(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NASCAR's silly season hasn't even officially started since the season hasn't even ended yet, but in the world of NASCAR, unlike other more structured sports, it never really ends.
Drivers can be fired or replaced (Bobby Labonte) at a moment's notice, leaving their former teams scrambling for an even lower replacement driver than the one who failed.
Keeping in mind that its not even The Chase yet, here are three intriguing teams to keep and eye on in 2010:
1. Martin Truex Jr (above) no. 56 NAPA Michael Waltrip Racing
I see him as the Ryan Newman of 2010 in comparing him to another seemingly finished driver who revived his career with a simple change of scenery. Like Newman, he too will be switching makes and models trading Chevrolet for Toyota next year and I expect him to legitimately compete for a Chase spot next year, likely sneaking in on the back end of the Chase eerily similar to what Newman did this year.
While I'll have him pegged for at least one win, unlike Newman's goose egg (so far) this year, the fact he already stole a capable crew chief in former Kurt Busch counterpart Pat Tryson, shows an obvious upgrade from Kevin Manion, who currently holds the post.
Tryson comes from a winning tradition first at Roush (when they were good) and most recently, during his brief time with Kurt Busch. He hopes to transition that over to his new home.
Look at it this way, Truex gets a crew chief that made the Chase, and made it comfortably (7th seed). There are 43 teams any given Sunday and his was one that made the Chase. Could be worse.
NAPA loves team owner Michael Waltrip, a marketer's dream, so with his wit and pitch-man ability, money certainly will follow, only increasing the exposure for the team like ARMY did for Newman.
Finally, he's surrounded by actual capable talent in a former driver (Waltrip) with his excellent connections around the sport, and an even better teammate in the emerging David Reutimann, whose leaps and bounds better than Juan Pablo Montoya, who Truex clearly didn't take notes from and who clearly has superior equipment.
Montoya simply managed to make the Chase by being passive and learning from the Jimmie Johnson school of racing for points over wins.
This team is clearly on the rise and a Chase spot in 2010 would be the next natural progression like the 83 team did this year. Having just two cars each week, unlike Earnhardt-Ganassi's sometimes trio stable which includes John Andretti, will allow the team to focus on just two cars and prepare them solidly each week.
6 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete