The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season will begin this Sunday at Daytona. There are new rule changes and formats that will make for some interesting developments in the upcoming races. With the green flag set to wave in a matter of days, it's time to preview the 2016 season along with a few bold predictions.
BOLD PREDICTIONS:
Danica Patrick goes to Victory Lane:
Call me crazy, but 2016 is the year that Danica Patrick will finally get that elusive win. Entering her 4th season at Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick has just 6 career top-10's and no top-5's. With a great race team behind her and all of the equipment necessary to be at the front, something has got to give. Many believe that Patrick can only race well at restrictor-plate tracks. But the 2 top-10's she had last season came at Martinsville and Bristol. It's all about being in the right place at the right time, and Danica will get her first win in NASCAR this year.
Kyle Larson makes the Chase:
With 2 years under his belt, Kyle Larson is poised to make the Chase for the first time in his Sprint Cup career. Larson actually regressed last season after an impressive rookie campaign in 2014. In his rookie year, Larson posted 17 top-10's to go along with 8 top-5's. In 2015, 10 top-10's and 2 top-5's. He also dropped nearly 5 positions in average finish. But if you watched Larson closely last season, he had the speed to finish consistently in the top 15. His teammate at Chip Ganassi, Jamie McMurray, didn't win a single race last season and still made NASCAR's postseason. Larson qualified better last season but simply couldn't put it all together by the time the checkered flag waved. Things will be different in 2016 for the 42 team.
Denny Hamlin wins the Chase:
This may not be as bold of a prediction considering Denny Hamlin has been a championship contender for most of his career. But with 12/1 odds in Vegas for winning it all (Kevin Harvick is favored at 5/1), Hamlin is still viewed as a driver that can't quite reach the top. Hamlin is coming off a stellar 2015 season, in which he posted 2 wins, 14 top-5's (most since 2012), and 20 top-10's (most since 2009). The only thing that hesitates analysts on Hamlin's chances, is the departure of Darian Grubb as crew chief. Mike Wheeler will now call the shots for the FedEx Toyota, at least in theory. The relationship between a driver and crew chief is essential to overall success. It may take some time for both to get adjusted to their roles, but with talent alone Hamlin can make the Chase and move on from there.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATES:
Last year Martin Truex Jr. showed everyone in NASCAR that a single-car team could win races and contend in the Chase. With an average finish of 12.2 (the 2nd-best mark in his career), Truex was one of the few consistent drivers last season. Truex and the Furniture Row Racing team finished 4th in the Sprint Cup standings last season along with picking up a win at Pocono. Who will be this year's breakout driver?
Ryan Blaney: In 16 races last season, Ryan Blaney proved that he could be near the front with the big dogs. Even with an average finish of 25.3, Blaney was able to guide the Wood Brothers Ford to 2 top-10's and 1 top-5. Blaney also showed good speed in races where he didn't have the best finish. After another successful season in the Xfinity Series (which included a win at Iowa Speedway), Blaney has the experience and talent to surprise some folks this year at the next level.
Casey Mears: There has been a ton of chatter on Casey Mears finally breaking out in 2016. The 13-year NASCAR vet finished 23rd in the Sprint Cup standings last season and hasn't cracked the top 20 since 2008. In his 6th season at Germain Racing, Mears seems to be in a comfortable spot. Germain has a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, which worked wonders for Martin Truex Jr. last season. Mears recently signed a contract extension through 2018. All of these positive factors may lead to good results for the Geico Chevy.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: The transition from the Xfinity Series to the Sprint Cup has been a little rough for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. After winning the Xfinity title in 2011 and 2012, expectations were pretty high when Stenhouse moved to the Sprint Cup for Roush Fenway Racing. In 3 years racing full time, Stenhouse has digressed from his rookie season to 2015. In 2013 Stenhouse had an average finish of 18.9. Last season 24.3. It's a contract year for Stenhouse which may give him all the motivation he needs.
BOLD PREDICTIONS:
Danica Patrick goes to Victory Lane:
Call me crazy, but 2016 is the year that Danica Patrick will finally get that elusive win. Entering her 4th season at Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick has just 6 career top-10's and no top-5's. With a great race team behind her and all of the equipment necessary to be at the front, something has got to give. Many believe that Patrick can only race well at restrictor-plate tracks. But the 2 top-10's she had last season came at Martinsville and Bristol. It's all about being in the right place at the right time, and Danica will get her first win in NASCAR this year.
Kyle Larson makes the Chase:
With 2 years under his belt, Kyle Larson is poised to make the Chase for the first time in his Sprint Cup career. Larson actually regressed last season after an impressive rookie campaign in 2014. In his rookie year, Larson posted 17 top-10's to go along with 8 top-5's. In 2015, 10 top-10's and 2 top-5's. He also dropped nearly 5 positions in average finish. But if you watched Larson closely last season, he had the speed to finish consistently in the top 15. His teammate at Chip Ganassi, Jamie McMurray, didn't win a single race last season and still made NASCAR's postseason. Larson qualified better last season but simply couldn't put it all together by the time the checkered flag waved. Things will be different in 2016 for the 42 team.
Denny Hamlin wins the Chase:
This may not be as bold of a prediction considering Denny Hamlin has been a championship contender for most of his career. But with 12/1 odds in Vegas for winning it all (Kevin Harvick is favored at 5/1), Hamlin is still viewed as a driver that can't quite reach the top. Hamlin is coming off a stellar 2015 season, in which he posted 2 wins, 14 top-5's (most since 2012), and 20 top-10's (most since 2009). The only thing that hesitates analysts on Hamlin's chances, is the departure of Darian Grubb as crew chief. Mike Wheeler will now call the shots for the FedEx Toyota, at least in theory. The relationship between a driver and crew chief is essential to overall success. It may take some time for both to get adjusted to their roles, but with talent alone Hamlin can make the Chase and move on from there.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATES:
Last year Martin Truex Jr. showed everyone in NASCAR that a single-car team could win races and contend in the Chase. With an average finish of 12.2 (the 2nd-best mark in his career), Truex was one of the few consistent drivers last season. Truex and the Furniture Row Racing team finished 4th in the Sprint Cup standings last season along with picking up a win at Pocono. Who will be this year's breakout driver?
Ryan Blaney: In 16 races last season, Ryan Blaney proved that he could be near the front with the big dogs. Even with an average finish of 25.3, Blaney was able to guide the Wood Brothers Ford to 2 top-10's and 1 top-5. Blaney also showed good speed in races where he didn't have the best finish. After another successful season in the Xfinity Series (which included a win at Iowa Speedway), Blaney has the experience and talent to surprise some folks this year at the next level.
Casey Mears: There has been a ton of chatter on Casey Mears finally breaking out in 2016. The 13-year NASCAR vet finished 23rd in the Sprint Cup standings last season and hasn't cracked the top 20 since 2008. In his 6th season at Germain Racing, Mears seems to be in a comfortable spot. Germain has a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, which worked wonders for Martin Truex Jr. last season. Mears recently signed a contract extension through 2018. All of these positive factors may lead to good results for the Geico Chevy.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: The transition from the Xfinity Series to the Sprint Cup has been a little rough for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. After winning the Xfinity title in 2011 and 2012, expectations were pretty high when Stenhouse moved to the Sprint Cup for Roush Fenway Racing. In 3 years racing full time, Stenhouse has digressed from his rookie season to 2015. In 2013 Stenhouse had an average finish of 18.9. Last season 24.3. It's a contract year for Stenhouse which may give him all the motivation he needs.
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