Montoya being so good on road courses already,... they gonna have to be some kinda AWESOOME to beat ALL of those guys on any given day.. so I don't see it happening.

Who will win most poles
this will either be J Gordon or Newman... I gotta go with Gordon

How will Dale Jr do with HMS
I gotta say now that all the drama of deal with Theresa is behind him,.. being in better equipment... having teammates that are as good (at least) as you are to share info with,.... everything is looking up.  He SHOULD make big moves forward this season.  If he don't it will prove he is a VERY over rated driver...

Winner of Bud Shootout
J Gordon

Winner of All Star race
J Johnson

Winner of Daytona 500
Earnhardt

How many (who) NGN regulars win a NGN race (I assume that is the idea)
I'm gonna throw out some names as "highly possible".  I'd say MOST likely to win would be Scott Wimmer,... then maybe Stephen Leight and Marcus Ambros... Toward the end of the year... won't surprise me to see Joey logano get a easy top 5 

Jr vs Ky Busch  ( or maybe some other similar heads up matchup)
This could be pretty even... I'd expect Earnhardt to come out on top just because he has better equipment, and has good communication and sharing of info between teammates.  As far as raw tellent, I think Busch wins hands down... but the Toyotas are still a ways behind the Hendrick camp.

Villeneuve vs Carpentier vs Hornish Jr vs Franchitti
I like this question.. Glad it got added on.  I think for the first 5 races at least Penske pulled a slick move swapping points to get Hornish in all the first 5 races automatically.  Of course Hornish has to finish well to BE IN the top 35 after the 5 races are up.  Villeneuve has yet to impress me in a stock car... so IMO I'd just eliminate him for that alone and it's not sure he'll even have a ride after the first 5 races....  SO that being the case. IMO it comes down to just Carpentier and Franchitti.  GEM has been struggling over the last year or so,... so since Franchitti has Montoya as a teammate I'd give the edge to Franchitti.    R Smith wins RoY though.

[sweetwahine]

Short and sweet Jr is going to take it all if not Jr then Smoke!

[south jersey girl]

CUP Champ (top 12 in order)
1. Jimmie Johnson - three-peat
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr – close 2nd
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Carl Edwards
5. Ryan Newman
6. Kurt Busch
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Tony Stewart
9. Casey Mears
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Kasey Kahne
12. Martin Truex

NGN Champ
David Reutiman

CTS Champ
Ron Hornaday

RoY Cup
I think Regan Smith will have a slight edge over the open wheeler newbies

How will Toyotas perform overall
Better than last year, with wins from Stewart, Hamlin and Kyle Busch

How will Gibbs do
They will do about the same as last year. (They had 4 wins in ’07)

Who will get Toyotas first win
Kyle Busch (Bristol)

Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota
Tony Stewart with 2 wins, and making the Chase

Which drivers will get first career wins..??
David Ragan (Michigan)

Who will win most poles
Jeff Gordon

How will Dale Jr do with HMS
3 or 4 wins, close 2nd in the Chase

Winner of Bud Shootout
Kasey Kahne (bit of a long shot)

Winner of All Star race
Carl Edwards

Winner of Daytona 500
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Although Mark Martin would be my sentimental pick, and he came darn close last year.

How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race
One, just not sure who (but probably not Steven Wallace). 
Maybe David Stremme or Scott Wimmer

Jr vs Ky Busch
Jr…3 or 4 wins, 2nd in the Chase
KyB…1 win, no Chase
Jr will have an easier transition to HMS, especially since he’s bringing Tony Jr with him.  Kyle will have to adjust to a new team, new crew chief and new manufacturer…

[SMOKEN14]

CUP Champ (top 12 in order)
1. Tony Stewart
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Kasey Khane
5. Matt Kenseth
6. Kurt Busch
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Kyle Busch
9. Casey Mears
10. Jimmy Johnson
11. Juan Pablo Montoya
12. Jeff Burton

NGN Champ
Clint Boyer

CTS Champ
Ron Hornaday

RoY Cup
Regan Smith

How will Toyotas perform overall
Better than last year,

How will Gibbs do
Better then last year

Who will get Toyotas first win
Tony Stewart

Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota
Tony Stewart 5 wins

Which drivers will get first career wins
David Ragen / Regan Smith

Who will win most poles
Kasey Khane

How will Dale Jr do with HMS
2 wins but good finishes to make the chase

Winner of Bud Shootout
Tony Stewart

Winner of All Star race
Matt Kenseth

Winner of Daytona 500
Tony Stewart

How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race
One Brad Kelowaski

Jr vs Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch

[ChromeHorn]

CUP Champ (well top 10 in order)
Gordon
JJ
Kenseth
Smoke
Cousin Carl
Junior
Kyle
Kurt
Truex
Harvick
Newman
Biffle

BGN Champ: Bowyer

CTS Champ: Johnny Benson + Trip Bruce + Toyota + BDR = Title

RoY for all three series: Regan Smith, Lagano, C. Braun

How will Toyotas perform overall: Better than Ford and Dodge. Marked improvement that, of course, will be led by JGR.

How will Gibbs do: Steady but not stellar. Kyle and Tony make the Chase. The organization goes for 5-7 total wins.

Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota: If it doesn't get that first win at Daytona it may be a few weeks. Anything can happen in the 500, though, which makes this a dangerous question. I'll say it not till Phoenix when Stewart bags the first win. Tony also has the best season...fourth in points, three or four wins.

Which drivers will get first career wins: None this year. Newman will break his winless streak, though.

Who will win most poles: Gotta be JGo or JJ. Or Newman or Edwards. Or Stewart or Busch (take your pick).

How will Dale Jr do with HMS: Solid. Not a champion just yet, but he'll win the Shootout plus three more in the second half of the season. Fifth in points.

Winner of All Star race: They've screwed the All-Star race over. What ever happened to a 10-lap shootout? What is it now... four segments of 30 laps apiece? That's horrible. Anyway, I'll write about that in May. My pick is Gordon.

Winner of Daytona 500: Kurt Busch
How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race (I assume that is the idea): Leffler, Ambrose and possibly Keselowski. And I'd love for Bobby Jr. to win one, but that may be  a long shot.

Jr vs Ky Busch: Junior this year. He'll eek him out in points and wins. But not by much.

Villeneuve vs Carpentier vs Hornish Jr: Tough call. JV and Carpentier are out of the Top 35 and each have sponsorship issues. Hornish has his first five, but I'm not 100 percent sure he keeps it in the Top 35 even then. I'll take R. Smith or Dario over any of these punks.

[FSBryan]

Cup Champ: Jimmie Johnson
The Chase: Johnson, Gordon, Earnhardt Jr, Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Stewart, Edwards, Harvick, Newman, Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Truex
Nationwide Champ: Clint Bowyer
CTS Champ: Johnny Benson
RoY: Regan Smith, Joey Logano, Phillip McGilton
How will Toyotas perform overall: Much improved over 2008, will win a couple races
How will Gibbs do: They will drop this season, but Toyota won't be the reason why.
Who will get Toyotas first win / Who (driver) will have best season overall for Toyota: Tony Stewart for both.
Which drivers will get first career wins: Reed Sorenson steals one on an intermediate
Who will win most poles: Newman
How will Dale Jr do with HMS: Title contender this year and for years to come
Winner of Bud Shootout: Tough one, Jr.
Winner of All Star race: Jeff Gordon
Winner of Daytona 500: Dale Jr..
How many (who) BGN regulars win a BGN race: Ambrose on a road course, Mike Wallace in a plate race, Leffler, a Fitz Driver (either Wallace or Bliss) on a short track
Jr vs. Kyle Busch - Both in the Chase, but Earnhardt will be well ahead by Chase's end.
Open Wheelers: All struggle royally, but Hornish because of the stability of his team, sponsor and owner's confidence when compared to Villeneuve, Franchitti, and Carpentier

[SpeedinHD]

 Hey there! It’s Geoff from SPEED (the motorsports TV channel). I just wanted to give you a heads up that we’re bringing you full coverage of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona tomorrow (Thursday 2/14) @ 2 p.m. ET. It’s going to be in Hi-Def for the first time! All our other racing action is now in HD, too. Hope you can join us tomorrow for the Duel.

Thanks!

Geoff at SPEED

[DotheDew88]

I am pissed because i have called time warner cable and they don't have it available....couldn't even tell me when...the guy said "keep checking back" I love the picture with hd.

[flamehothead]

Top 12:
1. Tony Stewart
2. Dale Jr
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Kyle Busch
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Clint Bowyer
9. Matt Kenseth
10.Carl Edwards
11. Kurt Busch
12. Jeff Burton


NGN Champ: David Reutimann

CTS Champ: Johnny Benson

ROY All 3 Series: (Cup) Sam Hornish - (NGN) Joey Logano - (CTS) Colin Braun

How will Toyota perform in all series: Will visit winners circle and possibly win the Championship.

How will JGR do: Could be a Championship in the very near future.

Who will get Toyota's first win: Tony Stewart (JGR) Who will have the best overall season in Toyota: JGR.

Which drivers will get their first career wins: Dave Blaney.

Who will win the most poles: Ryan Newman

How will Jr do with HMS: Much, Much, Better than he did at DEI.

Winner of the Bud Shootout: We already know the answer to that but I would have said Stewart and Hamlin.

Winner of the All-Star Race: Jimmie Johnson

Winner of the Daytona 500: Dale Jr.

How many NGN regulars will win a NGN race: 4 - Jason Leffler, Mike Wallace, Joey Logane, Scott Wimmer.

Dale Jr vs Kyle Busch or maybe some other Heads up match: Dale Jr will do much better. I think the best match up is between Kyle Busch vs Casey Mears. This will tell if Casey has it or not since Kyle won quite a few race in the #5 car.