Thursday, January 10, 2013

Theme for '13: Excellent expectations

Watch closely, people. The 2013 NASCAR season is going to be one particular to bear in mind.

I am counting on it, if not betting on it.

A number of points are likely to transpire in NASCAR this year which have never ever occurred just before. As well as a couple of items may possibly transpire that nobody has witnessed in quite a few many years.

Let us commence which has a couple of certain matters, or just about certain factors:

" 43 many years ago -- The final time NASCAR raced on dirt. It had been Sept. 30, 1970, about the fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C. Richard Petty won for the 1-mile oval.

NASCAR goes vintage racing this year having a Camping Planet Truck Series occasion to the dirt at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, a half-mile oval owned by Tony Stewart.

This race will probably be one of many most anticipated occasions with the season. It requires spot on July 24, a Wednesday evening ahead of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (90 miles away) 4 days later on.

The field will probably be restricted to 30 trucks. Eldora has 16,000 seats, but extra grandstands will probably be brought in for any most likely sellout crowd.

" A female initially -- No lady ever has run a complete Cup season, except for your six-race inaugural NASCAR season in 1949, when Sara Christian raced in all 6 occasions.

She completed 13th total, greatest ever for the girl, but a six-race season hardly counts by today's requirements.

Danica Patrick will grow to be the primary lady in the contemporary era to race a total Cup routine (barring injury or suspension) this season when she runs total time for Stewart-Haas Racing.

By modern day specifications, Janet Guthrie posted the ideal ranking to get a female when she completed 23rd while in the 1977 standings even though operating 19 of 30 occasions, earning 4 top-10s.

Equaling that mark can be a tall activity for Patrick, but not extremely hard. Bobby Labonte was 23rd inside the 2012 standings with two top-5s and an common finish of 22.six. Patrick will likely be within a greater motor vehicle (Hendrick Motorsports tools) than Labonte has.

Right here are numerous other factors that may occur to the to start with time within a lengthy time and a few some others that might be a 1st in NASCAR:

" 51 many years ago -- The 1962 season marked the final time NASCAR had 3 consecutive seasons the place a group proprietor won a Cup title for your initially time.

It's going to take place this year if Michael Waltrip Racing claims its 1st title with both Clint Bowyer or Martin Truex Jr. Each males produced the 2012 Chase, and Bowyer completed because the championship runner-up to Brad Keselowski.

"We possess the capability to enhance on our accomplishment from final season," stated Scott Miller, MWR's vice president of competitors. "We produced a system final season to acquire from point A to point B, and we identified a great deal of achievement together with the system. We'll make use of the identical procedure to assist us using the improvement from the 2013 motor vehicle.

"Toyota Racing Improvement is functioning truly difficult within the engines to provide us additional reliability and even more energy. I believe we will elevate our plan this season and compete for the championship once more."

Stewart's 2011 title was the very first Cup crown for Stewart-Haas Racing. Keselowski gave Roger Penske his long-awaited Cup championship in 2012.

Rex White (1960), Ned Jarrett (1961) and Joe Weatherly (1962) gave crew owners first-time championships half a century ago. The fascinating point is all 3 of them ran races in individuals championship many years for in excess of a single group proprietor, not unusual in these days.

" 32 many years ago -- Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 title in his initially season driving for Junior Johnson. Nobody has carried out it due to the fact, but Matt Kenseth includes a great shot at it this year in his initially season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

" 17 many years ago -- The 1996 season was the sole time a driver won the championship twelve many years eliminated from his final one particular. Terry Labonte did it at Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon could equal the feat this year for boss Rick Hendrick. Gordon's fourth and final Cup title came in 2001.

" 14 many years ago -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 2nd consecutive Nationwide title (the Busch Series in the time) in 1999. That was the final time the Earnhardt title had a championship banner.

You will find two strategies that may take place this year. Earnhardt could win the Cup crown in what may possibly be his most effective likelihood ever. And Regan Smith could win the Nationwide title driving his initial total season for JR Motorsports.

" 13 many years ago -- Bobby Labonte's Cup championship in 2000 was the final time NASCAR had a driver who was the brother of the champion win a title within the very same series.

Ty Dillon could win the Camping Globe Truck Series crown this year, two seasons just after his brother, Austin Dillon, won it.

Austin also is often a contender for your Nationwide Series title this year, so they could grow to be the very first brothers to win titles within the exact same season.

" ten many years ago -- Brian Vickers won the Nationwide title in 2003. He's among the favorites to win it this year in his very first season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. If he does, he'll develop into the 1st guy to win championships while in the series ten many years apart.

" Back-to-back titles in two series -- That hardly ever has occurred, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. includes a shot at it this year. Granted, it can be an extended shot, but he's driving a top quality auto for any group that produced the Chase final year. Stenhouse, who won the previous two Nationwide titles, replaces Kenseth at Roush Fenway Racing.

Keselowski and Greg Biffle came near to accomplishing this feat. Keselowski's Cup crown final year came two many years right after he won the 2010 Nationwide title. Biffle won the 2002 Nationwide championship two many years soon after winning the CWTS title.

Keselowski and Bobby Labonte will be the only Nationwide champs (up to now) who went on to win a Cup title.


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