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Plain and simple, no one knows what is going to happen in November. Not even me! I know that is shocking to everyone. I'm going to take a guess at what the final 12 will look like at season's end. No lengthy explanations because none of this means anything right now.

Best of the rest:
Denny Hamlin--Sophomore slump, just like for Carl Edwards last season.
Juan Pablo Montoya--Needs one more year.
Jeff Burton--I honestly think he will win it all at RCR before he retires.
Kyle Busch--2 solid seasons to start a career. He's due to slide a little bit this year.
Robby Gordon--Hooking up with Ford will make have this team finishing first among the single car teams.
Kevin Harvick--Misses the Chase by less than 15 points.

My final 12 looks like...

12. Ricky Rudd, 88 Snickers Ford--Re-energized after a year away from the track, Rudd will help restore some credibility to Robert Yates Racing. He's a proven winner. Don't be surprised if he steals a win or 2 at a track like Talladega or Atlanta.

11. Clint Bowyer, 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet--After a successful rookie year Bowyer should make some real noise at the resurgent Richard Childress Racing. He's a pure racer and showed promise last year that will come to the forefront this year.

10. Bobby Labonte, 43 Cheerios Dodge--First appearance for Petty Enterprises in the Chase. One win, or maybe, even 2 for the past champion

9. Reed Sorenson, 41 Target Dodge--I'm going way out on limb with this one. But, I truly believe he has the ability to get in the Chase and win at least one race.

8. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 8 Budweiser Chevrolet--Contract negotiations keep me from picking him to win it all this year. A future RCR or Joe Gibbs Racing employee? Probably.

7. Jimmie Johnson, 48 Lowe's Chevrolet--The defending Nextel Cup champion has been in the top 5 every full year of his career. It just seems like something has got to give. No one has repeated since Johnson's car owner, Jeff Gordon, did it in the late 90s. Still a great year is ahead for these guys.

6. Matt Kenseth, 17 DeWalt Ford--This Wisconsin boy is solid. I wouldn't ever pick him to finish outside of the Chase. Jack Rousch's personal war against Toyota may keep one his drivers from winning it all.

5. Casey Mears, 25 National Guard Chevrolet--The famed 25 car of the Hendrick stable has been overshadowed by the 24 and 48 for the past several years. Casey Mears is the right man to take it back into the limelight.

4. Jeff Gordon, 24 Dupont Chevrolet--He could very well win it all this year. With a baby girl on the way and a finally steady personal life, the four time champion seems more ready than ever to get the seaosn under way.

3. Tony Stewart, 20 Home Depot Chevrolet--Not so fat Tony is everyone's favorite to win the NEXTEL cup, except for mine. It seems too safe to pick him to win it. So, I will put him in my top-5, but I just do not feel that it is his year.

2. Kasey Kahne, 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge--This will be a great race to watch between Kahne and the person I have pegged to win the cup. Kahne is a future multiple champion, and this year could make #1.

1. Carl Edwards, 99 Office Depot Ford--After missing the Chase last year Edwards has his favorite crew chief back. Don't expect another winless and Chaseless year for him. Expect him to win at least 4 races at the intermediate tracks, and to ultimately win the championship.

Rookie of the Year: I'm going way out on a limb here, but I'm going with Juan Pablo Montoya.
Comeback driver of the year: Tony Stewart? That's hard to imagine him being the comeback driver of the year.
Crewchief of the Year: Steve Letarte. He and Jeff Gordon seem to have built a relationship not seen on the Dupont team since Ray Evernham left to build his dodge team.