NASCAR: Five Reasons Johnson Will Not Win Eight Titles

Parity

As each year passes the Sprint Cup Series field gets stronger. Teams throughout the sport are getting better in terms of research and development and every year teams form alliances to improve performance. Among the most successful alliances in the series include those between Stewart-Haas Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, Penske Racing and the Wood Brothers, and Richard Childress and JTG Daugherty Racing. These alliances have improved each of these teams and have contributed to many victories. Could anyone have seen JTG-Daugherty Racing going to Victory Lane five years ago? A handful of new alliances have been announced this off-season. The newest alliances in

the Cup Series are between RCR and Circle Sport-Leavine Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Furniture Row Racing, and lastly between Roush Fenway Racing and Front Row Racing. These teams are looking for improvement in 2016 and beyond and felt that forming alliances with respective teams would improve performance.

Yes these new alliances may not affect Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team directly, but if they do in fact improve those teams’ successes, wins and performance in the Chase will be more difficult to come by in 2016. Teams like Roush and RCR, which have accumulated numerous victories in past seasons, could vastly improve in the coming years and provide “Six-time” some greater difficulty.

Also 2016 brings us a fantastic rookie class which will surely bring greater difficulty to the Sprint Cup field. Among the names donning the yellow-stripe this season are Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Brian Scott. These drivers have been racking up victories and experience in the lower levels of NASCAR before entering the top circuit in 2016. It would not be a surprise that at least one of these drivers gets a victory in 2016, and let us not forget the other rookies Chris Buescher and Jeffrey Earnhardt, who although will not affect the No. 48 team much at all, they will be gaining valuable experience this season.

The Sprint Cup field is getting better with each season and 2016 is no different. Look for more teams to succeed this season who will certainly try to stymie success of the No. 48 team.

Next: The Ever-Changing Chase