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Sprint Cup
CUP: Race Hub Analysts Make Chase Predictions On SPEED
Three of NASCAR Race Hub's experts weigh in on who they believe will become the next Sprint Cup Series champion...
SPEED.com - The Online Motor Sports Authority (Image: SPEED)
NASCAR RACE HUB ANALYSTS MAKE THEIR CHASE PREDICTIONS
WILL THERE BE A FIRST-TIME CHAMPION IN 2012?
Tonight’s edition of NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED centered on the upcoming ‘Chase’ for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Championship, and predicted which of the final 12 drivers have what it takes to win it all.
Host Steve Byrnes, former crew chief & FOX/SPEED analyst Larry McReynolds and former NASCAR crew member Matt Clark all weighed in on what they think will happen during this year’s run towards a title.
Here are their predictions…
Steve Byrnes
Denny Hamlin… (First) “He is so focused. I was really impressed when he missed the championship so narrowly a couple of years ago, and he said that he looked in the mirror, (asked) ‘What can I do different? What can I do better?’ Then he had that disappointing year, the year after, just to me, all signs are good right now for that 11 team. They’ve had speed, I just like where they are at.”
Jimmie Johnson… “I think he’s going to be fourth. When I was thinking about how to do this, can you do anything lower than first for Jimmie Johnson? It’s hard to do.”
Tony Stewart… “Eleventh… He’s one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, he’s one of the greatest drives in all of motor sports, I just don’t like where that team is headed right now.”
Brad Keselowski… “Seventh. The man scored a lot of points, and I’d like to talk to him about it… “
Greg Biffle… “I hate to do this – second. He had a chip on his shoulder and he doesn’t mind telling people about it, and I struggled with this pick… I love his attitude though.”
Clint Bowyer… “I’m going to say sixth, I like what’s they’ve done this year, (and) MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) has made a lot of progress, but it’s not time yet.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr… “Third, a lot of ‘top-fives’ in the 88 car; they are going to get close.”
Matt Kenseth… “He will finish fifth. I just think they’ve done a great job of getting to this point, but now its push comes to shove.”
Kevin Harvick… “I’m going to go eighth, I think the change with (new crew chief Gil Martin) is going to help them, but I think it’s too little, too late.”
Martin Truex Jr… (12th) “I love that team, but just too much bad luck.”
Kasey Kahne… “10th, fast, but a little too inconsistent.”
Jeff Gordon… “I’m going to say he’s going to finish 11th. Much respect to Jeff Gordon, but I just think they had to use too much energy – use up too much to get in.”
Larry McReynolds
“Even if we are all wrong, I’ll make this prediction, we will have a first-time champion in 2012.”
Denny Hamlin… (First) “It’s not because he won those two-consecutive races, and should have almost won three, I just think that Denny Hamlin and his 11 team, they will take what they learned from losing it in 2010, marry it with what (crew chief) Darian Grubb knows about winning it in 2011, and that’s the reason it’s going to be No. 1 in 2012.”
Jimmie Johnson… “He’s going to win some races in the Chase, there’s absolutely no doubt, but the best he’s going to do, it’s going to be better than last year, he’s going to end up the bridesmaid in 2012.”
Tony Stewart… “My man Byrnes and I are thinking a lot alike. I know what he did last year, but you know what, that was last year. What have you done for me lately? And what he’s going to do is end up finishing ninth.”
Brad Keselowski…”If Brad Keselowski could keep his focus on everything that he’s doing, not be thinking about what other people are doing, I would say he could end up fourth.”
Greg Biffle… “I’m going to see third. I think there are a couple of tracks that will fight him in our 10 Chase races, possibly one of them being Martinsville (Va.).”
Clint Bowyer… “Of all the 12 drivers, I like Clint Bowyer’s attitude better than anybody, but I think this organization (MWR) will have to lose one before they can win one – I say Clint Bowyer ends up fifth.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr… “I’m probably going to take myself out of the running for Broadcaster of the Year; I think they used it all up in the first 26 races. The best that it’s going to be for Junior Nation is 10th in 2012. I’m starting to see mistakes now.”
Matt Kenseth… “I’m going to go back to last year’s Chase, you’re going to have to win races, and that’s something they are not doing a good job at. I think he’s going to fall all the way back to 11th.”
Kevin Harvick… “Absolutely too little too late, Kevin and I have a lot in common in 2012. It’s the number of Sprint Cup Series wins and he’s going to end up 12th.”
Martin Truex Jr… “I think he’s going to get to eighth.”
Kasey Kahne… “He’s going to get sixth, but that’s as good as it’s going to get for Kasey Kahne.”
Jeff Gordon… “He didn’t use that much energy. They are much better than 12th, they are actually going to get to seventh when it’s all said and done.”
Matt Clark
Denny Hamlin… “I’ve got him No. 1 and (with) what he said on our (NASCAR) Raceday broadcast is that in 2011, he struggled, he’s learning how to have fun, to deal with the pressure. Then you add Darian Grubb, who’s won championships and came off an epic run with Tony Stewart, I think he is the guy that brings (Denny) to that level.
Jimmie Johnson… “I love what they have going on at the 48, I just think it’s possibly time for a new champion and a new sheriff in town.”
Tony Stewart…”I’ve got him finishing 11th. I’ll say this, the hangover from that Chase, the five wins, the crew chief change, they are still getting their feet underneath them, I don’t know that this year is their year.”
Brad Keselowski…”Hard to rate these top four or five guys, but I have him fourth. Great to see him make a run, but just not sure it’s going to happen this year.”
Greg Biffle… “I concur with my guys, I’ve got him sitting at fifth, I just don’t know that they have enough to push through. A top-five Chase run I think again, I just don’t think there’s enough this year.”
Clint Bowyer… “I’ve got Clint Bowyer at ninth, I think dividends come in the future, but this year is the first year, it’s not going to happen… maybe next year.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr… “I’ve got him third. Consistency - just needs some wins.”
Matt Kenseth… “I’ve got him eighth. Distractions just don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Kevin Harvick… “I’ve got him sitting 10th, Gil Martin makes a difference, but I don’t know if it’s good enough to make a charge for this Chase.”
Martin Truex Jr… (12th) “I’m with Steve on this one, it’s the first year with MWR, coming together with all the players; I think in the future though, look for good things to come out of this relationship.”
Kasey Kahne… “I’ve got Kasey Kahne, first year with the organization and a great start, I’ve got him seventh.”
Jeff Gordon… “I’ve got him coming in at sixth. I don’t know if they can sustain (it) in the long run, but they’ve done a great job at getting into the Chase, but I don’t know if they are going to make it.”
WILL THERE BE A FIRST-TIME CHAMPION IN 2012?
Tonight’s edition of NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED centered on the upcoming ‘Chase’ for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Championship, and predicted which of the final 12 drivers have what it takes to win it all.
Host Steve Byrnes, former crew chief & FOX/SPEED analyst Larry McReynolds and former NASCAR crew member Matt Clark all weighed in on what they think will happen during this year’s run towards a title.
Here are their predictions…
Steve Byrnes
Denny Hamlin… (First) “He is so focused. I was really impressed when he missed the championship so narrowly a couple of years ago, and he said that he looked in the mirror, (asked) ‘What can I do different? What can I do better?’ Then he had that disappointing year, the year after, just to me, all signs are good right now for that 11 team. They’ve had speed, I just like where they are at.”
Jimmie Johnson… “I think he’s going to be fourth. When I was thinking about how to do this, can you do anything lower than first for Jimmie Johnson? It’s hard to do.”
Tony Stewart… “Eleventh… He’s one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, he’s one of the greatest drives in all of motor sports, I just don’t like where that team is headed right now.”
Brad Keselowski… “Seventh. The man scored a lot of points, and I’d like to talk to him about it… “
Greg Biffle… “I hate to do this – second. He had a chip on his shoulder and he doesn’t mind telling people about it, and I struggled with this pick… I love his attitude though.”
Clint Bowyer… “I’m going to say sixth, I like what’s they’ve done this year, (and) MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) has made a lot of progress, but it’s not time yet.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr… “Third, a lot of ‘top-fives’ in the 88 car; they are going to get close.”
Matt Kenseth… “He will finish fifth. I just think they’ve done a great job of getting to this point, but now its push comes to shove.”
Kevin Harvick… “I’m going to go eighth, I think the change with (new crew chief Gil Martin) is going to help them, but I think it’s too little, too late.”
Martin Truex Jr… (12th) “I love that team, but just too much bad luck.”
Kasey Kahne… “10th, fast, but a little too inconsistent.”
Jeff Gordon… “I’m going to say he’s going to finish 11th. Much respect to Jeff Gordon, but I just think they had to use too much energy – use up too much to get in.”
Larry McReynolds
“Even if we are all wrong, I’ll make this prediction, we will have a first-time champion in 2012.”
Denny Hamlin… (First) “It’s not because he won those two-consecutive races, and should have almost won three, I just think that Denny Hamlin and his 11 team, they will take what they learned from losing it in 2010, marry it with what (crew chief) Darian Grubb knows about winning it in 2011, and that’s the reason it’s going to be No. 1 in 2012.”
Jimmie Johnson… “He’s going to win some races in the Chase, there’s absolutely no doubt, but the best he’s going to do, it’s going to be better than last year, he’s going to end up the bridesmaid in 2012.”
Tony Stewart… “My man Byrnes and I are thinking a lot alike. I know what he did last year, but you know what, that was last year. What have you done for me lately? And what he’s going to do is end up finishing ninth.”
Brad Keselowski…”If Brad Keselowski could keep his focus on everything that he’s doing, not be thinking about what other people are doing, I would say he could end up fourth.”
Greg Biffle… “I’m going to see third. I think there are a couple of tracks that will fight him in our 10 Chase races, possibly one of them being Martinsville (Va.).”
Clint Bowyer… “Of all the 12 drivers, I like Clint Bowyer’s attitude better than anybody, but I think this organization (MWR) will have to lose one before they can win one – I say Clint Bowyer ends up fifth.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr… “I’m probably going to take myself out of the running for Broadcaster of the Year; I think they used it all up in the first 26 races. The best that it’s going to be for Junior Nation is 10th in 2012. I’m starting to see mistakes now.”
Matt Kenseth… “I’m going to go back to last year’s Chase, you’re going to have to win races, and that’s something they are not doing a good job at. I think he’s going to fall all the way back to 11th.”
Kevin Harvick… “Absolutely too little too late, Kevin and I have a lot in common in 2012. It’s the number of Sprint Cup Series wins and he’s going to end up 12th.”
Martin Truex Jr… “I think he’s going to get to eighth.”
Kasey Kahne… “He’s going to get sixth, but that’s as good as it’s going to get for Kasey Kahne.”
Jeff Gordon… “He didn’t use that much energy. They are much better than 12th, they are actually going to get to seventh when it’s all said and done.”
Matt Clark
Denny Hamlin… “I’ve got him No. 1 and (with) what he said on our (NASCAR) Raceday broadcast is that in 2011, he struggled, he’s learning how to have fun, to deal with the pressure. Then you add Darian Grubb, who’s won championships and came off an epic run with Tony Stewart, I think he is the guy that brings (Denny) to that level.
Jimmie Johnson… “I love what they have going on at the 48, I just think it’s possibly time for a new champion and a new sheriff in town.”
Tony Stewart…”I’ve got him finishing 11th. I’ll say this, the hangover from that Chase, the five wins, the crew chief change, they are still getting their feet underneath them, I don’t know that this year is their year.”
Brad Keselowski…”Hard to rate these top four or five guys, but I have him fourth. Great to see him make a run, but just not sure it’s going to happen this year.”
Greg Biffle… “I concur with my guys, I’ve got him sitting at fifth, I just don’t know that they have enough to push through. A top-five Chase run I think again, I just don’t think there’s enough this year.”
Clint Bowyer… “I’ve got Clint Bowyer at ninth, I think dividends come in the future, but this year is the first year, it’s not going to happen… maybe next year.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr… “I’ve got him third. Consistency - just needs some wins.”
Matt Kenseth… “I’ve got him eighth. Distractions just don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Kevin Harvick… “I’ve got him sitting 10th, Gil Martin makes a difference, but I don’t know if it’s good enough to make a charge for this Chase.”
Martin Truex Jr… (12th) “I’m with Steve on this one, it’s the first year with MWR, coming together with all the players; I think in the future though, look for good things to come out of this relationship.”
Kasey Kahne… “I’ve got Kasey Kahne, first year with the organization and a great start, I’ve got him seventh.”
Jeff Gordon… “I’ve got him coming in at sixth. I don’t know if they can sustain (it) in the long run, but they’ve done a great job at getting into the Chase, but I don’t know if they are going to make it.”
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