NASCAR: What to Expect the Next Four Race Weekends

So far, 2009 has come to surprise many fans, and I could see why.

With the biggest "movers" including Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, and Richard Petty Motorsports driver, doing the unexpected.

Let's begin with Mark Martin. We all wanted this good, clean driving guy to have a chance at a title and some wins...and maybe even to have won the Daytona 500 after coming out of that upsetting 2007 runner-up finish.

We knew he was going to be in good hands, heading over to HMS...right?

The inconsistency he's had so far this year has not shown that. Every one has a chance for a turn around, and with the weekend off,  maybe that will do it for the No. 5 team.

Now, let's talk about Stewart-Haas Racing.

Some people feel the team is doing great..maybe if your only a Stewart fan, because Newman has been having either really bad luck, or somethings up with his team.

There has been a lot of bad luck on his side though, and I am confident by the end of the next four races, he will be starting to hold the consistence of his teammate, Stewart.

As for Stewart, I think he surprised many people with his own team. The next four races for him, I think we should be expecting a win out of him.

Now for the RCR change up with Mears going into the No. 07 car, and Bowyer going over to the new No. 33 team.

Bowyer has been quiet and is solid in second place in the points. I don't think anything is wrong with the 33 team, and a win should be a great possibility after this weekend's break.

As for Mears, I think you can tell he switched teams by looking at the points or where he's been finishing. I'm not sure what he can pull off during this break, but I think he needs to pick up the pace, because after leaving one of the best teams in NASCAR to another great team, he should be doing much better.

We can all hope though that he can pick up the pace for the rest of the season.

Richard Petty's new organization is doing well in my eyes. I think we are getting more then we expected from them.

But I really wanted to move quickly to get to Micheal Waltrip's teams progress. They are doing terrific and are getting ready to be race winning material, and I think I can see them getting a win by the end of the season. Maybe even making the Chase!

I think 2009 has cleaned up the field. What I mean is, the good are doing good and rising, and the drivers who don't have it, are falling back and it's going to be noticed, and it should be.

Heck, Jeff Gordon is leading the points, we all knew he had it in him and last year was just a minor slump for him and he is back.

Jimmie Johnson is getting started rough, but you will see him come back in the next four races.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., I'm not sure what to say. I think they have a lot of work to do during the break. I think he will be finishing better soon, and contending for wins, but championship hope will have to wait to next year.

Sorry all you Earnhardt fans!

Well it's going to be an anxious week off. We'll see what happens at Bristol!