NASCAR: Why This Sprint Cup Season Is so Great

Trevor Bayne took the checkered flag at Daytona back in February, setting up what many experts and fans hoped would trigger a firestorm of support for the new points system and changes geared toward making the sport more fan-friendly and more creative and enjoyable for the drivers.

Halfway through the season, fans and reporters alike are seeing great strides toward bringing the sport back to the prominence it shared in the early 2000s.

Here is why NASCAR is so great AGAIN!

More Competition

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 10: David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 10, 2011 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR)

This season, it appears more teams and cars are in the chase to get to victory lane.

While the usual suspects are always at the front of the pack, cars driven by young faces like David Ragan and David Reutimann are also creeping up on the field.

The more drivers that can challenge for a win, the greater it is for the fans.

New Points System

You have to love the fact that the points system means tighter races and a tighter race for the 10-race points chase.

Now the ninth-place driver in the chase is only 75 points behind the leader.

It also means one bad outing and things change in a hurry.

The Two-Car Draft

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 12: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet, races Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 12, 2011 i

Daytona and Talladega are the only two speedways where this happens, but it is different and, therefore, adds to the drama.

If one of the major drivers like Dale Jr. or Tony Stewart figures out how to win, look out. They will be mainstays in victory lane.

Jimmie Johnson Is Still Relevant

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 12: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 12, 2011 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

He is lurking in third place and primed to make another run at a sixth championship.

But this year it seems like Johnson is a non-factor, which makes him much more dangerous.

Everyone wants a new points champion, but Johnson is just as able as anyone to steal the title.

Kyle Busch

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 11: Kyle Busch (R), driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, talks with Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2011 in Long Pond,

Love him, hate him or have no opinion of him, Kyle Busch puts people in the seats. There is no series or surface he can't win on.

He puts his car wherever he wants and just makes it work.

This season, his aggressiveness may finally pay off with a series championship.

The Return of Ford to Victory Lane

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 12: Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, A.J. Allmendinger, driver of the #43 Medallion Financial Ford, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, race during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour

Carl Edwards has a lot to do with that, and so does Matt Kenseth.

Ford is now in the forefront of NASCAR, and with Edwards in the points lead, it only helps to benefit in the Sprint Cup Series.

Jeff Gordon

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 12: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, leads Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/Amp Energy Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 12, 2011 in Long Po

He has two wins this season and figures to be in the Chase at the end of the season.

Jeff Gordon still matters to NASCAR.

Now that he is leading the Hendrick Car cause again with wins, look for him to be solid over the next half of the season

Carl Edwards

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 11: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Kellogg / Cheez-it Ford waits with Crew Chief Bob Osborne during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2011 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo

The boyish face and stiff competitor, it looks like Edwards' drive at the end of the last season carried over to this season, and he has a championship in his sights.

Edwards' style of driving is straight on, and his competition with the likes of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch this season have been great for the chase.

Rivalries

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DARLINGTON, SC - MAY 07: The #29 Budweiser Chevrolet team of Kevin Harvick and the #18 Wrigley's Doublemint Toyota team of Kyle Busch confront each other after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SHOWTIME Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 7, 2011 in Dar

The battles between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and who ever pissed him off, or Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison.

Both drivers are bringing back a fire that NASCAR lacked since Earnhardt's death in 2001.

All of this is quite refreshing.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

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LONG POND, PA - JUNE 12: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/Amp Energy Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 12, 2011 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jerry

If we leave him alone, he will win this season. If we leave him alone, he may win a points championship.

Finally, things are going well for Junior, and this is seen on the track and how he handles the media.

Look for Earnhardt to be strong at Daytona and Talladega, and he might win more than once in the second half of the season.