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1. Kyle Larson Running the Rolex 24 at Daytona With Chip Ganassi Racing; Is That Smart?
A piece of surprising race news for a rookie driver came out during the week. Chip Ganassi announced that Kyle Larson would be a co-driver of one of his cars in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Larson will drive the car along with IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan and sports car racing star Marino Franchitti. In case you don't know much about the race, I will give you a basic description. Every January, teams in three different divisions of sports car racing face off in a twenty four endurance race at the Daytona International Speedway road course. Typically, four or five drivers switch runs for each car hoping to take the victory in their division and only one winner in each division is awarded. It is one of the hardest races on the calendar in racing and that leads into what I want to talk about today. I believe this is a really smart move for Ganassi in terms of making Larson a good driver. I mean, there is only one really bad thing about this and that is that he isn't racing in a Sprint Cup Series car in this race. Other than that, everything else is looking good. First off, he gets to perform some laps on the actual Daytona surface and learn some road course racing along with that. With the Rolex 24 running on the actual Daytona surface and a road course as well, he gets a lot of great experience to add to his experience already. Plus, he learns it from some of the best auto racing has to offer. Dixon, Kanaan, and Franchitti are all road course specialists and that could go a long way in helping Kyle Larson's road course abilities. All in all, there seems to be only one bad move with this, but everything else seems like it will go good for Larson and even Ganassi.
2. Allen Bestwick Moving to IndyCar Broadcasts for 2015 on ESPN Networks; Why Wouldn't He Pursue NASCAR on Another Network?
A little odd piece of broadcasting news came out during the week. ESPN announced that Allen Bestwick would be the lead broadcaster for all IndyCar races on the network starting in 2015. If you recall, Bestwick has been doing NASCAR on ESPN for a good many years now including the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series. Before that, he was a pit reporter on NBC along with a broadcaster as the years progressed. Also, if you recall, Marty Reid has been doing IndyCar races for a good many years now with ESPN and has called some of the most important IndyCar races in the last few years before being relieved of his duties later in 2013. Now, I have a lot to say about this move. First off, it is a bad move. I mean, Allen Bestwick has been one of the greatest to put on a headset and call a NASCAR race in a good many years, in my opinion. Some agree, but others don't. Don't get me wrong. I will listen to any network broadcast a race. I don't care as much as some people do about the people in the booth. Nonetheless, Bestwick is just so excellent with the race and it is perfect to listen to. But, IndyCar? Why would he settle for that with ESPN and not chase after an opportunity in NASCAR? I guess, a contract with ESPN kept him from moving, but I still don't understand. I mean, yes, NBC and FOX pretty much have their lineup set up, but if that is what you are comfortable with, why not chase after it? To add to this, I don't think he will do a bad job. I watch some IndyCar races anyway, but I might check out a few more with him in the booth. I would just rather have him doing NASCAR races because this could be a bad move for the networks looking towards the future without Bestwick doing NASCAR races.
3. PreSeason Thunder Testing Begins on Thursday; What Am I Expecting?
It is almost time for the annual PreSeason Thunder testing at Daytona. The testing starts on Thursday and I have been harping the past few weeks on how much history we are going to make with the number three back on track and Kevin Harvick with a different team. Even with all that, I am expecting a great test session. I mean, last year, the first test session with the new car, had great racing and there was even a big wreck to go along with all the good racing. I expect a lot of the same this year. Maybe even a little bit more racing to go with that. I mean, drivers and teams have a bigger notebook to go with Daytona and that could add to how the racing is impacted even in the test session. There is one thing I want to look at closely: the new spoiler size. No, it won't impact a great deal, but I just want to see if anything changes with the racing. Like I have said, though, I don't have an engineering degree and I can't predict how it will result. Also, I want to see who looks good this year in the test session. Legitimately, I am expecting great things from Kasey Kahne in the session. I mean, 2013 was definitely a struggle for him at times and I feel like he is on the verge of greatness for maybe even a championship run in 2014. It should definitely be a wonderful test session to watch and I am pretty excited for the action beginning on Thursday.
4. Mark Martin Testing for Tony Stewart at Daytona; What Will He Bring to the Table for the Team?
This wasn't actually news this week, but it has been developing for the past few months. Since Tony Stewart is injured, Mark Martin will fill in for Stewart in the first test session of the year. If you recall, Stewart was injured in a sprint car crash in Iowa at the beginning of August. The wreck resulted in Stewart missing the rest of the 2013 season and returning for the 2014 Daytona 500. After Stewart's injury, Mark Martin took over and continues to run the number 14 as the series begins testing. I just have one thought in my mind. What will Mark Martin bring to the team they didn't previously know? I actually think he could bring a lot to the team. The main reason is just Martin's experience in a race car. I know he really struggled when he was racing in the later part of the year for the team, but that is different to me. With him in a test session, they will learn so much valuable information that maybe Stewart couldn't find out. Not saying Tony Stewart isn't a great driver, but Mark Martin has seen it all in his NASCAR career. With Martin behind the wheel, I believe the number 14 will be set on the right track for 2014 and Tony Stewart will just add to his career totals in his return.
5. My Chase Picks for 2014
Well, we are still about a month away from the Daytona 500 and about nine more before we decide who battles for the title in the final ten races. But I have been thinking along with reading a little bit. I read a prediction article on Racing-reference.info the other day and the writer made his/her Chase predictions. Well, I thought they were terrible to be honest with you guys. That inspired me to go ahead and make my Chase predictions for 2014 even with so much time left. Here are the twelve guys who I think will be running for the title after twenty six hard races in 2014: Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, and Clint Bowyer. Now, let me give an explanation for each guy. Jimmie Johnson is a given every year of course. Kasey Kahne is going to surprise some people this year and I think he might could take a title in 2014. Kyle Busch has just been so good recently that he can't be left off. Kevin Harvick is going to remain good even with his new team. Matt Kenseth won't be as dominate as he was in 2013, but he will be steady Matt Kenseth as usual. Brad Keselowski had a terrible 2013, but he will be a force to fight in 2014 as he makes his comeback. Joey Logano showed me in 2013 that he wants to drive a race car and be competitive and he will do just that in 2014. Dale Earnhardt Jr. might take a win in 2014, but he won't blow away any competition. Greg Biffle will be the same steady Greg Biffle without much shock in making the Chase. Ryan Newman's move to a new team will be the boost he needs and he might surprise some people. Jamie McMurray is kind of my upset Chase pick this year. He was the best non-Chase driver in the 2013 Chase and he just looked so focused. He could very well steal a Chase spot in 2014. My final pick for the Chase is Clint Bowyer. Bowyer is a decent driver, but I don't believe he will be great in 2014 other than taking the Chase spot. Notable snubs from my list include Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin. Gordon and Busch don't seem to have the drive to make it to the championship battle. Gordon needed a scandal to get in the 2013 Chase and Busch just wanted another opportunity in 2014 so he ran hard to make the Chase. Stewart and Hamlin, on the other hand, could make my Chase list. I just want to see how they perform to start the year after having pretty bad injuries last year. I just think it is crazy to assume anything for those two before seeing some racing. There is my Chase picks for 2014 and we will see how they turn out as the season progresses.
This edition of my thoughts brings week seven of the 2013 NASCAR offseason to a complete close. The testing in just a few days will be a very welcome sight for me and I hope to see some great action after a long offseason. I would like to do some writing about maybe the Nationwide testing on Saturday, but we will see. If you guys have any issues with the topics we discussed today, please let me know in the comments down below. Flashback Fridays might stop for a little while because I have ran out of recaps, but I will try to get it back going as soon as possible. I kind of slipped up on the season recap, but I hope to have it up today. If I don't get it up today, it won't be very long before I get it finished and up for your enjoyment. Well, that is it for me today guys and until we meet again.
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