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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
SPENCER: Inside The Drivers’ Stockings
Here's what the 12 drivers in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup can expect in their stockings and under the tree Christmas morning...
Jimmy Spencer  |  Posted December 21, 2011   Charlotte, NC
Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)
It’s that time of year when the Jolly Old Elf goes from house to house spreading Christmas cheer, delivering presents for the good little boys and girls and coal for the bad ones.

Being the troublemaker that I am, I stole a peek at Santa Claus’ list and saw that he has everything figured out for the top drivers in last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Here is what the 12 drivers in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup can expect in their stockings and under the tree when they wake up Christmas morning:

Kurt Busch
I really thought Kurt might get a lump of coal from Santa this year. After all, he imploded over the team radio nearly on a weekly basis, tore up a reporter’s transcript and launched into an expletive-laden tirade against Dr. Jerry Punch that was caught on video at Homestead, all of which contributed to him being forced out at Penske Racing earlier this month. However, Kurt isn’t getting coal this year. Santa told me Kurt was so bad that he’s not wasting it on him. Ouch. So, Kurt’s out of a ride at the moment and entirely off of Santa and his reindeer’s radar.

Kyle Busch
But Kurt gave his younger brother, Kyle Busch, the best early Christmas present he could have given him – an example of what happens when you don’t control yourself. Kyle has displayed his share of bad behavior over the years, but I think seeing Kurt lose his job not only will settle Kurt down, but Kyle as well. Kyle’s primary sponsor at Joe Gibbs Racing, M&Ms, pulled off of Kyle’s No. 18 Cup car for the remainder of 2011 after NASCAR parked him at Texas for intentionally wrecking championship contender Ron Hornaday. So, Kyle has a lot to think about during the off-season, but I think he will go on to win a lot of races and possibly the championship in the next couple of years. And if Kyle can behave himself between now and Christmas Day, Santa just might bring him a protective mask and helmet like the Major League Baseball catchers wear. It will come in handy if Kyle screws up again and Richard Childress has to intervene.

Carl Edwards
I didn’t see what Carl Edwards is getting, but I think he should point-blank ask Santa, “What the heck do I have to do to win the championship?” That’s really all Carl wants for Christmas anyway.

Matt Kenseth
I think Matt Kenseth’s Christmas present arrived a couple of weeks early this year when he heard Brian Vickers probably won’t have a Cup ride for 2012. In fact, I’m not so sure that Santa didn’t promise Kenseth he wouldn’t have to deal with Vickers retaliating against him next year. So, Kenseth can breathe a sigh of relief at the moment because at least one of his Christmas wishes most likely is coming true.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Did you know Dale Earnhardt Jr. likes to play fantasy football? I think Santa is bringing him some Washington Redskins stuff and a winning fantasy football season. And about that win Dale Jr. is looking for? Santa would love to see NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver win a race and has penciled the feat in on his list … but the big man won’t reveal whether or not he will deliver that in 2012.

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick is one of those who got an early Christmas present this year. Well, he and his wife actually gave themselves the early Christmas present – they sold their NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series teams. While I know it was a very difficult decision for them to shut down the successful operation, I think Harvick will wake up Christmas morning a happy boy. He’ll have so much more time to focus on winning the Cup championship now that the major distraction of being an owner is behind him.

Jeff Gordon
Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon is receiving a little better luck this year on the race track to hopefully help ward off some of those engine failures and other issues that derailed him from winning the championship last season. Gordon has been very good this year and did a ton of charity work in other countries, and I think Santa will show his appreciation for all the good deeds.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin is another driver whose house Santa might fly right past this year – not because he was naughty but because FedEx delivered his present a couple of weeks early in the form of new crew chief Darian Grubb. Mike Ford was a great crew chief and the two nearly won the 2010 championship, but it had become clear it was time to make a change to shake that team up a bit. I couldn’t think of a better crew chief or Christmas present for Hamlin than Grubb, who just led Tony Stewart to the title in a remarkable run.

Brad Keselowski
Before Brad Keselowski reaches into his stocking Christmas morning, he might want to consider whether he really wants whatever might be in it. If I was Keselowski, I’d mark the stocking “return to sender.” He had such a great year and was on such a roll that I’d hate to see him get anything that might change that. Keselowski wants to maintain the status quo, because whatever his team had going really was working for them.

Jimmie Johnson crashed more than usual this past season. (Photo: Getty Images)
Jimmie Johnson
Our five-time champion might want some better cheerleading talent out of his crew chief, Chad Knaus, but what he really is hoping for is his team to figure his cars out just a bit more. Johnson spun out and crashed a lot in 2011 compared to past years, and I think it was because he was trying so hard to compensate for whatever his cars lacked. Santa is bringing him that extra something the No. 48’s setups were missing so Johnson doesn’t have to overdrive the cars and hit the wall as much in 2012.

Ryan Newman
The driver of the No. 39 Chevrolet is getting exactly what he asked for – a little more consistency in his performances. Ryan Newman’s team was pretty hot and cold last season, and I think Santa will help him out in the consistency department next year to give them a more even keel each week.

Tony Stewart
What does Santa give the guy who had everything in 2011? Santa hasn’t completely made up his mind on Tony Stewart yet, but he did give me a hint. He told me it’s food-related. I’m thinking it might be a year’s supply of Whoppers because Smoke has made no secret of his love for fast food and his struggles with sticking with a workout program. Plus, Santa told me Stewart sent back the treadmill he gave him a couple of years ago.

Hey – maybe Santa is bringing me that treadmill this year?! That would be awesome. He and everyone else know I sure could use it.

I’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and doesn’t find coal in their stockings Christmas morning.

Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED. He retired from driving with two NASCAR Sprint Cup, 12 NASCAR Nationwide and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, putting him in an elite group of drivers who have logged wins in all three of NASCAR’s premier divisions. In 478 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Spencer amassed 28 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes. He won back-to-back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships in 1986 and 1987 on the heels of 15 victories, becoming the first driver ever to earn consecutive titles in the series. He earned the nickname “Mr. Excitement” for his flamboyant and aggressive driving style early in his racing career.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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