| 12. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.- | | | | Tony Stewart was in the headlines quite |
| While many may assert that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | | | | frequently in 2008, but it was not for his on-track |
| was a disappointment in his first year driving for | | | | accomplishments. Stewart will endeavor to |
| the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut, his season | | | | administer his own Sprint Cup operation in 2009 |
| was not that bad when weighed against his | | | | and beyond with Ryan Newman as his teammate. |
| teammates. Aside from Jimmie Johnson, it is | | | | Ironically, Stewart’s maddening season began |
| difficult to say that his teammates outperformed | | | | when Newman passed him on the backstretch on |
| him. Jeff Gordon enjoyed several solid races | | | | the final lap of the Daytona 500. |
| towards the end of the season, but overall, | | | | Stewart’s only victory occurred at Talladega, |
| Earnhardt, Jr. won a race, and led more laps. | | | | but it was in October, more than a year following |
| Hendrick Motorsports was not the same | | | | his previous victory at Watkins Glen in August of |
| ascendant operation they were in 2007, so the | | | | 2007. |
| season fell short of expectations in comparison. | | | | It is difficult to project how the 2009 season will |
| In 2009, expect Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to improve | | | | transpire for Stewart and Stewart Haas Racing. |
| upon the 2008 season and qualify for the Chase | | | | Stewart will likely contend for wins on restrictor |
| for the Championship for the second consecutive | | | | plate tracks and road course tracks, but other |
| season. He will likely win a race or two. | | | | than that, we will have to take the ‘wait and |
| 11. Matt Kenseth- | | | | see’ approach. |
| The goose egg in the win column for Matt | | | | 8. Denny Hamlin- |
| Kenseth in 2008 is rather baffling. Although | | | | Following his remarkable rookie season in 2006, |
| Kenseth does not win races in bundles, he has | | | | Denny Hamlin has shown modest improvement. |
| won at least one race in every season from 2002 | | | | He is one of the more consistent drivers in the |
| to 2007. Following a sluggish start to the season, | | | | series, and he has qualified for the Chase for the |
| Kenseth’s performance picked up, but not at | | | | Championship in each of the last three seasons, |
| the level that he is accustomed. He scored 20 top | | | | but it is time for Hamlin and the 11 team to |
| ten finishes, more than all drivers with the | | | | contend for championships. While his teammate |
| exception of Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, and | | | | Kyle Busch won eight races, Hamlin only recorded |
| Kyle Busch, so consistency was not the issue. He | | | | one victory. However, Hamlin enjoyed some |
| simply did not put himself in position to win very | | | | strong performances at Atlanta, Phoenix, and |
| often. | | | | Homestead towards the end of the season. |
| In 2009, Kenseth should return to victory lane. | | | | In 2009, look for Hamlin to post similar results as |
| Furthermore, a driver with his consistency is | | | | the last couple of years. Nevertheless, this could |
| unlikely to miss the Chase for the Championship. | | | | be one of the few teams in the top twelve that |
| 10. Kyle Busch- | | | | does not return to the ten-race showdown next |
| Kyle Busch had the field covered for the first 26 | | | | fall. |
| races of the 2008 campaign, as he amassed eight | | | | 7. Jeff Gordon- |
| victories. However, once the Chase for the | | | | For the first time since his rookie season in 1993, |
| Championship started, his championship aspirations | | | | Jeff Gordon failed to reach victory lane. However, |
| suddenly vanished. Mechanical woes and | | | | it was not a terrible year for Gordon and the 24 |
| performance issues haunted Kyle Busch and the | | | | group by any means. Throughout the spring |
| 18 team throughout the final ten races. | | | | months, Gordon hit a minor skid on the |
| Overall, Busch had a superb season in NASCAR. In | | | | intermediate tracks, but the program seemed to |
| all three of NASCAR’s premier series, no | | | | improve during the second half of the season. |
| other driver won as frequently as Busch, as he | | | | Gordon’s season was similar to Matt |
| recorded 21 total victories. Moreover, it was his | | | | Kenseth’s in the fact that he was |
| first year piloting Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas. | | | | competitive, just not enough to challenge for |
| Kyle Busch may not win eight races in 2009, but | | | | many wins. Gordon posted thirteen top five |
| he is one of the favorites to capture the Sprint | | | | finishes and nineteen top ten finishes. |
| Cup championship, and rightfully so. Expect him to | | | | In 2009, Gordon will win a race, if not two, three, |
| win three or four races, and contend for the | | | | or four. It is still too early to anoint him as the |
| championship. | | | | championship favorite, but do not be surprised to |
| 9. Tony Stewart- | | | | see the 24 car chasing the championship next fall. |