Revving up for 2006
The Daytona 500 is tomorrow, which officially begins another season for the gNA$hCAR Nextel Cup drivers. Ordinarily it would also begin another season of gNA$hCAR Notes, and I would chime in here every week with my "Glenn's Ten" predictions, then the post-race analysis for each of the 36 points races.
I say "ordinarily" because this is not going to be an ordinary season for gNA$hCAR Notes. As much as I have enjoyed doing the weekly posts for the past two years, I have found the two hours or so they consume of my weekend to be time I can't afford right now. So for 2006 at least I will probably post sporadically if at all. 8-(
That said, I will make my preseason predictions and then check back at some point to see how I'm doing/how I did.
DAYTONA 500 (Week 1)
Jeff Burton is on the pole (imagine that!) and all eyes are on folks like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the Great American Race. But the guy I'm watching is Kurt Busch. Why? Busch, when he drove for Jack Roush, was a consistent threat to win at Daytona. Even a couple of years ago when he wound up a lap down, he still had one of the fastest cars on the track. Granted, he's no longer driving for Roush, but I think that will be his extra incentive to finally win one. he has a lot to prove to the racing community, and to his new owner, Roger Penske. The Penske Dodges of late have had a tough run at Daytona. Who will soon forget Ryan Newman's end-over in 2003? Rusty Wallace tried for years to win here and never could. Busch excels under pressure, and he's got a bunch after his late-season altercation with some Phoenix traffic cops that was the nadir of his career with Roush. He's stepping into the #2 Miller Lite machine once piloted by the popular Wallace. And he will now be teammates with the strong-willed and equally talented Newman, which should stir a strong rivalry. Plus I think that Busch is due. This won't be a championship year for him -- too many strikes against him trying to adjust to a new team -- but Sunday could be his day at Daytona.
GLENN'S TEN (in no particular order, and for this week only):
* Kurt Busch (winner) -- see above.
* Jeff Gordon -- if the engine doesn't break. Hendrick motors have been showing chinks in qualifying and practice.
* Matt Kenseth -- he was my pick to win the Bud Shootout but ran into problems early. Hasn't been a good Speedweeks for him thus far.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Jr. will be back in top form this year.
* Denny Hamlin -- Won the Shootout and might have earned some respect in the process. It could pay off in a top 10 finish.
* Tony Stewart -- A threat to win. He did win Saturday's Busch race.
* Mike Wallace -- You always need a dark horse, and Mike's mine. The #09 has found a way to finish in the mix in past years.
* Dale Jarrett -- knows how to get it done in the closing laps.
* Mark Martin -- This time it really is the last chance for a win in the 500.
* Jimmie Johnson -- Oh how I'd love to pick him for the win, given all the adversity he's had to overcome this week. With crew chiew Chad Knaus on suspension for what amounts to cheating, Jimmie had to go to the back of the field for the Twin 150 race. He proved he has a car to win, but I worry about those Hendrick engines. Moreso, I don't think it's Jimmie's turn yet.
AND WHAT ABOUT... Carl Edwards? (Bad luck in the Bud Shootout is a sneak preview of Sunday)... Greg Biffle? (Probably should have included him. He has run well here other occasions)... Michael Waltrip? (Not convinced yet that being in business for himself is going to get him to the checkers)... Elliott Sadler (Will find a way to choke when the race is on the line)... Kyle Busch? (Aggressiveness will be his undoing)... Ryan Newman? (Every driver has a track too tough to tame. This one is Ryan's).
