Pit Stop Report

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
One more driver to watch in 2007 is Kevin Harvick. Originally tapped in 2001 to fill the seat vacated by the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., he has posted only ten victories in six seasons. It bodes well for his future, however, that five of those ten victories occurred just in 2006, a feat that propelled him into the Chase with a solid points standing. Now that he’s figured out how to consistently win, look for that to continue in the future. Harvick has never won at Daytona – 2007 could prove to be the year!

Reality
When I’m on, I’m just so totally on. Really, when I wrote this prediction, I didn’t think there was a snowflake’s chance in LA of Harvick winning the Daytona. Truthfully, I added that snippet in there because my husband decided he was a Kevin Harvick fan after his beloved Rusty Wallace retired. But Tiffany’s patting herself on the back because she is just that dang good! He made the Chase for the second time after just slamming his way into victory lane at the Beach…that was his only win, but with fifteen top tens, it was enough for him to lock up tenth place in the Championship. Yay for Kevin!

Well…those are my PvRs folks - let me know what you think of my crystal ball! Before we know it, it’ll be time to roll out my guesses for ‘08 - I’d love your comments to help me get started!

Don’t forget about the Awards Ceremony tonight on ESPN Classic. My stupid satellite plan doesn’t include that channel, so I’ll watch it online after the fact…and be back tomorrow to start my next series, The Twelve Days of NASCAR, looking at the Chase’s twelve contenders, their “performance” at the Awards Ceremony, and their season over all.

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Kevin Harvick, NASCAR, Awards Ceremony

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
Speaking of drivers that fans either love to love or love to hate, Jeff Gordon has failed to live up to predictions that he would soon overtake the milestones set by racing champion Dale Earnhardt, Sr., and has not won a championship since 2001. Gordon needs a major infusion of both consistency and luck to revitalize his career so that he can truly chase after the seven championship mark set by both Earnhardt, Sr. and Richard Petty – a mark he’s still shy of by three. Since he’s tamed down his whiny/bad boy image, his career has slacked…perhaps Stewart and Gordon can exchange attitudes and both can find success.

Reality
Gordon found an extreme amount of success in 2007 with (count ‘em) 6 wins, 30 top tens and 21 top fives. In addition, Jeff was on the pole SEVEN times this year. For consistency, he definitely had teammate Jimmie beat, but he just didn’t have enough wins when it counted: during the chase. Man, Jimmie just seemed untouchable near the end, didn’t he? Gordon drove his absolute heart out and it really looked like he might get his next championship in 2007, but it just didn’t come true, as he ended the season 77 points back. In what is now a recurring mantra…maybe next year, Jeff.

One last PvR coming up: come back in just a few to check on Kevin Harvick!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Jeff Gordon, NASCAR

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
A driver who had high highs and low lows in 2006 was Tony Stewart. The bad boy many fans love to hate and others religiously cheer will surely redeem himself in 2007, pulling together a more consistent season with fewer breakdowns and more top-ten finishes. Stewart has never lacked for wins; now he just needs to place higher than a DNF on races where he doesn’t capture the checkered flag. Perhaps his finish in 2006, without even making an appearance in the Championship, will bring the humility he needs to become a more likeable driver in the future.

Reality
Apparently, my crystal ball likes Tony better than Toyotas, because was I right on, or right on? He made the Chase, he finished 6th over all, he had 3 wins and TWENTY FOUR top tens. Tony, oh Tony. I still am not a big fan, but drive, baby, drive. Apparently, 2006 was truly a fluke season for Tony, because Bad Boy got his groove back a la 2005 in ‘07. What will ‘08 bring???

Stay tuned to see if my crystal ball stayed clear for my ‘07 Jeff Gordon predictions…

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Tony Stewart, NASCAR

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
Friendly Lowe’s driver Jimmie Johnson is coming off the highest of highs, having just won the Chase for the Championship in 2006. Perhaps one of the most consistently successful drivers since the inception of the Chase, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jimmie roll into the 2007 season with a win at Daytona, which he also won in 2006. Even without a win at Daytona, it would be hard to imagine a Championship without Jimmie this coming year.

Reality
Ok…I was wrong on Daytona, obviously, but dang what a season! Back to back Championships - go, Jimmie, go! I was expecting Jimmie to be successful this season, but this level of success just blew me away. Despite some issues early on, Jimmie just continued on. Win upon win upon win. Whew! What more can I say?

Next PvR - Bad Boy Tony Stewart…what did I guess for him?? Check back to find out!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
Watch the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. camp carefully in 2007, as affairs heat up between star driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and the team owner, who is also his step-mother, Teresa Earnhardt. Given the ultimatum of choosing between a career in racing and a career as a public personality, Jr. may find the impetus to finally achieve his first championship season. Although qualifying for the Chase in two of the three seasons since its inception, each finish has been lackluster at best. As he struggles over deciding the best route for his future, which may well include eventually driving the Black #3 made famous by his father, this could turn out to be a breakthrough year.

Reality
Well, I was right about one thing: DEI needed close watching in 2007, and now it’ll need even closer watching to see what’ll become of Teresa’s baby in 2008. She may have given Jr. an ultimatum to race instead of be a celebrity, but he gave her the ultimate ultimatum when he asked for a share of the company and was denied…and so decided to depart for Hendrick. What a lousy season…didn’t qualify…again. How many blown engines? I can’t barely stand to think about it. I’ll admit to you, dear audience, that I’m way disappointed that Jr. went to Hendrick instead of RCR, but I am anxious to see how he’ll perform in the #88 in 2008. All those 8s…bound to be good luck, right?

Next up…Jr’s new Hendrick teammate, Jimmy Johnson.

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
A large change will be coming to NASCAR in 2007 – the introduction of a new vehicle to a field that has been held down for years by Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge. The long-awaited debut of Toyota vehicles will occur at this year’s Daytona 500, with drivers Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield and Dale Jarrett. All three drivers have had triumphs and heartbreaks in previous seasons and all are at different places in their respective careers. Perhaps this willingness to become poster children for Toyota’s first year will pay off in gold, allowing careers that haven’t been spectacular in recent years to rebound with style. The Toyota team is rounded off by Dave Blaney, Brian Vickers, rookie David Reutimann, and former open-wheel racer AJ Allmendinger, but any potential victories will likely not come from their camps. Toyota’s best bet for victory in 2007 will appear in Jeremy Mayfield, whose career should become totally revitalized with the move to a new team and a new car, redeeming him from the misery he endured in 2006. Don’t count out Dale Jarrett, either, as he looks to show that his career is still moving forward and he continues his strategic partnership with UPS. Michael Waltrip may have an early victory in ’07, but seems to be more involved in the business end of bringing Toyota to Nextel Cup racing than in actually racing a Toyota.

Reality
Jeremy Mayfield as the brightest hope for Toyota? What the heck was I smoking? Jeremy Mayfield finished the season in 45th place, 1 place behind Michael Waltrip, who raced in 3 less events! ACK! Mayfield didn’t even spend the whole season in his Toyota, jumping to a Chevy ride in October.

And speaking of Michael, it seems that I was right about him being more concerned about business than driving. Not sure where the talent went that was present when he won the Daytona 500 in 2001, but I can’t even see it with binoculars these days. Mikey, Mikey, where have you gone?! His season started out miserably with penalties, and didn’t get any better from there.

Dale Jarrett, despite his continuing popularity due to his partnership with UPS, disappointed me this year as well, finishing 41st with only 24 starts. Seems I didn’t count him out enough!

So who was the brightest start in a Toyota this year? Dave Blaney, who finished the season in 31st. That’s miserable at best.

So…now that you know that my crystal ball was obviously broken in 2007, you’ll definitely want to hurry on to my next post, look at predictions versus reality for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Dave Blaney, Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield, Toyota Racing, NASCAR, Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann, AJ Allmendinger, Brian Vickers

The Good

Juan Pablo Montoya - For NASCAR to attract such premium drivers from other motorsports can only add to the competitiveness that will keep NASCAR alive and kicking.

Toyota - It may be a wake-up call to the Big Three, but one that will only make things better all around.

The Bad

The Car of Tomorrow - Why it might not be totally bad, so far some drivers reaction to it certainly are.

The Ugly

A. J. Allmendinger - This hyped up Champ Car driver has already crashed two cars in Las Vegas testing. Then was quoted on a radio interview that he is looking for more chances to drive, like in the Busch and Truck series! I say “Hold yer Allmendinger and just work on getting the Nextel Cup cars down pat first, then branch off into the other series”!

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, Juan Pablo Montoya, A. J. Allmendinger, The Chase, The Car of Tomorrow

With the Daytona 500 coming up in less than 2 weeks now, I want to lay down my predictions for who will make the 2007 Nextel Cup Chase. As you all know, NASCAR is expanding the Chase to 12 participants. Will your favorite driver make it? Will my predictions be even remotely close? Well, here they are. Let me know what you think. These are in no particular order.

1. Tony Stewart - Being absent from the Chase in 2006 has Tony biting at the chomps for the 2007 season to start so he will not miss it again.

2. Jimmie Johnson - Jimmie hasn’t missed a Chase yet and with last year’s championship, he is not about to this year.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Dale will make the Chase again this year, either to prove to nasty ol’ stepmom that he belongs at DEI Inc. or to prove to Richard Childress that it won’t be a mistake to hire him.

4. Jeff Gordon - This 4-time champion will not miss the Chase unless he gets sidetracked with his wife who is due with their first child in June. Either way, congratulations to the Gordon’s.

5. Kasey Kahne - With six wins last year, his victorius efforts will be doubley rewarded this year. Less DNF’s will help too.

6. Matt Kenseth - Kenseth stumbled a little in the Chase last year, but his consistancy will prove to be his golden ticket.

7. Denny Hamlin - The 2006 Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year proved that he is NASCAR tough, and with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, they won’t let Denny slack off his sophmore year.

8. Carl Edwards - After a tough 2006 season, Carl will rebound and make the Chase in 2007. He ran the Busch series very well last year finishing in 2nd behind Kevin Harvick. With Rouch Racing making a huge push to be competitive with Toyota, that should only play in his favor.

9. Greg Biffle - In 2005, Biffle just missed winning the championship and followed with a disappointing 2006, this will edge him on this season to make the Chase.

10. Kevin Harvick - Kevin almost added a Nextel Cup championship to go with his Busch series championship last year. This consistantcy in both series will land him in the Chase again this year.

11. Elliott Sadler - Give Elliott a full year with Evernham Racing and that will equal a Chase qualification.

12. Kurt Busch - A rough start last year doomed Kurt from the beginning. Look forward to him redeeming himself this year.

On The Bubble - Ryan Newman - If “Mr Polewinner” got bonus points for winning poles then he would no doubt make the Chase. If he can win a couple more races this year, watch for Ryan to be in the Chase!

So, that is my prediction for the 2007 Nextel Cup Chase qualifiers. Stop back in November to see how I did.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, The Chase, 2007 Nextel Cup, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Daytona 500