NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Who's Where in 2012 (Part 5)

Racin’ with Russ—Each year at this time, I dive into the many driver, crew, sponsor and paint scheme changes for next year. I’ll also throw in my predictions as to how well the various combos will fare. Either take some notes or save these articles to keep up with the many changes.

Car No. 21: Trevor Bayne

One of the most recent announcements coming out of the Wood Brothers shops is the return of last year’s Daytona 500 winner, 20-year-old Trevor Bayne. With extensive help from various Ford outlets, this talented group will be back for about a dozen races and possibly more with additional backing. Many of the rules have changed at the big tracks, so the way Bayne was helped and the way he helped others has changed radically. Can he win the race again? Perhaps, but scoring consistent top 10’s will be more important in gaining more races and a full-time position.

Car No. 42: Juan Pablo Montoya

The ex-open wheeler has signed up for more fun with Earnhardt-Ganassi Chevrolet products. Last year’s performance was nothing to brag about with eight top 10 runs, netting a 21^st place in the points. Target will be back to sign the big checks and hopefully new crew chief Chris Heroy will improve their overall performance. Results? I don’t see much of a change from 2011. 

Car No. 43: Aric Almirola 

Another very recent change, this one on King Richard Petty’s primary car, the legendary No. 43. Allmendinger’s out and last year’s fourth place finisher among the Nationwide ranks, Almirola has been tapped to pilot the Smithfield Foods/U.S. Air Force Ford Fusions. This would not have been my best pick. I still maintain David Ragan was the man for the job. Greg Erwin will call the shots from atop the box and Almirola predicts top 15’s and shot at the Chase.I do not. I see top 20’s and an occasional top 10.  

Car No. 47: Bobby Labonte 

Ex-Champion Bobby Labonte returns behind the wheel of this JTG Dougherty Toyota with Todd Berrier selected as their new crew chief. Last year’s 29^th in points with only two top 10’s is not exactly setting the world on fire. They are surely the leader of the ‘also ran’ pack. Creative marketing finds a myriad of sponsors to keep the doors open including Bush’s Baked Beans, Clorox, Kingsford and Little Debbie, among others. This year’s results? Labonte is in the twilight of his career with the handwriting on the wall to start looking for a comfortable rocker for the front porch sessions of bench racing. 

Car No. 48: Jimmie Johnson 

This Hendrick Motorsports driver was finally beaten out of yet another consecutive title, ending at a remarkable five. Lowe’s will certainly be back, yet with much more blue in their newest paint scheme, and Chad Knaus will still make the game plan. Johnson finished sixth in the points with two wins and 21 top 10 runs, not bad by any means. Somewhere along the lines late in the go, the team appeared to lose focus. Combined with some bad luck, the team still walked away with good results and can win on any given race day. This year? More top 10’s, more wins, a Chase contender for sure—but not another title.

Car No. 51: Kurt Busch 

You can only bad mouth your crew and team for so long before a team owner like Roger Penske says he’s had enough. Busch parted ways with Penske after a tumultuous ending to a decent season, yet had no initial plans where he’d wind up. It didn’t take very long for the ex-champ to hook up with James Finch and their one-horse operation. They’ll have a competent Nick Harrison as crew chief, but other ingredients, such as backing, is a big question mark at this point. Results? Having Hendrick engines and chassis surely has to help any kind of results for this questionable combo.

From Rumorville 

Biggest news from this department is Rusty Wallace announcing the closing of his two Nationwide teams, one where his son Steven was driving (I mean wrecking) cars and the other for Michael Annett. It had to be a tough decision to do so, but when Five Hour Energy left the building and other large dollar sponsors are now just not readily available, it was time to pull the trigger. Add into the equation Steven’s constant flow of wrecked cars and pricey repair bills, and it was time to regroup.

That’s it for this week. Next week, RWR will continue with Part 6 of Who’s Where for 2012 NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series, along with racing news from around the globe.