Pipo Derani wins Rolex 24 for Patron ESM

UNB! Network Staff Report

Pipo Derani and his team celebrate their 2016 Rolex 24
victory in Victory Lane at Daytona International
Speedway.

Pipo Derani pulled off a victory for Tequila Patron ESM in the 54th-annual Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Derani was 26.1 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Max Angelelli.

Winning the GT Le Mans part of the race was Oliver Gavin in a Corvette C7.R.

2016 Rolex 24 TV Times Set on FS1, FS2

By @GucciardoJoey
Details from SportsCar365.com

This year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona TV coverage will be split on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 for the majority of the race, with streaming on the FOX Sports Go app for the entire 24 hours.

On Saturday, January 30, TV coverage starts on FS1 at 2 pm ET and runs until 4 pm ET. Coverage shifts to FS2 from 4 to 10 pm ET.

Following the overnight portion of the race, coverage picks up Sunday morning on FS1 from 7 to 9 am ET and 12 to 3 pm ET.

IMSA announced a revised commentary team over the weekend, with Greg Creamer and Calvin Fish in the booth and Brian Till and Justin Bell on pit lane.

Radio coverage will continue with IMSA Radio for a second year, over the full 24 hours.

3 drivers likely to miss the Chase

Plenty of stories coming up for this NASCAR season. Anyone can win with this new rules package but not everyone will perform at their best. So here are the drivers that I think will miss the Cup Series Chase this year.

1. Kyle Busch - Kyle will miss the Chase this year. I'm no saying that because I don't think he's a great driver. I think he's a great driver with alot of talent and he's still young. But, not every driver will have fantastic seasons 2 years in a row. He'll have good finishes but will miss the Chase by two positions in the standings.
2. Danica Patrick - I'm being realistic here. Danica will miss the Chase this year. I think she's a good driver and she had good finishes last year but it wasn't enough to make it into the Chase. There's always next year.
3. Matt Kenseth - Matt had a few wins last year but his feud with Joey Logano got the best of him and he was eliminated after Talladega and suspended for the Texas and Phoenix races last November. If he keeps up the feud, that could become a distraction and he'll miss the Chase because of that.

Those are my picks. What are yours?

"The Voice of NASCAR", Barney Hall dies at 83

By @GucciardoJoey

Barney Hall

Longtime broadcaster Barney Hall, known as the definitive radio voice of NASCAR, has died. He was 83.

Hall passed away on Tuesday due to complications from a recent medical procedure.

Hall was known as "The Voice of NASCAR", as he was the main broadcaster of the Motor Racing Network, which was the network's tagline.

MRN president David Hyatt said Hall was "perhaps the most trusted reporter of his day." He also mentored many of the radio and TV broadcasters who work in the racing industry today.

"Barney Hall was the true voice of NASCAR and although his own voice has gone silent, his presence will live on in the many current motor sports broadcasters who learned at the knee of such a great storyteller," Hyatt said.

We here at "The Ultimate NASCAR Blog" send our prayers and thoughts to Barney Hall's family and friends.

NASCAR Makes 2016 Daytona Speedweeks Change, Keep Restart Zone Length Rule

By @GucciardoJoey

NASCAR made a few changes for 2016 Daytona Speedweeks, and decided to keep one thing the same for 2016.

For 2016 Speedweeks at Daytona, there will be a minor reduction in the size of the restrictor-plate holes, which will decrease by 1/64th of an inch to 57/64ths.

There's just one  more change you need to know.

After doubling the restart zone for many of the races in last season's Chase, the expanded box will continue to be used this season, along with additional cameras and a senior official monitoring restarts from the pits.

DiBenedetto rejoins, Ragan joins BK Racing for 2016

By @GucciardoJoey

Matt DiBenedetto

BK Racing has a returning driver and a new driver for the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season.

After driving for BK Racing in his 2016 Sprint Cup Series rookie year in 2015, Matt DiBenedetto will return to the team in 2016 pilot its No. 83 Toyota Camry.

Veteran crew chief Gene Nead will return atop the pit box for the 83 team.

"Last year I learned a lot from everyone here at BK Racing and I'm looking forward to having a full notebook heading into the season," DiBenedetto said on January 25th. "Ron, Gene and the team have put in a lot of work over the offseason and we are all looking forward to Daytona."

David Ragan

"We're excited to have Matt back with us for 2016," said BK Racing team owner Ron Devine on the 25th. "We were very pleased with the progress he made throughout his rookie season and we look forward to continuing down that path."

DiBenedetto will also have a new teammate at BK Racing.

David Ragan has landed a ride with BK Racing for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team announced the news Monday afternoon after the veteran driver had confirmed his move to FOX5 in Atlanta earlier in the day.

Ragan will pilot the No. 23 Toyota for the team, which will field two full-time entries in 2016. Ragan told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Dave Moody that Patrick Donahue will be his crew chief.

"I'm happy to be part of something that has so much growth potential," Ragan said in a team release. "(Team owner) Ron (Devine) has steadily built his program over the last five years.

Ragan will carry sponsorship from soft drink Dr. Pepper for multiple races in 2016 and as it will also be an associate sponsor on the BK Racing's cars throughout the season.

New format for XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash in 2016

By @GucciardoJoey 
 

The Dash 4 Cash returns to the NASCAR XFINITY Series for the 2016 season. However, the Dash 4 Cash will be a bit different this year.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez won the 2015 Dash 4 Cash.

For 2016, the Dash 4 Cash will take place at Bristol Motor Speedway (April 16), Richmond International Raceway (April 23), Dover International Speedway (May 14) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 23).

At each of the four events, there will be two heat races and the winners will compete for the Dash 4 Cash prize in the feature race. Odd-numbered qualifiers will race against each other in one heat race, and even-numbered qualifiers will compete in the other heat race. The top two finishers in each heat race would be the Dash 4 Cash eligible drivers.

Only drivers who are eligible for XFINITY Series points will be eligible to win in the Dash 4 Cash with the grand prize being awarded in the finale at Indianapolis. As an extra incentive, a driver who wins two Dash 4 Cash events will be awarded with a spot in the new NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.

Johnson and Earnhardt to sport Superman VS Batman paint schemes

By @GucciardoJoey

From the looks of it, Auto Club Speedway will have a superhero in the midst o March 20th for a Sprint Cup Series race. 

Or, at least Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be sporting superhero paint schemes.

Johnson and Earnhardt will be sporting Superman VS Batman paint schemes to sponsor the movie which comes out in theaters on March 25th, 2015.

Johnson will have a superman paint scheme and Earnhardt will be sporting a Batman paunt scheme.

Exclusive: @DaleJr and @JimmieJohnson pick sides in @BatmanvSuperman duel: https://t.co/uIRTOCaLEJ #HEROFACEOFF pic.twitter.com/vGqpyTdDLs

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 19, 2016

NASCAR adds CHASE format to XFINITY and Truck Series

By @GucciardoJoey

NASCAR has announced that they will be implementing a CHASE format in the XFINITY and Truck Series.

Here are the formats:

NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase
The seven-race Chase will begin Sept. 24 at Kentucky Speedway with 12 drivers and two elimination rounds. A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the Chase provided the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.

The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000 with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to The Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to The Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest-finishing driver will be crowned NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase
The seven-race Chase will begin Sept. 24 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It will feature eight drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in The Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A win in the first 16 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the post-season provided that the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race.

The first round, called the Round of 8, consists of races at New Hampshire, Las Vegas and Talladega Superspeedway. All drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000 with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 16 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 8, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-6) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 6 (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 6 automatically advance to The Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to The Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest-finishing driver there will win the championship.


All rules outlined above also apply to both series’ owner championship structures.

- - - - -

Drivers still must declare a series in which they will earn points and will only be eligible to compete for a championship in that series. The 16 Sprint Cup Series drivers who qualified for the 2015 Chase will be ineligible to compete in the 2016 XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Chili Bowl chaos

Pretty much everyone has seen the video from last Friday night at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma between Corporal Kyle Hess of the Tulsa County Sheriff's office and Tony Stewart. The video shows Stewart walking into the stands to confront Hess who was drunk and had been yelling obscenities at Stewart (mainly calling him a murderer) and giving Stewart the finger for awhile. Hess is under investigation by the Tulsa Sheriffs office for his conduct (grabbing Stewart's wrist in an angry manner and taunting him). Stewart, as you all know, was at the Chili Bowl simply to help out with track preparation. From what's been said on Social Media, Hess kept taunting Stewart each time he'd go by Hess in the grandstands. As some of you already know, I'm a Tony Stewart fan but I also have to be fair about this, too. So, I'll ask a question in regards to the event.

Q: Was Stewart wrong in confronting Hess and was Hess in the wrong for yelling obscenities at Stewart?
A: No and yes. Stewart wasn't wrong at all in confronting Hess. Stewart had been called a murderer ever since the accident in New York that killed Kevin Ward Jr. I believe Stewart felt enough was enough and got tired of the heckling and name calling. Yes Hess was in the wrong for yelling obscenities at Stewart. Even though Hess is a Corporal he was also a fan that night and didn't have a right to be calling out Stewart the way he did.

So, that's my view on it. What do you think should happen to Kyle Hess or Tony Stewart?

Rico Abreau lands full-time NCTWS ride

By @GucciardoJoey

Rico Abreau

Rico Abreau announced on Friday at the Chili Bowl Nationals that he has landed a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series ride for 2016 at ThorSport Racing.

Abreu is expected to pilot the No. 98 Toyota Tundra with Doug George as his crew chief.

After completing his first full season in the K&N Pro Series East Tour, Abreu made his Camping World Truck Series debut on November 13 at Phoenix International Raceway. He finished 28th on the one-mile track because of being caught up in a wreck.

Abreu also raced in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in order to gain eligibility for the 2016 Truck Series tour, where he finished 13th. 

Abreu won the 2014 USAC Midget Series title and the 2015 Chili Bowl prior to making his NASCAR debut last February at New Smyrna.

Kyle Busch to Race at SpeedFest 2016

By @GucciardoJoey

Kyle Busch's 2016 SpeedFest paint scheme

Kyle Busch Motorsports announced on Wednesday that NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will be racing in the 200-lap ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Model event scheduled as part of SpeedFest 2016 on Sunday, Jan. 31 at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga.

Busch, a three-time SpeedFest winner, will pilot KBM's No. 51 Camry with primary sponsorship from Rheem Heating and Cooling and major associate sponsorship from JEGS.com.

Kyle Busch celebrates his 2010
SpeedFest win at Lanier National
Speedway. 

(PHOTO: Finish Line
Photography)

Busch was victorious at SpeedFest in 2009 and 2010 when the event was held at Lanier Speedway in Braselton, Ga., and most recently won the event in 2012, the first year it was held at its current location. William Byron, the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, will join his owner at this year's event in a second KBM entry. Byron, who will compete full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for KBM in 2016, will carry sponsorship from Liberty University on his No. 9 Camry.

"I've always enjoyed racing at SpeedFest and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to go back this year thanks to the support from Rheem Heating and Cooling and JEGS.com," Busch said. "Everything went well with my latest surgery and I feel really good. Without an opportunity to get in a Sprint Cup Series car before we get to Daytona, running this race will be a good tune-up prior to Speedweeks."

Teams react to Las Vegas testing

By @GucciardoJoey

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who participated in a testing session at Las Vegas this week had some comments about session.

Teams that tested used a similar package last season at Kentucky Speedway and Darlington Raceway.

"I think all of the work that's been done, and the two races that we raced last year … was in a positive direction," Busch, driver of the No. 41 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, said. "I believe the direction of lower downforce is better, but I'd like to see us take another chunk of downforce away come July. Because with the technology that the teams have, we'll be right back to where we are now with the downforce decrease because we're able to increase it with wind tunnel time and simulation models."

Jimmie Johnson said that the speeds he ran in his session were faster than he anticipated.

"With these cool conditions and the surface here being so good still, it's been tough to create the falloff that we're looking for," Johnson said. "Bottom line is we're just fast. We're really fast.

"When we took downforce off the car, they've lowered the gear ratio, a lot of things to kind of slow the cars down and we're every bit as fast if not faster than (with) the combination they had last year. … Obviously when we come back for the race, the sun will be out, hopefully we'll get the falloff we’re looking for, the track will lose some grip and be slick but right now it's fast."

"There was so much testing last year, it's funny because they banned (private) testing everywhere but then with the few different aero packages they had last year they just scheduled so many tests I felt like in a way we tested more last year than in years past," Matt Kenseth said.

Complete Schedule For 2016 Daytona Speedweeks

By @GucciardoJoey

Mark your calendars!

The 2016 NASCAR season is slowly approaching, and it all begins with the 2016 Daytona Speedweeks. The ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, XFINITY Series, and Sprint Cup Series all open up their 2016 seasons at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

NOTE: All times listed are ET and tentative.

- - - - -

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12:
ON TRACK
-- 5-5:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited practice
-- 6:30-7:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited final practice

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13:
ON TRACK
-- 10:30 a.m-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 1:30-3:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 8:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited, (75 laps, 187.5 miles) 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14:
ON TRACK
-- 1:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Qualifying

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17:
ON TRACK
-- 5-5:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 6:10-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18:
ON TRACK
-- Noon-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice
-- 1:30-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice
-- 4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice
-- 7 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am Duel #1, (60 laps, 150 miles) 
-- 9 p.m. (approx.): NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am Duel #2, (60 laps, 150 miles)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19:
ON TRACK
-- 10:30-11:55 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice
-- 12:00-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 1-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice 
-- 2-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 3-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice
-- 4:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying
-- 7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20:
ON TRACK
-- 10 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying
-- 12:15-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice
-- 3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21:
ON TRACK
-- 1 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles)

Tony Stewart back on the dirt

Yesterday Tony Stewart had a Press Conference with fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, Rico Abreu among others. Smoke talked about his love of dirt track racing & how racing in the Chili Bowl Nationals is bigger than racing the Indianapolis 500. This year, Tony will be working with track preparation for the Chili Bowl making sure the dirt is in tip-top shape for the racers. Smoke also talked about how he'll be racing dirt cars after he retires at the end of the year. As a fan of Tony Stewart, I was beyond ecstatic when he announced that. Most thought he'd never race sprint cars again after his broken leg & after the Ward accident. Tony himself told everyone numerous times in the last few years that he would never race a sprint car again. But he's entitled to whatever he wants to do with his life. So what do you think? Is it a good idea for Smoke to go back racing dirt cars or no?

Four Sprint Cup teams set to test in Vegas

By @GucciardoJoey

NASCAR season is (not officially) back.

Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth are currently scheduled to participate in the test, set for Jan. 12-13 at the 1.5-mile track.

The schedule included a mix of two-day Goodyear tire tests often followed by a single-day open team test. When necessary, NASCAR officials also scheduled additional practice time as teams worked through the '15 rules package.

Because next week's test is a Goodyear tire test only, the grandstands will not be open to the public.

Von Dohren Scores Second Pennsylvania Title

By @GucciardoJoey

Craig Von Dohren earned his eighth track championship
at Pennsylvania's Grandview Speedway and his
second state title. (Chris Budihas Photography)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Craig Von Dohren, a veteran at Pennsylvania’s Grandview Speedway, clinched his 8th Grandview championship in 2015.

The 53-year-old Oley, Pennsylvania, native also clinched his second Pennsylvania crown, while finishing 10th in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series final standings.

“It was a good year,” said Von Dohren, who had with five wins, 18 top fives and 20 top 10s in 23 starts. “Things just clicked for us this year. I had a great team behind me and we got so many good breaks. We always set out to do well and we accomplished that this year.”

What would you do?

A question on Facebook was recently asked in relation to the $600M Powerball Jackpot as it relates to NASCAR. The question was, if you won the $600M Powerball Jackpot what in NASCAR would you change. I have a few answers to that question myself.

1. Go back to the pre-2004 points system. It doesn't seem fair to the drivers that haven't won but still run like heck in the regular season to be eligible for the Chase. Take the Chase away & I guarantee there will be different drivers in the Chase each year rather than the same ones.

2. Take away the cookie-cutter tracks. Tracks such as Michigan & Charlotte would be taken off the schedule completely for all series. Same thing with Richmond & Texas.

3. Fix up North Wilksboro & Rockingham Speedways so the Cup Series can race there again. Both tracks look deserted today & Cup races there, preferably in the Chase, would be promising to some drivers.

4. Bring a Cup race to Eldora Speedway. A Cup race on dirt, preferably in the Chase, would be promising to some drivers as well & it would benefit not only the drivers but fans & sponsors as well.

What do you think? If you won the $600M Powerball Jackpot, what would you change in NASCAR?

Riddle secures 1st-career NASCAR Track Championship

By @GucciardoJoey

Zack Riddle celebrates his 2015 Track Championship at Madison
International Speedway.

(PHOTO: TJ Harron Photography)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Zack Riddle won the Late Model Track Title At Madison International Speedway in 2015.

The Stoughton, Wisconsin native picked up a pair of wins and finished in the top five in all nine starts at Madison in 2015.

“Obviously we had a great year and we were very consistent throughout the entire season,” Riddle said. “We never really thought about points much until this year when we realized we had a chance to win a NASCAR title.”

“We had a strong year but we probably cost ourselves a couple of wins because we concentrated on the points standings and we wanted to win our first NASCAR championship,” Riddle said. “It was worth it though.”

Sheppard wins 1st-career NASCAR Track Title

By @GucciardoJoey

Matt Sheppard celebrates his 2015 NASCAR Track
Championship.

(PHOTO: Utica-Rome Speedway)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Matt Sheppard won his first-career NASCAR track championship in 2015.

“The NASCAR sanctioning at Utica-Rome is great, I really enjoy it,” Sheppard said. “It’s kind of unfortunate that Utica-Rome is the only NASCAR track around that I can race at, so it limits the number of races that I can run for national points, but what they’re doing there I think is great.”

Sheppard was able to register eight wins, 15 top fives and 17 top 10s in 18 NASCAR points features at the historic half-mile dirt oval in Vernon, new York in 2015.

Anderson wins 2016 Whelen All-American opener

By @GucciardoJoey

Cole Anderson won the 2016 season-opening Super Late Model
race awt New Smyrna Speedway.

(PHOTO: Jason Christley/NASCAR)

NEW SMYRNA, FL – Cole Anderson kicked off the 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season by capturing the Red Eye 100, the Super Late Model opener, at New Smyrna Speedway.

"It's pretty amazing," Anderson said. "It means a lot. It says good things about this year, and I can't wait to get it going."

Defending race winner Bubba Pollard came home second, followed by Kaz Grala. Anthony Sergi was fourth and Brad May rounded out the top five.

Anderson set fast time in qualifying in the Florida Governor's Cup 200 in November but was involved in a wreck and watched Wisconsin's Ty Majewski walk away with the victory. This time, Anderson again set fast time but had little trouble. He started fourth following an invert of the top four spots, and passed Grala for the lead on Lap 69.

"The car was just really good," said Anderson. "I made the pass on Kaz and it was clear sailing from there."

Jesse Dutilly finished sixth, followed by Travis Cope, Michael Atwell, Josh Collins and David Garbo Jr.

7th Title Hopes: Johnson's Window Closing

"The Ultimate NASCAR Blog" Staff Report

Jimmie Johnson

At the age of 40, he's still driving well and is still a contender every year, but Jimmie Johnson has never made the final four in the new CHASE format.

Even as a six-time champion under the old CHASE format, Johnson still can't win a championship under NASCAR's new way of running the CHASE, which Johnson has made since it was created in 2004.

2014 was the first year that Johnson went to Homestead without a chance to win a title since the CHASE was created, and it happened again in 2015 as well. If Johnson can win his next title, it would be his seventh Sprint Cup Series championship, tying Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty for most championships won in the series.

As said in the beginning of the article, Johnson is not 40 years of age, which means that we could see his retirement soon. But Johnson still manages to stay in contention every season and manages to make the CHASE, but after 2013 when NASCAR changed to a new CHASE format he just can't seem to win another championship.

Johnson's championship window is closing, and it's closing fast.

My five bold predictions for 2016

1. Kurt Busch will win the Cup Championship: Kurt made it all the way to the Eliminator Round of the Chase last year only to be beaten by Mother Nature. His only championship was won over 10 years ago so look for Kurt to hoist that trophy in the air come Homestead.

2. Chase Elliott will make the Chase: He's a rookie filling big shoes after Jeff Gordon's retirement last year. Chase will make the Chase but will finish 14th in the Standings.

3. Tony Stewart makes the Chase: Smoke last made the Chase in 2012 & has been questionably uncompetitive these last few years. So look for Smoke to make the Chase & possibly contend for a championship in his final year as a Cup driver.
4. Danica Patrick wins a race: Danica showed marked improvement last year than in these last few years she's been in Cup. Danica will win a race but will be eliminated after the Contender Round.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr makes it to the final four at Homestead but loses to Kurt Busch: Dale Jr was eliminated from title contention after the Talladega fiasco & he was surprisingly humble about it. So, watch out for Dale to be incredibly competitive this year.

So, those are my bold predictions. What are yours?