 |
| Photo from: rsvlts.com |
 |
| Photo from Atlanta Motor Speedway New 2013 Cars |
12. Kurt Busch - 51 - Furniture Row Racing
Busch, who has been at the center of much controversy over the past season, has found a home in Denver, CO. I think this will be a good thing for NASCAR's "bad boy." The move puts him closer to his native Nevada and gets him away from the home of NASCAR and the media frenzy. He brings experience to a relatively new team that has a win with Regan Smith under their belts. This one time Sprint Cup Champion becomes the come back driver of the year and sets himself and his team up for a title run in 2014.
11. Kevin Harvick - 29 - Richard Childress Racing
Harvick, will be moving on to Stewart-Hass next season, so he enters the 2013 campaign as a "lame-duck" driver. Usually this spells disaster, however, last year proved fruitful for Matt Kenseth in the same situation with Roush-Fenway Racing. Happy Harvick is usually a top pick of mine; however, with all that he has going on, I think it will be huge for this team to just make the Chase. Don't count him out, but don't put all your money on him.
10. Jeff Burton - 31 - RCR
No, I am not crazy. This guy is due for a good season and a few wins. This is a bounce back year for this team. My thoughts, Burton wins at Texas and Dover to pick up one of the two wild card spots in the Chase and maintains some consistency to get himself on stage at the year end banquet.
9. Jimmie Johnson (JJ) - 48 - Hendrick Motorsports (HMS)
Once again, I am not crazy. Once again, Johnson is Las Vegas is picking Johnson to win his sixth overall championship. However, I think after a strong start, including a Daytona 500 win, he falls late (opposite of his normal season) and finds himself at the back looking forward come season's end. No one can maintain the run he has over the past decade for yet another season, right?
 |
| Beyondtheredline.com |
My second wild card pick. Always a favorite on the road courses, he'll pick up a win there, and he finally breaks through to win on an oval at Martinsville or Richmond. The only thing that could potentially derail this guys run to the Chase is the increased number of Fords on the track with the addition of Penske.
7. Matt Kenseth - 20 - Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR)
A fresh start for Mr. Consistent! Don't know that he needed, but it will good for the former Sprint Cup Champion. He will do it with flashes of brilliance and weeks and weeks of consistent top ten finishes. A true threat to win it all if he can add some wins in there.
6. Kasey Kahne - 5 - HMS
After securing a wild card spot last season, Kahne looks to improve and find himself securely inside the top ten at the end of the first 26 races. With his tendency to win on the 1.5 mile tracks and his second full season at HMS, Kahne is a legitimate threat to claim his first title. However, there is just too much parody and motivation within his own organization for this to be his year.
 |
| turner.com/SI |
Honestly, this pick is based solely off of his potential. Busch should be a perennial favorite to win the championship; however, he (like his brother, Kurt) always finds a way to defeat himself. If he fins a way to be mature throughout the entire season, then it may just be his year. However, if he continues to meltdown after bad days, then he may find himself on the outside looking in yet again. Don't count him out, but don't bet the farm on either. That's why I put him at number five on the countdown, because he could go either way.
4. Brad Keselowski - 2 - Penske Racing
The defending Sprint Cup Champion will have another excellent year and will probably win three or four championships when his career comes to an end. However, championship number two will have to wait for at least another year. This will still be a fruitful and historical year for the team by winning Roger Penske, "The King of Indianapolis," his first Brickyard 400 win.
3. Denny Hamlin - 11 - JGR
Joe Gibbs gets all three cars in the Chase; but will fail the Championship with any of them. Hamlin, a great regular season driver, has shown a perplexing ability to not show up for the final ten races of the season. He will hang on a lot longer than he normally does. He'll secure a spot by winning the regular season ending race at Richmond and make himself a factor with a win at Martinsville inside the Chase.
2. Jeff Gordon - 24 - HMS
The "Drive for Five" has been ongoing since 2001. Gordon couldn't have finished off the season much stronger last year. He won the final race of the season! What a great way to finish one season and start another. Gordon returns to old form winning at least five races in the regular season and gives Jimmie Johnson a run for his money at the season opener in Daytona. We have all been waiting for "Big Daddy," the owner of the 48 Chevrolet, to tie his protege with his 5th career championship. This may very well be the year, but there will be one guy that will definitely have something to say about it.
There are a lot of talented guys that have been left off of this list. I mean, thus far, I haven't included a single Roush Fenway driver. No Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart or "Cousin" Carl Edwards. I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles. I think NASCAR fans will love my pick for the champion...
1. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - 88 - HMS
 |
| bleacherreport.com |
blog.mysanantonio.com
Here's to a great season! Can't wait to get it started!
