Countdown to Daytona: Owner Point Style No. 33 (Scott Speed)

It’s Day three of my 35-day preview of the drivers guaranteed a spot in the first five races of 2009.

Today we look at a team that will be breaking in a rookie for the upcoming season. He may not have spent a lot of time on the track against the Cup drivers (only five races), but he did start 16 races in what was then the Craftsman Truck Series and even managed a win.

Hope you enjoy part three of 35!

Today’s Spotlight: No. 82

Team: Red Bull Racing

Driver: Scott Speed

Sponsor: Red Bull Energy Drink. For a look at the paint scheme visit Jayski.com.

Driver 2008 Stats: Speed participated in the final five races for 2008 and had little success, though he did show a sign of what could come in 2009 with a career best 16th place finish at Homestead. During the final stretch he averaged a 31st place finish and led two laps.

Those five races did earn him $396,300. Speed spent a lot of time in the Truck Series, starting 16 races. In those races he managed nine top-10 finishes, four top-fives, and one win. He earned $282,445 and averaged a finish of 13th.

News: After spending some time in the ARCA RE/MAX and Craftsman Truck Series, Speed will rub fenders with the best of the best in 2009. He enters the season with little experience behind a Cup car, but plenty of experience on the track.

Speed takes over the No. 82 (previously No. 84) after driver AJ Allmendinger was let go late last season. Team Red Bull feels they have a driver of the future in Speed and looks forward to having a driver compete for Rookie of the Year. Fortunately for Speed, there is only one other Rookie contender, Joe Gibb’s Joey Logano.

My Prediction for 2009: This season is going to be a huge learning curve for Speed. While I would not be surprised to see him competing for top-10 finishes mid-way through the season, I think in the end he will finish in the 25th to 30th range in the points. Speed, I think, is going to benefit greatly from having Brian Vickers as a teammate and has the equipment needed to challenge for wins. He just needs some time behind the wheel.

Will this team remain in top-35: This team should have no problem remaining in the top-35. The only worry I have is with Speed’s inexperience at Daytona. He needs to try and ‘ride-around’ for awhile to keep from getting caught up in a wreck. One bad finish during the first five races and this team could be on the outside looking in come Martinsville, when the 2009 owner points take over.

B-Blog

Reminder: Only 34 days until the cars hit the track for the Budweiser Shootout!

This article also appears on my blog: Sports101.