Thursday, January 10, 2013

Theme for '13: Excellent expectations

Watch closely, people. The 2013 NASCAR season might be one particular to keep in mind.

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

A couple of matters are likely to occur in NASCAR this year which have by no means occurred ahead of. Along with a couple of matters may possibly occur that nobody has witnessed in a lot of many years.

Let us commence using a couple of certain factors, or virtually positive points:

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

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

This race might be on the list of most anticipated occasions on the season. It requires area on July 24, a Wednesday evening well before the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (90 miles away) 4 days later on.

The field might be restricted to 30 trucks. Eldora has 16,000 seats, but further grandstands will likely be brought in to get a most likely sellout crowd.

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

She completed 13th general, very best ever for any girl, but a six-race season hardly counts by today's specifications.

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

By present day specifications, Janet Guthrie posted the ideal ranking for the girl when she completed 23rd during the 1977 standings although operating 19 of 30 occasions, earning 4 top-10s.

Equaling that mark can be a tall process for Patrick, but not extremely hard. Bobby Labonte was 23rd inside the 2012 standings with two top-5s and an normal finish of 22.six. Patrick might be inside a much better motor vehicle (Hendrick Motorsports gear) than Labonte has.

Right here are many other items that may take place to the 1st time within a prolonged time and a few other folks that will be a very first in NASCAR:

" 51 many years ago -- The 1962 season marked the final time NASCAR had 3 consecutive seasons the place a group proprietor won a Cup title for your to start with time.

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

"We possess the capability to enhance on our results from final season," explained Scott Miller, MWR's vice president of competitors. "We designed a method final season to obtain from point A to point B, and we discovered plenty of results together with the course of action. We'll make use of the similar procedure to aid us with all the advancement with the 2013 motor vehicle.

"Toyota Racing Improvement is doing work genuinely really hard to the engines to provide us a lot more reliability and much more energy. I believe we will elevate our plan this season and compete to get a championship yet again."

Stewart's 2011 title was the 1st 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 group owners first-time championships half a century ago. The fascinating issue is all 3 of them ran races in individuals championship many years for in excess of 1 crew proprietor, not unusual in these days.

" 32 many years ago -- Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 title in his very first season driving for Junior Johnson. Nobody has carried out it considering that, but Matt Kenseth includes a great 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 1. 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 in the time) in 1999. That was the final time the Earnhardt title had a championship banner.

You will discover two methods that may transpire this year. Earnhardt could win the Cup crown in what may perhaps be his most effective opportunity ever. And Regan Smith could win the Nationwide title driving his initial 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 during the exact same series.

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

Austin also can be a contender for that Nationwide Series title this year, so they could grow to be the initial brothers to win titles while in the similar season.

" ten many years ago -- Brian Vickers won the Nationwide title in 2003. He's on the list of favorites to win it this year in his to start with season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. If he does, he'll grow to be the 1st guy to win championships within the series ten many years apart.

" Back-to-back titles in two series -- That by no means has occurred, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. features a shot at it this year. Granted, it truly is an extended shot, but he's driving a high quality auto to get a crew that manufactured 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 just after he won the 2010 Nationwide title. Biffle won the 2002 Nationwide championship two many years soon 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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