Thursday, January 10, 2013

Theme for '13: Wonderful expectations

Watch closely, individuals. The 2013 NASCAR season will likely be a single to don't forget.

I am counting on it, if not betting on it.

Some points are likely to transpire in NASCAR this year which have by no means occurred just before. And also a number of items may take place that nobody has observed in a lot of many years.

Let us begin that has a couple of positive matters, or just about positive matters:

" 43 many years ago -- The final time NASCAR raced on dirt. It had been Sept. 30, 1970, for the fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C. Richard Petty won around the 1-mile oval.

NASCAR goes vintage racing this year using a Camping Planet Truck Series occasion within the dirt at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, a half-mile oval owned by Tony Stewart.

This race are going to be one of many most anticipated occasions of your season. It requires spot on July 24, a Wednesday evening ahead of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (90 miles away) 4 days later on.

The field is going to be restricted to 30 trucks. Eldora has 16,000 seats, but supplemental grandstands will probably be brought in for any probable sellout crowd.

" A female initial -- No girl ever has run a total Cup season, except for that six-race inaugural NASCAR season in 1949, when Sara Christian raced in all 6 occasions.

She completed 13th all round, most effective ever for the female, but a six-race season hardly counts by today's specifications.

Danica Patrick will turn into the initial lady on the modern day era to race a total Cup routine (barring injury or suspension) this season when she runs total time for Stewart-Haas Racing.

By modern day requirements, Janet Guthrie posted the ideal ranking for the lady when she completed 23rd during the 1977 standings even though operating 19 of 30 occasions, earning 4 top-10s.

Equaling that mark can be a tall job for Patrick, but not unattainable. Bobby Labonte was 23rd while in the 2012 standings with two top-5s and an common finish of 22.six. Patrick will probably be inside a improved automobile (Hendrick Motorsports gear) than Labonte has.

Right here are a number of other factors that may take place for that very first time within a prolonged time and a few some others that might be a 1st in NASCAR:

" 51 many years ago -- The 1962 season marked the final time NASCAR had 3 consecutive seasons the place a crew proprietor won a Cup title for that initial time.

It can transpire this year if Michael Waltrip Racing claims its very first title with both Clint Bowyer or Martin Truex Jr. The two guys manufactured the 2012 Chase, and Bowyer completed because the championship runner-up to Brad Keselowski.

"We possess the capability to enhance on our achievement from final season," mentioned Scott Miller, MWR's vice president of competitors. "We formulated a procedure final season to acquire from point A to point B, and we identified a great deal of results with all the approach. We'll make use of the similar method to assist us together with the improvement of your 2013 motor vehicle.

"Toyota Racing Improvement is doing work truly challenging within the engines to provide us extra reliability and much more energy. I believe we are able to elevate our system this season and compete for the championship once more."

Stewart's 2011 title was the primary Cup crown for Stewart-Haas Racing. Keselowski gave Roger Penske his long-awaited Cup championship in 2012.

Rex White (1960), Ned Jarrett (1961) and Joe Weatherly (1962) gave crew owners first-time championships half a century ago. The exciting point is the fact that all 3 of them ran races in these championship many years for over one particular crew proprietor, not unusual in these days.

" 32 many years ago -- Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 title in his initial season driving for Junior Johnson. Nobody has performed it considering that, but Matt Kenseth features a superior shot at it this year in his to start with season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

" 17 many years ago -- The 1996 season was the sole time a driver won the championship twelve many years eliminated from his final one particular. Terry Labonte did it at Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon could equal the feat this year for boss Rick Hendrick. Gordon's fourth and final Cup title came in 2001.

" 14 many years ago -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 2nd consecutive Nationwide title (the Busch Series on the time) in 1999. That was the final time the Earnhardt title had a championship banner.

There are actually two means that may take place this year. Earnhardt could win the Cup crown in what might be his very best probability ever. And Regan Smith could win the Nationwide title driving his initially complete season for JR Motorsports.

" 13 many years ago -- Bobby Labonte's Cup championship in 2000 was the final time NASCAR had a driver who was the brother of the champion win a title within the similar series.

Ty Dillon could win the Camping Globe Truck Series crown this year, two seasons right after his brother, Austin Dillon, won it.

Austin also is often a contender to the Nationwide Series title this year, so they could turn into the initial brothers to win titles during the exact same season.

" ten many years ago -- Brian Vickers won the Nationwide title in 2003. He's one of several favorites to win it this year in his initial season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. If he does, he'll grow to be the very first guy to win championships while in the series ten many years apart.

" Back-to-back titles in two series -- That hardly ever has occurred, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. features a shot at it this year. Granted, it really is an extended shot, but he's driving a good quality auto for any group that created the Chase final year. Stenhouse, who won the previous two Nationwide titles, replaces Kenseth at Roush Fenway Racing.

Keselowski and Greg Biffle came near to accomplishing this feat. Keselowski's Cup crown final year came two many years right after he won the 2010 Nationwide title. Biffle won the 2002 Nationwide championship two many years just after winning the CWTS title.

Keselowski and Bobby Labonte will be the only Nationwide champs (to date) who went on to win a Cup title.


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