MJMANDALAY
01-30-2007, 10:52 PM
With Speedweeks at Daytona just two weeks away, the NASCAR season is upon us.
And after two weeks of testing at Daytona and a weeklong Nextel Cup media tour, the top storylines entering the season are clear:
1. Car of Tomorrow
Five years in the making, NASCAR's car of the future is finally ready for its debut March 25 at Bristol.
The Car of Tomorrow, loaded with a splitter on the front and a wing on the back, will be used in 16 races this season at tracks 1½ miles or smaller. It also will be run on the two road-course races and at the fall race at Talladega.
Teams still seem a little confused about the rules and templates that go along with the car, so NASCAR is meeting with them this week at its Research and Development Center.
Who figures out the COT might go a long in determining this year's champion with the car being run in half of the Chase's 10 races.
2. Toyota's impact
Team owner Jack Roush is paranoid about the Japanese manufacturer's entry into the Cup Series.
But should he be?
Probably not this year. It's unlikely Toyota will have one of its seven Cup cars in the postseason. A win, however, is not out of the question.
Toyota's impact will probably not really be felt for a couple years. But in the Craftsman Truck Series the automaker has shown the ability to win — not just races, but championships as well.
Toyota won 12 races in the truck series last year and had seven of the top 10 drivers in points, including champion Todd Bodine.
3. Montoya's here
At Ganassi Racing on Monday, it was easy to see where Juan Pablo Montoya was — just look for the crowd.
The ex-Formula One driver has gotten a lot of attention dating back to last season, and rightfully so.
It's not often a person of Montoya's stature makes this kind of move. He has 25 wins in three series and will bring more attention to NASCAR worldwide.
But it will be a major transition both on and off the track.
Montoya's engaging personality should make him a hit with fans.
Will it translate to wins? Who knows, but it's not out of the question if he makes the Chase.
4. New points system
A change needed to be made in the points system, and NASCAR did so, trying to place more emphasis on wins.
Five more points for a win is good, and reseeding the drivers after the 26th race based on wins is also a step in the right direction.
But will it make drivers compete harder and drive more aggressively for a win?
Doubtful.
5. Junior saga
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport's most popular driver, is in the final year of his contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc., and the two sides have traded barbs in the press.
Junior, though, did defend his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, Tuesday night after Kevin Harvick called her a "deadbeat owner." The Earnhardts still don't appear any closer to a deal.
DEI director of global operations Max Siegal said he hopes a deal can be completed within the next two to three months.
It would be hard to imagine Junior walking away from his dad's company and his family, including Tony Eury Jr. and Tony Eury Sr.
But if that happens, surely Richard Childress and the rest of his team would welcome him with open arms.
"I'd be jumping up and down," Harvick said of the possibility of Junior as a teammate.
6. ESPN's here
The self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports takes over for NBC as the third party in the new TV deal.
ESPN or ABC will broadcast the final 17 races, including all 10 Chase races. The two networks and ESPN2 will also be the exclusive home for the Busch Series.
There will also be a weekly show, NASCAR Now, hosted by Erik Kuselias, former host of ESPN Radio's "The SportsBash."
ESPN should do a better job than NBC did in the past.
Their impact has already been felt. ESPN's NASCAR commercials have been overplayed, much like its ads for Monday Night Football.
ESPN did improved MNF and should do the same for NASCAR.
7. Can Johnson repeat?
Jimmie Johnson finally got that elusive Cup championship after coming short the last three years.
But can he repeat?
That remains to be seen. Jeff Gordon, Johnson's teammate, was the last to win back-to-back Cup championships in 1997-98.
If anyone can repeat, it sure seems like it would be Johnson. His average finish during five Cup seasons is third.
8. Old faces, new places
It will be different seeing Mark Martin, who will drive 22 races for Ginn Racing, behind the wheel of something other than a Roush car or Dale Jarrett behind the wheel of a Toyota, but that's the ever-changing NASCAR scene these days.
Neither of the two are expected to have big seasons with their new teams, but some who are include Casey Mears and Elliott Sadler.
Mears, the 2006 Daytona 500 runner-up, has gotten close to his first Cup win. Landing at Hendrick Motorsports put him over the top.
Sadler, who made the Chase in 2005, has switched to Evernham Motorsports and should be a contender to make the Chase.
9. What's wrong with Robert Yates Racing?
Jarrett and Sadler's defections leave Robert Yates Racing with Ricky Rudd, making a comeback after a year off, and rookie David Gilliland.
Things don't seem to be going right at RYR and another long year might be in store.
10. Busch Series goes to Canada
NASCAR will test a market outside the U.S. for the second time when the Busch Series races in Montreal on Aug. 4.
The Series also will be in Mexico for the third straight year.
Who knows? Cup might not be far behind.
And after two weeks of testing at Daytona and a weeklong Nextel Cup media tour, the top storylines entering the season are clear:
1. Car of Tomorrow
Five years in the making, NASCAR's car of the future is finally ready for its debut March 25 at Bristol.
The Car of Tomorrow, loaded with a splitter on the front and a wing on the back, will be used in 16 races this season at tracks 1½ miles or smaller. It also will be run on the two road-course races and at the fall race at Talladega.
Teams still seem a little confused about the rules and templates that go along with the car, so NASCAR is meeting with them this week at its Research and Development Center.
Who figures out the COT might go a long in determining this year's champion with the car being run in half of the Chase's 10 races.
2. Toyota's impact
Team owner Jack Roush is paranoid about the Japanese manufacturer's entry into the Cup Series.
But should he be?
Probably not this year. It's unlikely Toyota will have one of its seven Cup cars in the postseason. A win, however, is not out of the question.
Toyota's impact will probably not really be felt for a couple years. But in the Craftsman Truck Series the automaker has shown the ability to win — not just races, but championships as well.
Toyota won 12 races in the truck series last year and had seven of the top 10 drivers in points, including champion Todd Bodine.
3. Montoya's here
At Ganassi Racing on Monday, it was easy to see where Juan Pablo Montoya was — just look for the crowd.
The ex-Formula One driver has gotten a lot of attention dating back to last season, and rightfully so.
It's not often a person of Montoya's stature makes this kind of move. He has 25 wins in three series and will bring more attention to NASCAR worldwide.
But it will be a major transition both on and off the track.
Montoya's engaging personality should make him a hit with fans.
Will it translate to wins? Who knows, but it's not out of the question if he makes the Chase.
4. New points system
A change needed to be made in the points system, and NASCAR did so, trying to place more emphasis on wins.
Five more points for a win is good, and reseeding the drivers after the 26th race based on wins is also a step in the right direction.
But will it make drivers compete harder and drive more aggressively for a win?
Doubtful.
5. Junior saga
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport's most popular driver, is in the final year of his contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc., and the two sides have traded barbs in the press.
Junior, though, did defend his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, Tuesday night after Kevin Harvick called her a "deadbeat owner." The Earnhardts still don't appear any closer to a deal.
DEI director of global operations Max Siegal said he hopes a deal can be completed within the next two to three months.
It would be hard to imagine Junior walking away from his dad's company and his family, including Tony Eury Jr. and Tony Eury Sr.
But if that happens, surely Richard Childress and the rest of his team would welcome him with open arms.
"I'd be jumping up and down," Harvick said of the possibility of Junior as a teammate.
6. ESPN's here
The self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports takes over for NBC as the third party in the new TV deal.
ESPN or ABC will broadcast the final 17 races, including all 10 Chase races. The two networks and ESPN2 will also be the exclusive home for the Busch Series.
There will also be a weekly show, NASCAR Now, hosted by Erik Kuselias, former host of ESPN Radio's "The SportsBash."
ESPN should do a better job than NBC did in the past.
Their impact has already been felt. ESPN's NASCAR commercials have been overplayed, much like its ads for Monday Night Football.
ESPN did improved MNF and should do the same for NASCAR.
7. Can Johnson repeat?
Jimmie Johnson finally got that elusive Cup championship after coming short the last three years.
But can he repeat?
That remains to be seen. Jeff Gordon, Johnson's teammate, was the last to win back-to-back Cup championships in 1997-98.
If anyone can repeat, it sure seems like it would be Johnson. His average finish during five Cup seasons is third.
8. Old faces, new places
It will be different seeing Mark Martin, who will drive 22 races for Ginn Racing, behind the wheel of something other than a Roush car or Dale Jarrett behind the wheel of a Toyota, but that's the ever-changing NASCAR scene these days.
Neither of the two are expected to have big seasons with their new teams, but some who are include Casey Mears and Elliott Sadler.
Mears, the 2006 Daytona 500 runner-up, has gotten close to his first Cup win. Landing at Hendrick Motorsports put him over the top.
Sadler, who made the Chase in 2005, has switched to Evernham Motorsports and should be a contender to make the Chase.
9. What's wrong with Robert Yates Racing?
Jarrett and Sadler's defections leave Robert Yates Racing with Ricky Rudd, making a comeback after a year off, and rookie David Gilliland.
Things don't seem to be going right at RYR and another long year might be in store.
10. Busch Series goes to Canada
NASCAR will test a market outside the U.S. for the second time when the Busch Series races in Montreal on Aug. 4.
The Series also will be in Mexico for the third straight year.
Who knows? Cup might not be far behind.