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NASCAR Cup Series: 5 easy predictions for the 2019 season

By William Richard

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 28: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Hemric (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 28: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Hemric (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

#1: Daniel Hemric wins Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award

The NASCAR Cup Series garage will host a few new faces for the 2019 season. Daniel Hemric, Ryan Preece, Matt Tifft and Tanner Berryhill will all be introduced to full-time racing on Sundays. All four will compete for the prestigious Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award over the next nine months.

In early February, they each have a 25% chance of winning this annual award, but I’m here to tell you that it’s already been decided.

Barring any abnormal incident or injury, Richard Childress Racing rookie Daniel Hemric will walk away with the 2019 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award. Compared to the other three competitors, he has the largest resume and has showcased the highest level of consistency.

Hemric, who emerged in the spotlight in 2015 with the now defunct Brad Keselowski Racing team, has proven time and time again that he is ready for the next step. In his two full-time Truck Series seasons, he recorded 15 top five finishes and 30 top 10 finishes in 46 starts, launching him into an Xfinity Series ride at Richard Childress Racing.

Piloting the famed #21 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, Hemric recorded 23 top five finishes and 39 top 10 finishes in 66 career starts over the last two seasons, landing himself an 11.1 average finish.

In addition to his consistency, Hemric has mastered NASCAR’s new playoff format by qualifying for the Championship 4 in both of his full-time Xfinity Series seasons.

This combined with the lack of equipment from his fellow Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award competitors all but assures that Hemric will walk away with the award in November. He has the best resume of all four rookies and the best equipment to boot.

That’s simple math. Hemric is your 2019 Rookie of the Year.

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