2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Predictions
With the Bud Shootout only 3 days from now, I think its fitting to post my predictions for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season. Who will win the Sprint Cup? Who will make the Chase for the Sprint Cup? Read below to find out.
2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup Contenders (not in chronological order):
Tony Stewart: As Tony Stewart comes off his third Sprint Cup title, I think he is going to be back in the Chase and defend his title. I am not sure how Steve Addington and Tony Stewart will work, but what I do know for sure, is that Stewart will be in the Chase hunt once again this year. As far as wins are concerned, I think that he will win 4 races in 2012.
Matt Kenseth: Matt Kenseth had a good year in 2011. He won 3 races and finished 4th in the standings. I believe that the #17 team is going to make the Chase with atleast 1-2 wins. I don’t necessarily think they will have the same season (or better) that he did in 2011, but I think he is good enough to make the Chase and will use the momentum from 2011 to get back there.
Jeff Gordon: Jeff Gordon did not have a great Chase. After a crash at Kansas, it knocked his Chases hope out. This year is going to be more different. I see Gordon making the Chase, and being within the Top 8. With crew chief Alan Gustafson, Jeff Gordon has become successful again. Because of the rebirth of confidence in himself, I feel heis going to have a great year. I think Gordon will win around 3 races in 2012, and will be competitive in the Chase.
Dale Earnhardt Jr: Junior Nation is going to be happy with my prediction. Dale Earnhardt Jr barely made the Chase last year after having a poor showing during the summer months heading into the Chase. I think 2012 will be a great season for Junior Nation just as long as he remains consistent through the course of the season (mainly through the summer). Remember, consistency pays off in the end. He’s got confidence in himself, and that pays off. I predict that he will make the Chase, and will win 1 race atleast in 2012.
Jimmie Johnson: Do I really need to go there? Well, maybe. Jimmie Johnson has made the Chase every year since its inclusion in 2004. Why would you not count Jimmie out? Despite only winning two races in 2011, Jimmie Johnson will rebound and be a major contender once again for the Sprint Cup Title. I think Jimmie Johnson will win 5 races in 2012.
Kyle Busch: Those of you who hate Kyle Busch will hate my Chase pick. Yes, I believe Kyle Busch will make the Chase in 2012. Kyle Busch won 4 races in the 2011 season, but that didn’t come without controversy. I don’t need to go there. With Kyle scaling down his Truck team, and focusing more on Cup and Nationwide, I think its going to have a positive effect on him, and I think that will allow him to do better in the Cup Series. I believe Busch will make the Chase but with 2011, I think he will struggle. Recent history has shown that Kyle Busch starts to collapse during the Chase, and so in 2012 I feel it might be the same.
Kasey Kahne: A new team will bring some good results in the Kasey Kahne camp. Kahne, who is taking over the #5 car for Hendrick Motorsports, will have a successful first year in the Hendrick stable. With crew chief Kenny Francis moving over to Hendrick with Kahne, their compatibility together will only bring results to Kahne. I expect Kasey Kahne to make the Chase, and win atleast 1-3 races in 2012.
AJ Allmendinger: Allmendinger fits in the same category as Kasey Kahne. A new team, I believe, will bring Allmendinger results and much needed success in the Sprint Cup Series. With Penske Racing equipment under his belt, I believe that Allmendinger will make the Chase for the first time in his career and win races. I think he will also make it to Victory Lane for the first time in his career in 2012 as well. As far as wins are concerned, I say 1-2 for him in 2012.
Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards is determined to get back to the place he was in 2011. He was so close to overtaking the championship away from Tony Stewart, but Stewart had the better car. Lets focus now to 2012. I feel that Carl Edwards will make the Chase, but I think that based off of whats happened in the past, Edwards will not be successful at getting to Homestead in the title hunt. I think he will win 1 race but not compete for the Cup this year.
Kevin Harvick: Harvick was once again in the Top-3 in the Chase standings after Homestead. He won 4 races in 2011 and showed he was a dominant force in the Cup Series. In 2012, I think he will continue to show that dominance. Even though Harvick has a new crew chief, I feel that the team will continue to build the momentum towards yet another championship run. I think Harvick makes the Chase, is competitive, and wins around 2-3 races in 2012.
Denny Hamlin: After finishing 2nd banana to Jimmie Johnson in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, 2011 didn’t fare too well for Denny Hamlin. Sure, Hamlin made the Chase, but struggled for most of the season. He did come away with a victory, and that victory was the most vital win in Hamlin’s career, as without it, he might not have made the Chase. Lets focus on 2012. 2012 brings him a new crew chief in Darian Grubb. With a Championship crew chief on top of the pit box, I see Denny Hamlin having more confidence in himself to run better, and I think he will. I think Denny Hamlin will bounce back and win 3 races in 2012. He will make the Chase. His competitiveness in the Chase is something I am not sure of yet. Ask me this near Chase-time, and I’ll answer.
Brad Kesoloweski: Out of all of the Chase contenders in 2011, Kesoloweski was the most surprising pick in the Chase. I don’t think anyone could have predicted that one. But now that he has shown his potential, 2012 should be a big step ahead for Kesoloweski. I think he will remain that dominant up and coming star in the Cup Series, and I think Brad Kesoloweski will make the Chase and once again fare pretty well. As far as wins go, I feel he will win around 3-4 races in 2012.
First Time Winners: AJ Allmendinger (see above)
Sleeper Drivers (Drivers who struggled in 2011, that will thrive in 2012):
Greg Biffle: Gregg Biffle had one of the worst seasons of his career. He was not competitive, and basically did not have a great time driving. I feel that this year will be alot better for Biffle. I think Biffle will have a chance to compete for the Chase, but in the end I don’t think he’ll fail a tad short. Will he win a race? I think he might. I think that his emotions are going to factor into his season. As long as he can keep calm, and not try to have fits when things are going wrong, I think he might be able to win again. It really affected both himself, as well as his team. If things are positive on the 16 team, then I would say he has a shot to win.
Jeff Burton: Much like Gregg Biffle, Jeff Burton did not have a good season. One thing that Burton did more than Biffle was getting in the opportunity to win a race. Burton had a chance to win at Texas during the Chase, however he ran out of fuel with 5 laps to go. In 2012, the 31 and 29 teams has been completely overhauled. New crew chiefs, and new sponsorships. I think that with those internal changes (including Crew Chiefs, etc), Burton will have the confidence he needs to run better. He won’t be a Chase contender anytime soon, but I think he will finish consistently, and will be on the path to making the Chase. This team is still a ways away from getting back into Victory Lane, but they shown they can still get that elusive opportunity to do so. Thats a start, but he won’t win anytime soon either.
Championship Pick:
Jimmie Johnson: After finally giving up his reign as 5-time champ, Jimmie Johnson had alot to prove in 2012. I think that losing will only build his confidence up, as well as his morale and his ability to win. With that being said, Jimmie Johnson is hungry to get back on the Championship Stage at Homestead-Miami Speedway as Sprint Cup Series Champion, and I think that he will ultimately do that.
What are you predictions for the 2012 Sprint Cup Season. Who will make the Chase? Who will win the Sprint Cup Title in 2012? Will Tony Stewart repeat? Comment in the comments below and give your opinions.