-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Sprint Cup
CUP: SPEED On-Air Personalities Offer 2012 Predictions
SPEED on-air personalities take a minute to offer predictions and analysis on the Daytona 500 and the new NASCAR season ahead...
The 2012 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Feb. 26. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
SPEED ON-AIR PERSONALITIES OFFER PREDICTIONS AND EXPLORE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE DAYTONA 500 AND THE 2012 NASCAR SEASON
NASCAR engines roar back to life this week as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams head south and set up camp for 10 days at Daytona International Speedway. SPEED’s on-air team also pitches its tents to bring viewers nearly 100 hours of coverage from The World Center of Racing. As they pack their bags for the trip, SPEED on-air personalities take a minute to offer predictions and analysis on the season opener and the new season ahead.
Q: In a highly-publicized and debated move, Kurt Busch joined Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch during the off-season. How well do you think these two will mesh as owner and driver?
“James Finch had a funny comment on Sirius Radio: ‘I hired him for his foot and not his mouth.’ This will be an incredibly important year for Kurt. Kurt said after the Awards Ceremony in Vegas that he wants to put the fun back in racing, and if he truly wants that, Finch’s team is the right place to go. Finch is one of the most fun and colorful people in the garageKurt is a great talent, and while I don’t want to call it a wake-up call, I hope this does put the fun back in racing for Kurt because it seemed to have eluded him lately.”
--Steve Byrnes, host of NASCAR Race Hub and NASCAR on FOX reporter
“There’s no telling what Kurt can accomplish this year. Remember that the Finch car has been awesome on plate tracks, and Busch has finished second in this race many times. This will be a learning year for Kurt to keep his emotions in check, but at the same time, if he’ll ever have the chance to put what he wants underneath a race car, this is it. If I had to pick anybody right now, with the sheer determination that Kurt will have and the performance of that No. 51 car with Hendrick engines and equipment, Kurt is one of my top-five picks for the Daytona 500.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
Q: Danica Patrick makes her NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500. What are your thoughts on this particular race for her Cup debut and how should we gauge success for her in 2012?
“Daytona is a good starting place for her. Think back to the July race at Daytona, in which Elliott Sadler raced her, and he said her improvement from SpeedWeeks to July was amazing. She learned how to draft and didn’t make mistakes. That’s what put Trevor Bayne on the map last year after he showed what he could do in practice and then Jeff Gordon drafted with him in the Gatorade Duel. That gave not only Trevor some confidence but gave other drivers confidence to draft with him. Danica may surprise some people this season, and I think she’ll be very competitive at Daytona.”
--Steve Byrnes, host of NASCAR Race Hub and NASCAR on FOX reporter
“Opening her Cup Series career in the Daytona 500 is good for Danica, her sponsors and certainly for NASCAR. Where else would you want your debut? Daytona affords the type of race that if she keeps her nose clean and doesn’t have bad luck, she could be right in the hunt. We’ve been surprised by other drivers winning this race – Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne to name two. If Danica keeps the fenders on the car, she could have a great finish on top of the lone fact that she’s in the 500, which is a big deal for everyone.”
--Randy Pemberton, SPEED reporter
Q: We practically have heard the term “tandem drafting” in our sleep the past few months. With the Daytona test under the teams’ belts and several rule changes in effect, how do you think the draft will play out in the Daytona 500?
“The NASCAR Fan Council told NASCAR they don’t like two-car drafting, so NASCAR has done everything it can to reduce the pairs. We’ll still see the big pack a lot but we’ll also see two cars break away for short periods of time. NASCAR has discouraged two cars from running together for long by making rule changes that essentially cause engines to overheat if tucked up together. Sure, teams will come up with some tricks to try to get around these rules and their effects, but motors will overheat if they don’t get to breathe, which means more big-pack racing and less ‘coupling up.’”
--Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and SPEED analyst
“During the race, we’ll see the majority of cars in a pack with one or two guys hooked up at the front. The question will be whether NASCAR has accomplished one of its goals of the big pack being able to close in on and pass the two-car drafting partners. If there’s a group of six or 10 cars that can run down the two-car tandem, then the Daytona 500 will be something else to watch.”
--Randy Pemberton, SPEED reporter
Q: We’re not even one race into the Cup Series season yet, but who is your preseason favorite for the title?
“To be the man, you have to beat the man, so Tony Stewart certainly is a favorite and, of course, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team. Jimmie has been Tweeting quite confidently lately that he wants the title back. So, look out.”
--Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and SPEED analyst
NASCAR engines roar back to life this week as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams head south and set up camp for 10 days at Daytona International Speedway. SPEED’s on-air team also pitches its tents to bring viewers nearly 100 hours of coverage from The World Center of Racing. As they pack their bags for the trip, SPEED on-air personalities take a minute to offer predictions and analysis on the season opener and the new season ahead.
Q: In a highly-publicized and debated move, Kurt Busch joined Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch during the off-season. How well do you think these two will mesh as owner and driver?
“James Finch had a funny comment on Sirius Radio: ‘I hired him for his foot and not his mouth.’ This will be an incredibly important year for Kurt. Kurt said after the Awards Ceremony in Vegas that he wants to put the fun back in racing, and if he truly wants that, Finch’s team is the right place to go. Finch is one of the most fun and colorful people in the garageKurt is a great talent, and while I don’t want to call it a wake-up call, I hope this does put the fun back in racing for Kurt because it seemed to have eluded him lately.”
--Steve Byrnes, host of NASCAR Race Hub and NASCAR on FOX reporter
“There’s no telling what Kurt can accomplish this year. Remember that the Finch car has been awesome on plate tracks, and Busch has finished second in this race many times. This will be a learning year for Kurt to keep his emotions in check, but at the same time, if he’ll ever have the chance to put what he wants underneath a race car, this is it. If I had to pick anybody right now, with the sheer determination that Kurt will have and the performance of that No. 51 car with Hendrick engines and equipment, Kurt is one of my top-five picks for the Daytona 500.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
Q: Danica Patrick makes her NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500. What are your thoughts on this particular race for her Cup debut and how should we gauge success for her in 2012?
“Daytona is a good starting place for her. Think back to the July race at Daytona, in which Elliott Sadler raced her, and he said her improvement from SpeedWeeks to July was amazing. She learned how to draft and didn’t make mistakes. That’s what put Trevor Bayne on the map last year after he showed what he could do in practice and then Jeff Gordon drafted with him in the Gatorade Duel. That gave not only Trevor some confidence but gave other drivers confidence to draft with him. Danica may surprise some people this season, and I think she’ll be very competitive at Daytona.”
--Steve Byrnes, host of NASCAR Race Hub and NASCAR on FOX reporter
“Opening her Cup Series career in the Daytona 500 is good for Danica, her sponsors and certainly for NASCAR. Where else would you want your debut? Daytona affords the type of race that if she keeps her nose clean and doesn’t have bad luck, she could be right in the hunt. We’ve been surprised by other drivers winning this race – Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne to name two. If Danica keeps the fenders on the car, she could have a great finish on top of the lone fact that she’s in the 500, which is a big deal for everyone.”
--Randy Pemberton, SPEED reporter
Q: We practically have heard the term “tandem drafting” in our sleep the past few months. With the Daytona test under the teams’ belts and several rule changes in effect, how do you think the draft will play out in the Daytona 500?
“The NASCAR Fan Council told NASCAR they don’t like two-car drafting, so NASCAR has done everything it can to reduce the pairs. We’ll still see the big pack a lot but we’ll also see two cars break away for short periods of time. NASCAR has discouraged two cars from running together for long by making rule changes that essentially cause engines to overheat if tucked up together. Sure, teams will come up with some tricks to try to get around these rules and their effects, but motors will overheat if they don’t get to breathe, which means more big-pack racing and less ‘coupling up.’”
--Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and SPEED analyst
“During the race, we’ll see the majority of cars in a pack with one or two guys hooked up at the front. The question will be whether NASCAR has accomplished one of its goals of the big pack being able to close in on and pass the two-car drafting partners. If there’s a group of six or 10 cars that can run down the two-car tandem, then the Daytona 500 will be something else to watch.”
--Randy Pemberton, SPEED reporter
Q: We’re not even one race into the Cup Series season yet, but who is your preseason favorite for the title?
“To be the man, you have to beat the man, so Tony Stewart certainly is a favorite and, of course, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team. Jimmie has been Tweeting quite confidently lately that he wants the title back. So, look out.”
--Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and SPEED analyst
Shake and Bake: Recent Posts
-
Last Lap: Kyle Busch Makes History At Charlotte Motor Speedway »
-
Charlotte Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith Dishes Out the Goods »
-
NASCAR Teams Lend Helping Hand To Oklahoma Tornado Victims »
-
Singer Chelsea Bain's Dad Loves Her Music, Doesn't Love Her Choice Of Clothing »
-
Mr. E Would Rather Watch Soap Operas & Teletubbies Than 4 Hours Of Single-File Racing (Video) »
-
Krash Kab Invades Darlington With Jimmy Spencer And Monica Palumbo (Video) »
-
Sebastian Vettel's Monaco GP Helmet Has A Nearly Naked Pinup Girl »
-
Last Lap: Despite Struggles, Danica Patrick Unlikely To Return To IndyCar »
2013 All Star Race
LATEST HEADLINES: NASCAR
-
NNS: Kyle Busch Scores Again
Kyle Busch registers his sixth Nationwide win of the season…… -
CUP: Saturday Charlotte Notebook (UPDATE 10)
Kyle Busch won the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway... -
CUP: France – Schedule Good As It Is
NASCAR chairman Brian France says he prefers fall race to stay in… -
CUP: Keselowski Still Confident Despite Slump
Brad Keselowski is seventh in points heading into the Coca-Cola 600…… -
HAMMOND: 600-Mile Race Will Tax Drivers, Equipment
I expect we will see a lot of green-flag runs Sunday, making for… -
CUP: Menards Signs Renewal With RCR
Multi-year partnership renewal was announced today... -
CUP: Man On A Mission
Denny Hamlin going all out in pursuit of a shot at the championship…… - More News
