NASCAR 2012: 10 Drivers Set to Be the Biggest Surprises of the Season

Each year in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series there are drivers who come out of nowhere to shock fans and compete for the championship. The 2011 Champion, Tony Stewart was picked to make the Chase last season, but after he struggled for the majority of the races in the regular season no one thought he was going to win the Championship. Other drivers who surprised fans last season include Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Keselowski was coming off of a Nationwide Series championship. Most fans thought he would be a good addition to the Penske Racing team, but many did not believe he would compete for the championship in 2011. Keselowski won three races and finished in the top 10, 14 times. Keselowski surprised people when he was able to finish fifth in the final point standings.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. came into the 2011 season picked to be one of the drivers competing for the final spot in the Chase. Earnhardt started the season strong in 2011, finishing with eight top 10 finishes in the first 14 races. Earnhardt was near the top of the point standings for the first half of the season. He faded at the end and finished seventh in the final point standings.

This year will be no different for NASCAR. Some drivers who are not picked to compete for a championship or make the Chase will do so. Here is a list of 10 drivers who will be the biggest surprises for the 2012 season…

Paul Menard

Paul Menard was one of the most improved drivers in NASCAR in 2011. Menard won his first NASCAR race at the track he is most familiar with, the Brickyard. Menard was competitive in most of the races in 2011, finishing the season with eight top 10 finishes.

I believe 2012 will be an even better season for Menard. During the NASCAR testing at Daytona in mid-January, Menard was one of the fastest cars in practice.

Richard Childress Racing will reduce the number of full-time cars competing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series in 2012 from four to three. Menard was always seen as the least important of the four teams for Richard Childress Racing. Most of the team’s focus went to Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton.

I think that will change in 2012. Harvick will remain the leader of Richard Childress Racing, but Menard with be its other top priority.

Menard will win another race in 2012, and I would not be surprised if this was the season he makes the Chase.

Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne has always been one of the better drivers in NASCAR, but 2006 was the last time Kahne finished the season inside the top 10 in points. That will change in 2012.

Kahne moved over from Red Bull Racing to the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports. The move to Hendrick  is just what Kahne needs to compete for a championship. Kahne will have the opportunity to work with teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. this season. The ability to share information, with some of the best drivers in the sport, will help Kahne in his career.

After missing out on the Chase the last two seasons, 2012 will be the year Kahne not only returns to the Chase, but also competes for the championship.

Kurt Busch

After the 2011 season Kurt Busch and Penske Racing decided to go their separate ways. Busch looked for a ride with a top team but, all of the good driver seats were already filled. Busch decided to sign with Phoenix Racing for the 2012 season.

When Busch signed with Phoenix Racing, people started to talk about how this would be the beginning of the end of Busch’s career. That will not be the case.

Phoenix Racing signed a deal to receive their cars and engines from Hendricks Motorsports in 2012. After the deal was complete, other teams argued that the deal gave Hendrick Motorsports an unfair advantage.

There is a rule in NASCAR that states no team can have more than four cars. The deal between Phoenix Racing and Hendricks Motorsports, on the surface, looked like an extension of Hendrick Motorsports. NASCAR ruled that its rules were not being violated, so Busch will race the 2012 season in equipment made, and set-up by Hendrick Motorsports.

The only reason why Busch would decline in 2012 is because of inferior equipment. Now that we know that will not be the case, Busch will be able to remain competitive and might even make the Chase in his Phoenix Racing Chevy.

A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger is another driver who has been improving each season of his NASCAR career. Allmendinger finished No. 15 in the final points standings last season and should improve upon that in 2012.

Allmendinger left Richard Petty Racing to take over for Kurt Busch, in the No. 2 Penske Dodge.The move to Penske Racing should be enough to get Allmendinger into the Chase in 2012.

Allmendinger has yet to win a race in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, but I believe this is the year he gets it done. Allmendinger is already off to a good start in 2012 by being one of the winning drivers at the Rolex 24 Hour race, at Daytona.

Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer left Richard Childress Racing for the No. 15 car at Michael Waltrip Racing. Leaving Richard Childress Racing doesn't mean that Bowyer will stop being competitive in NASCAR.

Michael Waltrip Racing is one of the up-and-coming teams in NASCAR. Martin Truex Jr. and David Reutimann have been able to compete well in Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota’s. There is no reason to believe Bowyer cannot do the same.

Bowyer will be teamed up with Truex Jr. and Mark Martin in 2012. Bowyer will compete for one of the final spots in the Chase and if he makes it in, he could be a driver who gets hot and finishes in the top five.

Jeff Burton

There is no doubt that Jeff Burton in nearing the end of his NASCAR career. Burton had his worst season in 15 years in 2011. Burton finished No. 20 in the points, and most people do not think he will rebound in 2012. I personally, would not count out Burton just yet.

Richard Childress Racing made changes following the 2011 season. Drew Blickensderfer comes over from Roush Fenway Racing, to be the new crew chief for Burton. Blickensderfer may be the change that Burton needs to jump-start his career. Burton can drive a race car and if he has a good crew chief leading his team, he can be competitive and maybe even make the Chase in 2012.

Aric Almirola

This will be Aric Almirola’s first full-time season in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. Almirola only has two top 10 finishes in his NASCAR career, but I look for that to change in 2012.

Almirola signed to drive the No. 43 Richard Petty Racing Ford. Driving for "the King" will help Almirola prove he deserves a spot in NASCAR’s top series. I do not believe Almirola will make the Chase in 2012, but he will surprise people. I look for Almirola to finish near the top 20, and compete for top 10 finishes in a handful of races the year. That is more than most people are predicting for Almirola in 2012.

Marcos Ambrose

Aric Almirola’s teammate at Richard Petty Racing, Marcos Ambrose will also surprise people in 2012.

Ambrose won the first race in his NASCAR carer in 2011 when he won at Watkins Glenn. Everyone knew that Ambrose was one of the best road course drivers in NASCAR, but what people do not know is that Ambrose is beginning to have success on the mile-and-a-half tracks as well.

Ambrose finished fourth at Las Vegas, sixth at Texas, sixth at Charlotte’s Spring Race, fifth at Charlotte’s fall race and ninth at Kansas. If Ambrose is able to improve on the other tracks to go along with his success on the road courses and the mile-and-a-half-tracks; Ambrose could compete for a spot in the Chase in 2012.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Picking Dale Earnhardt Jr. to be a surprise in 2012 could be wrong. Earnhardt always has high expectations from his fans and the media, and he has constantly let the fans down, so even when he is picked to finish high in the point standings, people have a hard time believing it.

Earnhardt is picked to make the Chase by most in the media. I think Earnhardt will surprise people because not only will he make the Chase, he will compete for a championship.

Before you start calling me a Earnhardt fan—just sticking up for my favorite drive—let me inform you that I'm not an Earnhardt fan. Actually, I think he is one of the most overrated drivers in NASCAR history, but I also believe this is the year Earnhardt puts it all together and makes his run for the championship.

So much of the attention at Hendrick Motorsports is being placed on Jimmie Johnson returning to his championship form, Jeff Gordon capturing one more title before he retires, and the addition of Kasey Kahne.

Usually the talk at Hendricks surrounds Earnhardt. With the attention taken off of him, this is the year he surprises people.

Danica Patrick

How can a driver who is only racing a limited schedule in 2012, be included on this list?

Danica Patrick will surprise people in the races that she is entered in this year. Patrick can drive a race car, and she has the equipment to compete in NASCAR. Most people will be excited to see Patrick mix it up with the top talent in the sport, but they will not expect her to finish well. I think she can.

Patrick’s first race, the Daytona 500, is a one where she can finish in the top five. In last season’s Nationwide race at Daytona, Patrick teamed up with Tony Stewart and led some laps in the race. Patrick finished the race in tenth.

Patrick also scored a top five finish at Las Vegas, in the Nationwide Series. I know there is a big difference between the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series, but I think Patrick will team up with Stewart in the Daytona 500 and finish near the top 10. Don’t be surprised if Patrick is successful in the limited races she enters in 2012. I know I won’t be.

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