As the Daytona 500 approaches, we will finally get our first look at all the changes that have taken place over the past couple of months. A new Series Sponsor, the COT (Car of Tomorrow), Toyota’s second year and numerous driver changes amongst teams make things very interesting this year.
Storylines:
Let’s start right at the top. This year NASCAR welcomes Sprint to the Cup Series. The Nationwide Series replaces the Busch Series and Craftsman will end its run in the truck series at the end of the season.
This year will also mark the first full season for the car of tomorrow. After the first round of testing during preseason thunder, drivers appear to be happy with how things feel in the COT. Bump drafting in the new chassis design should be better and make racing better. We’ll find out soon as the Daytona 500 roles off on February 17th.
The 2008 season will also see Toyota attempting to make more of an impact in its second year. After the 2007 season that saw Michael Waltrip get penalized for a fuel additive at Daytona, and most teams struggle to make races in 2007, 2008 presents new opportunities. Joe Gibbs Racing, along with Hall of Fame racing has made the move to Toyota. With a proven team joining Toyota, with the likes of Michael Waltrip Racing, Team Red Bull and Bill Davis Racing already in the fold, this should be the year Toyota scores its first victory in the Sprint Cup Series.
Finally, the revolving door that was driver changes will close. And boy, some big names made some big noise. Let’s start at the top with the biggest name, Dale Earnhardt Junior. He left his father’s company due to power struggles with his stepmother, and if that wasn’t enough he joined the most successful team in the series, Hendrick Motorsports.
That leads us to the departure of Kyle Busch. To make room for Junior, Busch was the odd man out, but will join Joe Gibbs Racing and round out their trio with Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. That moved J.J. Yeley out of the #18 at Gibbs and into the #96 at Hall of Fame Racing, run by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.
Michael Waltrip Racing will see a rookie join the team after Dale Jarrett retires after race five. David Reutimann will move from the #00 and replace Jarrett in the #44 and last years ARCA REMAX Series rookie of the year Michael McDowell will jump into the #00.
Mark Martin, Aric Almirola and Regan Smith will see seat time with DEI. Jacques Villeneuve will run the full schedule with Bill Davis Racing.
Also from the open wheel ranks, Dario Franchitti replaces David Stremme at Chip Ganassi and Penske Racing will add a third member to it’s stable with Ohio native and Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Junior.
Travis Kvapil replaces Ricky Rudd at Robert Yates racing and Jeremy Mayfield and Scott Riggs will pilot the two Haas CNC Racing entries.
It should be an interesting 2008 season. I can’t wait for it to get started. Be sure to tune into my show, weekdays from 3 – 6 on the Kool Kat 1380 the week of February 11th when we will preview the upcoming season with interviews all week long, and go over local track schedules.
Dates of interest:
Bud Shooutout: Saturday February 9th
Cup Series Qualifying: February 10th
Gatorade Duel: February 14th
Daytona 500: February 17th
Predictions:
Champion: Jimmie Johnson
Toyota Win’s: Four (Don’t be surprised if they all come from Gibbs)
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