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1. Trevor Bayne Running Full Time in Sprint Cup Next Year: My Expectations For Him
Yesterday, a piece of great news was announced for Trevor Bayne. Roush Fenway Racing announced that Bayne would run full time in Sprint Cup next year in the number six with full sponsorship from Advocare, which is his Nationwide sponsor this year. If you recall, Bayne was the 2011 Daytona 500 champion and he has taken two NASCAR Nationwide Series wins in his tenure there. I have been waiting for this announcement for about a year now. I mean, Bayne has more than proven he was worthy to drive in the Cup Series, but, of course, that is just my opinion. I do want to discuss with you guys my expectations for Bayne in his first full time season next year. I, honestly, believe he will do pretty good next year. One reason is the abilities he has shown in the Nationwide Series and his few Cup starts the past few years. In the Nationwide Series, he has started in one hundred and twenty nine races and he has finished in the top ten in sixty, which is nearly half the races. That proves he has a lot of consistency and can jump behind the wheel of a car and give it the best finish it has in it. Plus, you have to consider that Daytona 500 win. He battled all day long and he held off some good drivers late to take the win in NASCAR's most famous race. He showed so much maturity and that bodes well for him. A final reason is the situation he is moving into. Next year, he will join a Cup team with a few veteran and experienced drivers. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will be in his third full season and he will be able to show a lot of things to Bayne. Greg Biffle will be in his thirteenth full season at Roush Fenway and he will be able to show Bayne even more things to help him out. I think the key driver, though, is Carl Edwards. Edwards was a position away from being the 2011 Sprint Cup champion and he will be able to be one of the best role models Bayne can have. The key thing is Edwards has to remain at Roush next year. He has been rumored to be in talks with Joe Gibbs Racing, but those rumors could mean nothing. Couple all those experienced drivers on Bayne's team with his abilities behind the wheel, Roush Fenway Racing is looking pretty formidable for next year and the 2011 Daytona 500 champion looks to be in great hands.
2. Danica Patrick: Is She Finally a Contender in the Cup Series?
If you haven't heard yet because your rock doesn't get television service, Danica Patrick has greatly improved recently in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the past two races. She qualified seventh at Talladega and ended up finishing twenty second after a few problems late. But Kansas went extremely well for the Roscoe, Illinois driver. She shocked everybody as she took a ninth place starting spot at Kansas. Everybody was expecting her to come into the race and fall back immediately, but she didn't. She battled up front all night and passed a good many drivers as she walked away with a seventh place finish, which was her best career finish in NASCAR's highest series. After not making the All-Star race a week ago, she bounced back in Coca-Cola 600 qualifying by taking a fourth place starting spot, which is her best non-restrictor plate start in the Cup Series. Well, all that information leads me to a question for Patrick. Is she finally a contender in the Cup Series? I really didn't expect to say this, but it seems like she has this thing figured out. I mean, at the start of this year, I was pretty mad at her and Tony Stewart because Stewart, basically, screwed Ryan Newman out of a ride just for his money maker in Patrick. It seemed like all that was becoming true to start the season as she was struggling. Then, Kansas came and she blew me away. She made moves on that speedway I did not know she could do. She looked like a veteran and she battled some of the best in the sport all night to a seventh place finish. All this seemed to come about after she had some talks with Kevin Harvick. Harvick gave her some ideas for Kansas and they worked well. According to a few sources, they talked again this weekend and Danica is back starting out front. I didn't think I would ever say this, but we might see a woman win in NASCAR. Danica Patrick seems to have things figured out and she has certainly proven me wrong. I hope she does prove the haters wrong and we see her in victory lane soon.
3. Jeff Gordon: Is He Finally in Line to Take His Fifth Cup Title?
Along with Danica Patrick succeeding at Kansas two weeks ago, Jeff Gordon was also stellar himself. He battled all night long and took the win in the end after a charge from second place finisher, Kevin Harvick. The win was Gordon's first of the year and the win will practically guarantee him a spot in the 2014 Chase. Really, it was just an added bonus for Gordon because he was and still is leading the points after eleven races. Gordon's recent success and abilities put one question in my mind for today's edition of my thoughts. Is Jeff Gordon finally in line to win his fifth Sprint Cup title? On Friday, when I decided on these topics, I was pretty sure he was, but now I have some questions after Saturday morning's early practice session. Near the end of practice, FOX Sports 1 did an interview with Gordon and he reported he had experienced back spasms all of the session and he would be sitting out happy hour practice later. That, to me, sounds very scary for Gordon. I've never had back spasms, but it seems like whenever an athlete has them, they are very uncomfortable. Don't quote me on this, but I believe the reason Tiger Woods, the golfer, had this back surgery that has put him out for a few months is because of back spasms. If I was Gordon's team, I would be worried. I mean, I'm not saying he is going to have to have surgery, but he is going to need to be careful. If Gordon does heal from these injuries rather quickly, I wouldn't worry. He has been very good this season and he will be a winner if he stays behind the wheel of the car. If he does manage to race the entire season without problems, Gordon will be a contender for this year's title.
4. Kurt Busch Doing the Double: How Will He Perform?
Kurt Busch, driver for Stewart-Haas Racing in the number forty one, will perform a rare feat this afternoon and one that has received a lot of attention around the racing world. Busch will run in the historic Indianapolis 500 this afternoon and he will head on a flight after the race to run tonight's Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600. For you math guys at home, that is 1,100 miles of auto racing in one single day. The feat has been done before, but this is the first time Busch will attempt “The Double” as it has been called. I have one single question for Busch as he embarks on this endeavor. How will he perform in the two races today? I, honestly, think he will do pretty good in both races. First, we will discuss the Indy 500. Busch qualified twelfth there and he has done great all of his time at Indy, except for a practice crash last week. Busch was forced to a back-up car, but he will start in the same spot he was scheduled for. Still, I think Busch is going to have a great race. He has been performing well and he has the ability to finish in the top ten and even win this race. Finally, let's talk about the Coca-Cola 600. Busch will roll off in a measly twenty eighth place and he has been pretty deep in the practice charts all weekend, but I'm not worried about all that. Busch won the 2010 running of this race and he has been good at Charlotte in his career. I expect him to take a good many laps to become accustomed to the stock car and by the end of the race, he will be in contention. We could be watching history unfold this afternoon and I am ready to see it take place as Kurt Busch looks to run 1,100 miles over one single day.
5. My Pick to Win
Charlotte Motor Speedway used to be what some people called “Jimmie Johnson's House”. Recently, though, Johnson hasn't been running as well at Charlotte compared to some other drivers. In fact, take a look at the last three Coca-Cola 600 races. In 2011, Kevin Harvick passed Dale Earnhardt Jr. as Earnhardt ran out of fuel in the final corner to take the win. In 2012, Kasey Kahne dominated the entire night and took the win in style over the field. In 2013, Kasey Kahne was up to his usual domination, but a strategy call late handed Kevin Harvick the win at Charlotte with Kahne finishing second. Last week's All-Star race was, basically, the same story. Harvick and Kahne dominated the early part of the race, but they ended up out of contention late. The point is that Kahne and Harvick are going to be two guys to watch in tonight's event. I would also consider Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, and Matt Kenseth as contenders in the race. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Aric Almirola, Danica Patrick, Jamie McMurray, and Ryan Newman are underdog drivers to look at as contenders as well. Still, though, tonight's race is going to be an unpredictable affair. Equipment, patience, and the will of some drivers will be constantly tested. It is going to be a good show to watch and I am excited to see it. I won't be able to write about it, but I will definitely be watching it. Well, that is all for me today and until we meet again.
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