White Hat Sports Headlines

Friday, February 8, 2008

Breaking Down the Top-12 Drivers, Part 3.

7. Kurt Busch - Kurt Busch rebounded nicely in 2007, after missing the Chase in 2006. He had a few wins at Michigan and Pocono, and was strong in the second half of 2007. He and crew chief Pat Tryson will look to build off that momentum in 2008. Expect Busch to be a Chase contender in the 2008 season, and if he doesn't win the title, he'll undoubtedly be contending for a top-5 finishing position.

6. Tony Stewart - Many eyes will be on Tony Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli as they make the transition from Chevrolet to Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing. Preseason testing has gone well for JGR, as drivers in the stable haven't struggled to find speed. I expect Stewart to score Toyota's first victory in NASCAR's top series, and I expect him to make the Chase easily. However, he's gonna have to find a way to string together better finishes in the Chase than he did last season.

5. Kyle Busch - Kyle Busch has expressed no regrets about being the odd one out at Hendrick Motorsports, and since then has found a home at JGR and new manufacturer Toyota. A second consecutive season in the top-5 of the points standings and a possible shot at a championship would be a best-scenario for the younger Busch brother, but I don't doubt he'll finish in the top-10.

Aaron Larsen

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