Today I will begin a pre-season look at how I think the points will end up for the upcoming year. The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 will showcase what I think will be the finishing order in points, starting at number 20 and finishing on February 7th with the 2009 Sprint Cup Champion. I will display three drivers each day until February 5th. On February 6th, I will have the second place driver, and on February 7th I will have who I think will be this year's champ. All just in time for the February 8th kickoff of the season - the Budweiser Shootout! It is just around the corner, so let's get started!
#20 Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman started off 2008 with a bang by capturing the 50th Annual Daytona 500. The rest of his year was somewhat disappointing, finishing 17th in the final points standings.
Newman was born December 8, 1977 in South Bend, Indiana. He received a degree in Vehicle Structure Engineering from Purdue University. He won the USAC Silver Crown National Championship in 1999. His Sprint Cup career began at Penske Racing South in 2000.
In 2008, Newman had 36 starts, 1 pole, 1 win, 2 Top 5s, 8 Top 10s, average start of 16, average finish of 20, and 3,735 points.
2009 looks to be a trickier ride for Newman, as he joins Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing. He will be driving the #39 Chevrolet Impala sponsored by the U.S. Army and Haas Automation.
#19 Joey Logano
Joey Logano will kick off his rookie season in 2009. Logano has shown much promise and has been the most talked-about newcomer all of 2008. Everyone has high expectations for the 18 year-old.
Logano was born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Connecticut. Logano started racing at the age of six. He has won in everything from quarter-midgets to USAR Hooters Pro Cup to the Nationwide Series. Logano became the youngest driver to ever win a Nationwide Series race during the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. He was 18 years, 21 days old at the time.
Look to hear a lot about Logano during the 2009 season. He will have a bunch of good finishes and may even see Victory Lane this year, but he will also see some growing pains and rookie mishaps.
Logano will be taking over the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry from Tony Stewart at Joe Gibbs Racing.
#18 Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne started the 2008 season in pretty decent shape, knocking off six Top 10s in the first ten races. Kahne even seemed like he was on track to challenge for a possible championship run towards the middle of the 2008 season. He posted wins for the NASCAR All-Star race at Charlotte, then winning the Cocoa-Cola 600, a win two weeks later at Pocono, and a second at Michigan the following week. After that Kahne's season fell apart, recording only six Top 10s in the next 21 races.
Kasey Kahne was born April 10, 1980 in Enumclaw, Washington. Kahne has driven everything from World of Outlaws to USAC Midgets. He started racing at the age if 14.
I expect Kahne's woes to continue in 2009. He will have the occasional spurt of good runs but most of his season will be as lackluster as 2008. Ray Evernham will not be as involved with the race teams in 2009, as he is pursuing other ventures. This will might have a negative impact on all the Gillett Evernham teams.
Kahne will continue to drive the #9 Budweiser Dodge Charger for Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2009.
That is it for numbers 20 through 18 for The Top 20 Drivers of 2009. Check back tomorrow for numbers 17 through 15!
The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 1
Garage Insider
I will be starting a new section for NASCAR Notebook called Garage Insider. Garage Insider will be chocked full of the latest news in NASCAR. I will post happenings on Garage Insider a couple times a week, perhaps more once the season starts. If you need a NASCAR news fix, then Garage Insider is the place to check out!
Cup Champ Has Surgery On Finger
Three time and reigning Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson, had surgery on his left middle finger on Saturday to repair a tendon and nerves. Johnson cut his finger above the knuckle with a kitchen knife while trying to puncture a hole in his fire suit for a cooling tube. He did this while preparing to compete in the Rolex 24 Sports Car Race.
Hendricks Motorsports Driver Jimmie Johnson
The injury will not keep Johnson from participating in the season's first NASCAR Sprint Cup event, the Budweiser Shootout, February 7th at Daytona International Speedway.
Andretti To Drive For Earnhardt Ganassi
John Andretti is expected to join Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as the fourth driver for Daytona and beyond. A deal is in the works that would partner Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and Andretti with EGR. The car's number and sponsor should be announced later this week.
Labonte Has New Ride For Daytona
Two-time Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte will attempt to qualify for the 2009 Daytona 500 in a Toyota fielded by Prism Motorsports, co-owned by former NASCAR driver Phil Parsons and Randy Humphrey.
Humphrey said the new team plans to run the full 2009 schedule, with Dave Blaney taking over the driver's seat after Daytona.
The team has formed a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing and purchase engines from Joey Harrington. Bill Henderson, crew chief from Hall of Fame Racing last year, will be the crew chief.
Humphrey said the new team plans to run the full 2009 schedule, with Dave Blaney taking over the driver's seat after Daytona.
The team has formed a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing and purchase engines from Joey Harrington. Bill Henderson, crew chief from Hall of Fame Racing last year, will be the crew chief.
McDowell To Drive Part Time in Nationwide Series
Michael McDowell will drive part time in the Nationwide Series for Daugherty/JTG Racing in the number 47 Toyota. McDowell was let go from Michael Waltrip Racing last year after falling out of the Top 35 in owner points after failing to qualify for the Camping World RV 400 at Kansas.
Veteran crew chief Gene Snead will command the team, which will have ICP and Tom's Snack as sponsors.
Veteran crew chief Gene Snead will command the team, which will have ICP and Tom's Snack as sponsors.
Nemechek To Field Own Team At Daytona
Veteran driver Joe Nemechek will revive the NEMCO Motorsports number 87 team for both Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series at Daytona. Long-time crew chief Phillippe Lopez will oversee the team. Nemecheck will run Toyotas in the Cup Series and a combination of Toyotas and Chevrolets in the Nationwide Series. He is still working on gaining sponsorship.
Roush Fenway Pushing NASCAR ON 4-car Limit
Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith wants NASCAR to reconsider its four-car per team limit. NASCAR President Mike Helton is dead set on keeping the limit in place. "As a matter of fact, it's probably stronger than it's ever been, and the right thing to do", Helton has said.
Roush Fenway Racing can run five teams this year for the final time before it has to reduce to the NASCAR limit in 2010.
Roush Fenway Racing can run five teams this year for the final time before it has to reduce to the NASCAR limit in 2010.
NASCAR Hall of Fame News
NASCAR announced its new Hall of Fame, scheduled to open next year in downtown Charlotte, N.C., will have five inductees a year.A 20-member nominating committee will determine the list of no more than 25 candidates. That committee will then join 27 other former drivers, owners, crew chiefs, media members and other officials. A 48th ballot will represent the results of a nationwide fan ballot.To be eligible, former drivers must have competed 10 years in NASCAR and be retired for at least three years. Non-drivers must have worked at least 10 years in the industry.The first induction is scheduled for May 2010 when NASCAR comes to the Charlotte area for the All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600.
That is it for the Garage Insider for now. Check back later to catch more interesting tidbits from around the NASCAR scene!
That is it for the Garage Insider for now. Check back later to catch more interesting tidbits from around the NASCAR scene!
NASCAR Notebook
The racing season is just upon us with the Daytona 500 just a couple weeks away. There are a lot of exciting things happening in our sport and I'm sure 2009 will be full of high speed drama and happenings
So, buckle up and hang on for the ride....I'm sure the upcoming season will have many twists and turns!
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