NASCAR Sprint Cup: Can a Single-Car Team Compete in 2012?

Can a single car team compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series?

When NASCAR began, it was mostly an “every man for himself” type of racing series. No driver would ever think about coming into the garage and ask another driver what he could do to go faster.

Times have changed, and so has NASCAR. The last single-car team to win the NASCAR Championship was Alan Kulwicki in 1992.

Tony Stewart was the first owner-driver to win the NASCAR Championship since Kulwicki’s win in 1992. Stewart’s Championship last season proved that an owner-driver can win the Championship, but does that mean a single-car team will be the next to breakthrough in NASCAR?

Multi-car teams have advantages in NASCAR. The big five organizations (Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Penske Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing) have hundreds of employees and a vast amount of money to spend getting their cars ready to compete.

Single-car teams usually have a handful of employees and operate on a tight budget.

Single-car teams have been able to stay competitive for one reason: They are allowed to purchase engines and chassis from the big boys. If every team had to build their own cars and make their own engines, the big five would be the only teams competing in every race.

Last year’s Champion, Stewart, purchased his engines for Hendrick Motorsports. If Stewart Haas Racing had to build their own engines, Stewart probably would not be the defending champion.

I believe there are three single-car teams that can compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. I am not predicting these teams to win a Championship in 2012, but I think each will be competitive in numerous races and will win a few races during the 2012 season.

Here is my list of three drivers from single-car operations who could compete for wins in 2012.

Regan Smith

Regan Smith is one of the most underrated drivers in NASCAR.

He is never mentioned as a driver who could compete for a spot in the Chase, and that has more to do with the team he drives for than his racing ability.

Smith drives for Furniture Row Racing. The team has their headquarters in Denver, Colorado.

Furniture Row Racing is the only team based west of the Mississippi River.

It is hard for a driver to receive recognition when the team he drives for is based outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, but Smith is slowly becoming one of the more popular drivers in the sport.

Smith had his breakout season in 2011. He had his best races at the top tracks on NASCAR’s schedule.

Smith finished No. 7 at the Daytona 500, No. 8 at the Coca-Cola 600 and No. 3 at the Brickyard 400. He scored the first victory of his career at the Southern 500. No other driver in NASCAR can say he had results like Smith’s on NASCAR’s major tracks in 2011.

Smith finished the season with five top-10 finishes, two top-five finishes and one win, finishing No. 26 in the point standings.

Smith is no doubt a driver on the rise in NASCAR. The question is: Can Furniture Row Racing compete with the big boys in NASCAR? I think they can.

Smith and Furniture Row Racing have been loyal to each other. It is obvious that the team wants to take another step forward in 2012 and try to make the Chase.

It will not be easy, but Smith has the skills as a driver to make it happen.

Kurt Busch

When a single-car operation signs a former NASCAR Champion who is not past his prime to drive their car, they have a chance to compete.

Busch is a good driver. His biggest problem is himself.

Hopefully Busch has overcome his anger problems and is willing to focus on driving in 2012.

If that is the case, he may succeed at his new team, Phoenix Racing.

Phoenix Racing has not been able to compete up front in NASCAR over the years. Adding Busch to the cars may change that.

Phoenix Racing has agreed to purchase their cars from Hendrick Motorsports. The agreement gives Busch a chance to drive a car capable of winning races.

Without the agreement, Busch would have no chance to compete in 2012.

The deal between Busch and Phoenix Racing is a one-year deal. If the team can compete in 2012, their relationship could continue in the future.

If Phoenix Racing was ever ready to take the next step forward and compete for a spot in the Chase, 2012 is their year to do it.

Casey Mears

This name may surprise some you.

Mears has been an afterthought in NASCAR since he left Hendrick Motorsports.

This could be the year Mears finishes with a top-five, a couple of top-10s and inside the top 20 in the standings.

Mears drives for the single-car team Germain Motorsports.

Mears finished No. 31 in the point standings in 2011. So what makes me think they can compete in 2012?

Germain Motorsport made the switch from Toyota engines to Ford engines for the upcoming season. The engines will be supplied by Roush Fenway Racing.

The relationship with Roush Fenway racing has already paid off for Germain Motorsports. Mears qualified No. 5 for the Daytona 500. His qualifying speed will allow him to start on the outside pole for second Gatorade Duel Race on Thursday.

If Mears can stay up front in the Duel Race, he will start up front for the Daytona 500.

I don’t think Mears will break the top-15 in NASCAR’s final standings, but I do think there will be some races where Mears finishes near the top-five. Mears is best when he is driving on NASCAR’s “cookie cutter” tracks. His only win was at the 2007 Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte.

Mears will start the season as an afterthought by most NASCAR fans, but people will start to remember him before the season is over.

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