NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Who Will Be Next First-Time Winner?
AJ Allmendinger could score his first Sprint Cup victory in 2010...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted December 28, 2009   Charlotte, NC
AJ Allmendinger is 22nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

In 2009, Brad Keselowski, David Reutimann and Joey Logano all visited victory lane for the first time in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

And when 2010 begins, there will be a handful of drivers with legitimate chances of earning their first triumph in NASCAR’s top division — despite the fact that for the first time there is no real rookie class in the Cup series next year.

Here are the five drivers most likely to break on through in 2010 and win their first Cup race:

1. AJ ALLMENDINGER, Richard Petty Motorsports — Allmendinger started and finished the 2009 season on high notes, scoring a career-best third-place finish in the Daytona 500 to kick off the year. He wrapped up the season by coming home 10th at Texas Motor Speedway, 13th at Phoenix International Raceway and 10th again at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

For 2010, the ‘Dinger will have the benefit of running Ford Fusions built by RPM’s new neighbors, Roush Fenway Racing. He used Fords in the final three races of 2009, which helped him to those good finishes. If RPM can keep focused after its third ownership change/merger/restructuring in less than 2 ½ years, Allmendinger will be good to go.

2. MARCOS AMBROSE, JTG-Daugherty Racing — Without question, Ambrose is a driver on the way up and on a team on the way up. He had a great first full season in the Sprint Cup Series in 2009, posting four top-five finishes and an impressive 18th-place final points position. To do that in his first year with a new team made the accomplishment even better.

Obviously, coming from a road-racing background, the former Australian V8 Supercar champion will be a threat to win at both Infineon Raceway, where he was third this year, and Watkins Glen, where he was runner-up. But don’t count Ambrose out at Bristol, a place he finished third in August and 10th in the spring.

3. SAM HORNISH JR., Penske Racing — Hornish didn’t have a great second season with Penske, finishing 28th in points after being ranked 35th as a rookie. That said, no less an expert than Juan Pablo Montoya said it took him most of three full seasons to transition from the light, nimble open-wheel racers to the big, heavy stock cars.

Hornish will be in his third season of full-time NASCAR racing next year and in 2009, he showed signs of progress with two top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The Penske team is improving, too, which bodes well for his chances. A Hornish race victory wouldn’t be a surprise.


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