We are just over 50 days away from the green flag being put in the air over the 59th running of the Great American Race, The Daytona 500, and it’s time to really kick preparations in to high gear. Drivers are making their annual trip to the “photo booth”, Transporters are getting shined up and new wraps and teams are finishing up cars for not only Daytona, but short track cars for Bristol and so on.
So where does that leave the rest of us…anxious and wondering what is to come. With NASCAR Media Day just a couple weeks away, a day we get all the big breaking stories…that haven’t already come, our first look at cars and drivers and hear how excited everyone is, I thought, lets take a look at some things I think we may see or hope to hear in 2017.
A prognosticator i’m not, and that’s why i’ll save my bad predictions for down the road.
Ten things I hope to see or hear in NASCAR in the new year.
Number 10.
Stewart-Haas Racing makes big gains with the “Blue Oval”
With the change to Ford during the off season and Clint Bowyer taking over for the now retired boss man, it would be expected that it’s a trying time for SHR, but I think they come out of the box strong with a lot of manufacturer support, Harvick and Busch are right in the middle of things, Bowyer rebounds nicely and Danica is even relevant as far as competitiveness, Top 5s are better than yoga videos
Number 9.
Chasing through left handers at a road course.
Road Course racing has become a fan favorite in the last couple years. The action has been intense and the finishes have been stuff water cooler talk is made of. Fans have clamored for a road course race in the chase for the past couple years, it’s high time NASCAR says Ok, we’re gonna do it.
Number 8.
Indy and Xfinity face change.
As the competition has been less than stellar, in fact no existent at the famed Brickyard for the Xfinity Series, NASCAR will finally say one of two things, either enough is enough and we’re done at the big track or, we’re gonna try the Indy road course.
Number 7.
And a rookie shall lead them…
Erik Jones proves he belongs and is the first Rookie of the Year candidate to visit victory lane since Joey Logano in 2009. Jones comes in with a new team at Furniture Row Racing for his Rookie campaign and with the success of Martin Truex Jr. in 2016, it should be to no ones surprise if and when Jones prevails
Number 6.
Rebound is not just in basketball, it’s what Carl Edwards does.
Carl Edwards was likely within 10 laps of his first championship in 2016 when chaos ripped another one away. Edwards is no stranger to championship adversity and with a strong team at Joe Gibbs Racing, he should be right back there contending. I’ll save the part of if he does it for a later edition. The Crystal Ball is fuzzy at the moment.
Number 5.
Kyle Busch Motorsports will once again dominate the Camping World Truck Series.
With the boss running just 5 races and the scheduled spread out among a handful of future stars, you should expect to see Myatt Snider, Harrison Burth and Todd Gilliland all reach victory lane in their select races for KBM
Number 4.
The 5 car and Kasey Kahne do not rebound.
Even though Kahne had some of the best results without a win over the final 10 races of 2016, the struggle for the No. 5 car continue and as Kahne said, if he doesn’t pick up his performance, he needs to make a change. 17th is where Kahne finished one year ago, it may be the best he does again.
Number 3.
Big name in Daytona…Not this time.
A fresh face. a first time winner stands in the promised land known as Victory Lane at the famed
Daytona International Speedway hoisting the Harley J. Earl trophy as winner of the Daytona 500.
Number 2.
RCR and Roush find victory lane.
Two very long time owners and succesful teams have seen struggles in recent years, one in which has seen two veterans jump ship and the overall team size at Roush down size to just two cars in 2017. We need RCR and Roush to be relevant and competitive.
and at Number 1.
Lucky Number 16
For the first time since, NASCAR will take 16 winners in to the chase and Richmond will be chaos trying to battle for that final spot. Since the chase started we’ve had to fill out the roster with non winners, well some fans belive you shouldn’t be eligible if you haven’t seen victory lane. Not to worry, it what may be the most competitive year ever. Winners reign supreme at chase time.
So, maybe a little future telling with a very cloudy crystal ball, but things i’d not only to hear, but things I think we’ll see in 2017.
No matter what happens, it should be another great year and for this guy. It can’t get here soon enough.
Remember, share your thoughts on things you think we will see in 2017 or any other thoughts on the season from now till Homestead-Miami
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