Today’s Season Preview Topic: With Kansas and Kentucky widely expected to get second dates in 2011, that means some tracks are in peril of losing a date or even falling off the schedule altogether. Who should be the most concerned heading into the 2010 season, and why?
Today’s Season Preview Topic: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is coming off the worst year of his career, but kept Lance McGrew as his crew chief. Was that the right move, and was McGrew’s bold prediction of making the Chase the right thing for a man whose struggled with confidence since moving over to Hendrick?
Today’s Season Preview Topic: During the preseason media tour, NASCAR officials went out of their way to claim they’ll “loosen up” during the upcoming season, allowing drivers to be themselves. But will people actually showing their personalities make a dent in declining ratings and fan attendance? And will sponsors actually allow their drivers to follow those rules?
Today’s Season Preview Topic: After a year’s worth of “will she or won’t she,” Danica Patrick is coming over to NASCAR after all. How do you think she’ll do in her limited schedule this year, and why?
Today’s Season Preview Topic: 2010 marks the beginning of the four-team rule… but is there really a rule to follow? With another year of owner consolidation, NASCAR enters the season with at least 14 teams receiving chassis and engine support from just two people: Jack Roush and Rick Hendrick. Is that healthy for the sport, and if not, is there a way to stop these partnerships from happening?
For an organization that had never experienced life at the top of the Sprint Cup heap, the entire regular season must have felt like a 26-week party in Panama City with James Finch for the No. 14 team. After all, Tony Stewart’s outfit had recorded but one top-five finish in nearly 300 races together over the previous six years of its existence.
Following a ghastly opening month to the season, Ryan Newman and the No. 39 SHR team went on a tear from late March through early June. In that 10-race span, Newman and crew recorded eight runs of eighth or better, averaging a seventh-place finish while never dipping lower than 16th.
As expected Sunday, Jimmie Johnson finished what he started and came home with his fourth consecutive championship. But did his fifth-place finish prove enough to keep him on top of our season-ending poll for the fourth straight year? Read on to find out who our experts tabbed as having the most momentum heading into 2010. …
Jimmie Johnson is now on the cusp of history at Homestead, needing only to stroke it and post a 25th-place finish to clinch. Looking back over this year’s Chase, is there any type of format that would have guaranteed a closer finish during these playoffs?
As the season winds down to its final weekend, Jimmie Johnson‘s firm grip atop our poll mirrors his 108-point lead in the Sprint Cup standings. Barring some sort of catastrophe at Homestead this Sunday, a fourth straight title – and our 2009 Power Rankings championship – will be his. But the No. 48 team’s commanding …
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