It is time for 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup previews.
Now that testing has begun at the Daytona International Speedway and drivers and teams are preparing for the Daytona 500 on February 17th, the 2008 season is officially upon us. The transitory winter vacation is over. From here on out, teams will be frantically preparing for the impending season if they have not started doing so already.
The season for writers, journalists, and NASCAR enthusiasts to boldly print their 2008 Sprint Cup predictions is upon us as well. You will read many different points of views, many different projected champions and Chase for the Championship contenders. You may be shocked at some of the drivers projected to chase the championship, while other projections will be obvious. Just remember, when reading these predictions, none of us actually own a crystal ball. We basically go by gut feeling.
Here is the first portion of the 2008 Suite 101 Sprint Cup preview- The Rookies
The 2008 Sprint Cup rookie class is less than stellar as five vastly inexperienced drivers will compete for the title sponsored by Raybestos. There are no Denny Hamlin’s, Kyle Busch’s, Kasey Kahne’s, Ryan Newman’s, Jimmie Johnson’s, or even Juan Pablo Montoya’s in this year’s rookie class.
1. 40-Dario Franchitti, Chip Ganassi Racing-
Dario Franchitti will take over a team that is easily locked in the top 35 in NASCAR Sprint Cup owner’s points, so he will be in the show each week, unless he drops out of the top 35 after five races. Though no sponsor has been officially announced, it is just a matter of time before Chip Ganassi Racing lets us in on who will endorse the 2007 Indy Racing League champion. Franchitti will have Juan Pablo Montoya to lean on. Montoya encountered the same arduous transition a year ago, and handled it rather well. But the fact of the matter is, Franchitti does not have the experience in stock cars to consistently run in the top 10 or 15. But he will be the top rookie and will make Ashley Judd proud.
2. 01-Regan Smith, Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated-
Regan Smith was mentored by Mark Martin, and will have both Martin and Martin Truex Jr to lean on. And Smith has more stock car experience combined than his four rookie opponents,as he is the lone stock car-bred driver competing for the honors. However, Paul Menard never recorded a single top ten in his rookie season with DEI. In fact, his best finish was 12th at Michigan in June. That does not speak well for DEI first-year programs. Even Truex Jr struggled in his rookie year. Additionally, no official sponsor has been named for Smith and the 01 team.
3. 77-Sam Hornish Jr, Penske Racing South-
Sam Hornish Jr has a guaranteed starting spot in the field for the first five races, as well as a full-time sponsor in Mobil 1. He also has a strong supporting cast at Penske Racing; however, he has yet to prove that he belongs in the Sprint Cup series. Granted, he has not really had a chance to develop, but all signs point to a 10-month struggle for the three-time Indy Racing League champion.
4. 27-Jacques Villeneuve, Bill Davis Racing-
Jacques Villeneuve made his Sprint Cup debut at Talladega last October, and had a decent showing as he qualified 6th and finished 21st. However, reality set in at Phoenix when he qualified 27th and finished 41st due to an accident. If Villeneuve had a guaranteed starting spot in the first five races, I would have him first on the list. He just reminds me of Juan Pablo Montoya more so than the other open-wheel veterans. But I would be surprised if Villeneuve does not miss a race or two throughout the first month and a half of the season, which will set this team back. We saw it happen last year to experienced drivers such as Jeremy Mayfield, Scott Riggs, Brian Vickers, and Michael Waltrip.
5. 10-Patrick Carpentier, Gillett Evernham Motorsports-
A second place finish at the road course in Montreal opened the eyes of Ray Evernham as Patrick Carpentier’s stock began to rise. Patrick Carpentier is a road racing expert, and proved it at Watkins Glen in the Sprint Cup series event when he led for several laps while filling in for Scott Riggs. That was beginning of the end for Scott Riggs in the 10 car. Carpentier, a former driver in the Champ Car series and Indy Racing League series, was picked by Gillett Evernham Motorsports to take over the ride and become teammates to Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler. Carpentier has a rough ride ahead of him, as does the entire rookie class. However, based on my gut feeling, which is wrong quite often, I see Carpentier having the most difficulty adjusting to NASCAR’s highest level of competition. He does not have a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup once the season rolls around.
