Prediction time in NASCARville

By Mike Harper

Before the green flag drops at the Daytona International Speedway, each season I like to go through the field and make my annual predictions.

Last season I did fairly well with my picks. While Mark Martin didn’t win the championship as I predicted - Evernham Motorsports did make a change by releasing Jeremy Mayfield, Johnny Benson did win a Craftsman Truck Series race and Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch did finally clash. Yes, I predicted all three of those and I must admit I even surprised myself with the Evernham Motorsports situation.

This season I thought I would throw out my predictions right here and give everyone a chance to do the same, back me up or call me crazy. So let’s get to it!

Heartburn at Roush Racing:

Roush becomes even more corporate with the news of the merger with Fenway Sports Group. I feel one or two teams will struggle and David Ragan won’t be one of them. Look for the "you’re out at Roush" rumors about Jamie McMurray to begin flying sometime during mid-season if not earlier. Also, Greg Biffle will be the hottest free agent at the end of the 2008 season and if he has a poor showing over the first 26 races this season, he’ll pull a Kurt Busch and want out at Roush.

Shakeup at DEI:

Can you imagine Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI? It won’t happen. But I do think Earnhardt Jr. will join forces with his sister and half-siblings and take majority control of DEI. When this happens, Dale’s stepmother Teresa will decide to back away from the racing business. Call me crazy, but to ensure the future financial stability of DEI, I believe the Earnhardt’s will follow the Roush model and sell 40 to 50% of DEI to an organization like Anheuser-Busch or to John Menard, owner of Menards home improvement stores.

Bobby Labonte wins in 2007:

Sure, I made this prediction last season, but this time I think it will happen. No one is talking about Labonte and with the COT coming into play this season I think his chances of winning are better than ever.

Tony Stewart won’t play well with others:

I know this is hard to believe, but I think Tony will have a problem with a few rookies this season. Last season Tony was very vocal about David Ragan and I think nothing has changed. He’ll continue to have issues with Ragan, but throw the growing popularity of Juan Pablo Montoya into the mix and Stewart will need to do some intimidating. I also think the Stewart – Carl Edwards feud is not over.

Toyota is calling!:

Does anyone honestly believe Toyota is going to win a championship with Red Bull, Michael Waltrip or Bill Davis? While each team has great talent, no team has pop! I know this - Toyota knows this - and the American people know this (as Ross Perot would say). The only conclusion I have is Toyota needs to attract a major Cup team to their tent. Who? I think Chip Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing are primed and ready to go make the big move to Toyota. To go a step further, I’m one who doesn’t believe Matt Borland’s move from Penske to Michael Waltrip Racing was done on accident. I smell something more to this story and I wouldn’t be surprise if we don’t see Penske take the leap to Toyota and use Borland’s proactive knowledge to put them back on the map.

David Ragan wins the Rookie of the Year title:

It’s simple. If Ragan can run with Juan Pablo Montoya throughout the season and beat Montoya at Dover, Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville the title will belong to him. Reutimann must qualify for races each week and that’s not a sure thing, while Ragan and Montoya are locked into the first five and most likely beyond that. Two-man race, Ragan wins.

Jeff Burton resigns with RCR and NASCAR convinces Nextel to allow AT&T on the No.31:

Well, maybe Jeff Burton resigning with RCR is easier to believe. But I think for the good of the sport NASCAR must convince Nextel that retaining the AT&T sponsorship for RCR is more important than a nasty break-up due to corporate politics. What goes around comes around and by mid-season this issue should be resolved.

David Stremme is on the hot seat:

As a rookie, Stremme struggled during the 2006 Nextel Cup Series season. He recorded no top 10 finishes and finished the season 33rd in the Cup standings. Stremme was also taken out of the car at Watkins Glen and replaced by Scott Pruett who finished sixth in the race. Ganassi has times of not being patient with non-performing drivers and I think Stremme will find himself out of Ganassi Racing’s Cup program if his performance doesn’t pick up within the first 10 races of the season.

Tony Raines will not be resigned by Hall of Fame Racing:

Raines’ contract with HOF Racing expires at the end of the 2007 season. Don’t be surprised if he’s not resigned and replaced with Ward Burton or with one of the few Texans found in NASCAR.

Kevin Harvick wins the 2007 Nextel Cup Series Championship:

Enough said.