By Frank Alford.
I hope everyone has enjoyed the off-season. I have been watching and reading the updates and it looks like we might actually have some exciting racing this season. Just recently NASCAR has done away with the bump-drafting rule at restrictor plate races. That in itself will make the races at Daytona and Talladega more exciting. Bump drafting allows two or more cars to hook-up nose to tail all the way around the track. It also increases the chances for the big one.
The dynamics of the races will change on all the tracks with the switch from the wing to the spoiler after Texas. From what I have read it will make driving better in traffic and just maybe we will not see the 4 to 6 second leads we saw the last few seasons.
As usual we have seen a fair share of team shake ups and driver moves in the last few months. Probably one of the most talked about is Brad Keselowski’s move to Penske after losing his chance for a full-time ride with Hendricks. Brad is signed thru 2011 with Penske last I heard. Rick Hendrick is hoping to get Brad back when Mark Martin’s contract expires. I thought he had only signed thru 2010 but I just read it is actually thru 2011. Another thing we might want to keep an eye on is that Penske is the only Dodge team with factory support with the merge of Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing. There is rumor of Penske possibly changing manufactures, but we have been hearing this since Toyota got into NASCAR. With Roger Penske’s ties to Toyota, I believe that will be what he goes with if he does change.
Another driver I will be watching is Martin Truex Jr. He made a move to MWR and took Michael Waltrip’s seat in the #56 NAPA Toyota. It will be interesting to see if he can help the team improve in 2010. Waltrip is rumored to only be running a handful of races in the #51 also sponsored by NAPA. He has also been talking to Billy Ballew about a ride in his #51 Camping World Series truck. He may share this ride with Ted Musgrave and Steven Wallace. I have not seen anything solid on this yet. Kyle Busch will be sharing his own ride in the truck series with Brian Ickler for KBM.
Jamie McMurray steps into the ride vacated by Truex at Earnhardt Ganassi Motorsports after loosing his ride at Roush Fenway Racing. McMurray started his cup career with Ganassi. It will be interesting to see if he can have some success with the team.
That is just a few of the changes we will see in 2010. I am looking forward to another exciting season in NASCAR. Will Jimmy and Chad make it five in a row? Will Mark Martin continue to show the way on the track as he did in 2009? Maybe Roush will find his way to bring Ford back to the top of the charts? Can RCR have more success in the up coming race season? There are a lot of questions to be answered and there always is at the beginning of the season.
Things I predict that we could see happen. Will Harvick leave RCR to drive for Stewart in the third team he is preparing? If he does will we see Dale Jr. leave Hendrick to take his place in the #29? Will it be the #29 or #3 when Jr. takes over driving duties at RCR?
Till next time. See at the finish line.
Frank
Thanks for your incite.
Frank-
Nice Blog, lot’s of interesting thoughts.
The rules changes are way over-due. But kudos, to NASCAR for finally hearing us. Now we just have to get them listen to us about the schedule & The Chase format. Baby steps, I guess.
Brad K.—I think you have a better chance of seeing Danica in a full time ride at Hendrick than him. I can see him at Stewart/Haas or Childress. There is a reason the Shrubby is no longer there, it ain’t beacause of his ability, rather his attitude, and Brad reminds me alot K. Busch. And I like that. I can hardly wait for this season to see whether the Brad/Hamlin rivalry is still in tact(and I hope it is), or will he piss off A Tony Stewart or maybe Kyle Busch, or someone else. It is going to happen with someone.
Really like Truex at M.W.R. fit. Should work out well with Tryson on the box. He will probably contend this year. Mikey belongs in a truck. That way he can wreck all he wants and nobody will notice & we don’t have to listen to him on the tube.(sorry Shirley)
I also like McMurray back with Ganassi. Maybe Chip will treat him right this time.
As for all the predictions, the only one I feel safe making is that the 2010 Champion will be one of the 6 Hendrick/Hendrick affiliated teams.
Good job, Frank
Your Welcome John, thanks for the comments.
Thank you Dave. I hope you are wrong about the 2010 Champion, unless it is Mark of course. Other than that I would prefer it be a Roush Ford.
Frank I think Truex is really going to do well at MWR. I am afraid though that though the wing going away is great, it won’t change races from having multi-second leads. Go back and watch races from the 80’s……ften times there were less than 5 cars on the lead lap in the end. We have better competition now than we did then.
Great blog Frank. Speedweeks won’t be soon enough!
First of all, I’ve heard Jr. say more than once he does NOT want to drive the 3. Personally, I don’t want him to. The guy has enough expectations, he doesn’t need any more stress.
Can’t wait to see what happens at MWR. Although, I’m sure we all know Robert Kaufmann is now “MWR.” But that’s okay, as long as Reutimann is in Victory Lane, along with Marcos Ambrose, Max Papis and new-kid-on-the-block, Martin Trues.
As you, curious to see what happens with Harvick, as well as Kasey Kahne. I think it would be kinda cool to see them both join SHR.
Speaking of Kasey – isn’t it ironic he’s back with Ford. Guess that law suit didn’t mean that much after all.
And Jamie back with Ganassi. As Bagley mentioned on TMD recently, good thing he didn’t “burn any bridges” when he left for Roush.
As far as Penske, can’t wait to see what happens with Keselowski. After watching the events at Champions Week in Vegas, I don’t think he’ll have too many friends, but will that work to his advantage?
I can’t wait to find out the answers to all of our questions. The countdown is on!
Thanks Shirley.
I don’t think it will matter what number is on the car. In my opinion, and I may get shot for this. Jr. wont do any better at Childress than he has done at Hendrick. I am interested to see if he can do something this year and I will give him the benefit and say he could win a couple of races.