NASCAR Sprint Cup: Travis Pastrana and The Most Interesting Storylines Of 2011

The 2010 NASCAR season proved to be an exciting one as the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship came down to the season's final race.

NASCAR fans are hoping for another entertaining season in 2011 and there will be plenty of storylines to follow.

Here are some of the top storylines heading into the 2011 season.

Pastrana Comes To NASCAR

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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 01: Travis Pastrana competes to a gold medal in the Moto X Speed & Style Final during X Games 16 at Staples Center on August 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Travis Pastrana is one of the most exciting motorsports athletes in the world, and in 2011 he will bring his talents to NASCAR.

Pastrana will debut as a driver on the Nationwide Series while also owning a team.

It should be fun to watch how Pastrana's big-time talents translate onto the NASCAR circuit this season.

Jimmie Johnson Shoots For Six In a Row

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, poses with the Sprint Cup Series Championship trophies at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2010 in Homestead, Florida. Johnson clinched his fifth str

Johnson really had to earn his Sprint Cup title this season, taking the crown from Denny Hamlin during the final race of the year to claim his record-setting fifth straight championship.

The question now is when will it end? And who can end it?

Johnson will enter the 2011 season as the unquestioned favorite to win the Chase for a sixth straight season and as each year passes the target on the No. 48 grows.

Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. Regain His Form?

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, stands on pit road prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2010 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by J

Junior has really struggled the past four Sprint Cup seasons, as his best finish during that stretch came in 2008, when he finished the year in 12th place.

For someone who seemed to have such a promising future in the sport, Earnhardt Jr. has become a disappointment.

On the bright side, he was voted as NASCAR's most popular driver for an eighth straight year, although I'm sure Earnhardt Jr. would trade his streak for Johnson's.

Who Will Win at Daytona?

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Gu

Jamie McMurray took the checkered flag at NASCAR's biggest race in 2010 and ended up narrowly missing the Chase.

This year's version of the Great American Race should be one of the most exciting in some time after the track was completely repaved.

The track should allow drivers to reach faster speeds in 2011 and create tighter packs with more potential for major wrecks.

Expect the Daytona 500 to have one of its closest finishes ever in 2011.

How Competitive Will Danica Patrick Be In 2011?

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2010 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty

Danica Patrick did not see the kind of results she was hoping to during her rookie season in NASCAR while racing part-time on the Nationwide Series this year.

Danica's best finish came in her last race when she finished 19th at Homestead, as she finally appeared to make some progress.

Patrick needs to carry that slight bit of momentum into 2011, when she will once again race part-time on the Nationwide Series.

Can Denny Hamlin Bounce Back?

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2010 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty

Denny Hamlin was right where he wanted to be on the final day of the Sprint Cup season, but he was not able to hold off Jimmie Johnson to win his first championship.

Hamlin needs to put the end of the 2010 season behind him as he enters the 2011 season.

Hamlin has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on NASCAR's biggest stage but he doesn't want to take a step backwards in 2011.