Pre-Chase Rankings

Field Filler

16. Paul Menard

            For proof that The Chase field is too large, look no further than Menard and his measly four top-10s this season.

15. Jamie McMurray

            Incredibly, this is the first time McMurray has ever made The Chase. He won’t stay in title contention very long.

14. Clint Bowyer

            Bowyer propelling his soon to be non-existent race team into the playoffs is a feat on it’s own.

13. Ryan Newman

            We love Newman, but the odds of him making another run like he did last year are remote.

I Don’t Think He Cares Anymore

12. Jeff Gordon

            Despite being in the midst of his worst season since his rookie year, Gordon has been smiling all over the place during his retirement tour. One of these days we’ll figure out at one point in the 2000s he stopped trying to be great.

They Have Speed, but Need to Get Hot

11. Carl Edwards

            Edwards has two wins this year, but one was by virtue of fuel mileage, and the other was on a track layout not like anything we’ll see in the final ten races. Furthermore, of all the winners this season, Edwards has the fewest top-5s and fewest top-10s.

10. Martin Truex Jr.

            Truex has cooled off considerably over the summer months, but with Dover and Loudon in the first round of The Chase, that could be a spring board for him returning to his early season form.

9. Denny Hamlin

            Hamlin has a decent track record of success at most of the tracks in the playoffs, and a win at Martinsville earlier in the year. If he makes it to the field of eight, Martinsville will give Hamlin his best chance of racing for the title at Homestead for the second year in a row.

You Can’t Count Them Out

8. Kurt Busch

            For a short time after his return from suspension, Busch was the only driver that could match Kevin Harvick’s consistency. That ability has waned over the summer, but Busch knows how to get it done in the playoffs and still has plenty of speed.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

            Quietly, Junior has had the most consistent season of any of the Hendrick drivers in 2015. His dominance at the plate tracks this season bode well for him when the Sprint Cup returns to Talladega in October. His lack of Chase success is the only reason we don’t have him ranked in the top-5.

6. Brad Keselowski

            He’s third in top-10s, but Keselowski has just felt a little bit off all season. He’s let a couple of victories slip away, and hasn’t been able to match the level of performance on a week-to-week basis by his own teammate. Keselowski has won though at least one of the tracks in every round of The Chase, and is certainly capable of going on a hot streak.

5. Jimmie Johnson

            Johnson is tied for the most wins on the circuit, but he really hasn’t done much of anything since the spring. Summer swoons aren’t uncommon for Johnson, but Hendrick has fallen behind a few organizations in terms of overall speed for the first time in years. It’ll be a tall order for Johnson to earn his record tying seventh Cup title.

Our Final Four

4. Matt Kenseth

            Kenseth put an exclamation point on the regular season with a dominating run at Richmond. He has more momentum than anyone else in the garage.

3. Kyle Busch

            Kyle ripping off three straight wins in July to solidify his place in the playoffs was the most memorable run of the entire season. It will be interesting to see if he can overcome the demons of past postseason runs.

2. Joey Logano

            The Daytona 500 is second in both top-5s and top-10s to Kevin Harvick, and quietly is the most likely driver to knock Harvick off the throne.

1. Kevin Harvick

            Sure Harvick hasn’t won in a while, but his consistency has been remarkable. In 26 races, he’s posted 18 top-5s and 22 top-10s. We know he has Phoenix in the bag, so he is the most likely driver to be in the Final Four at Homestead.

2015 NASCAR Preview

At Daytona And Talladega We Have A Chance!

34. Ryan Blaney

            Blaney takes over for Trevor Bayne in the famous #21 Wood Brothers Ford. He’ll be running a partial schedule in Sprint Cup while running the full Xfinity Series slate for Roger Penske. The new alliance with Penske gives the #21 a better chance at respectability.

33. Casey Mears

            Keep cashing them checks Casey.

32. Justin Allgaier

            No Credentials really liked Allgaier when he was in Nationwide (now Xfinity). We’re bummed he never found a quality Cup ride.

31. David Reutimann

30. Cole Whitt

29. David Ragan

            It’s very strange that Front Row Motorsports was able to expand to three cars, while Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi only field two.

28. Danica Patrick

            In the last year of her contract with Stewart-Haas, Patrick is likely nearing the end of her NASCAR career.

27. Martin Truex Jr.

            He’ll be fast at the restrictor plate tracks, and field filler everywhere else.

26. Brian Vickers

            We’re pulling for Vickers after he underwent another heart operation during the off-season, but the troubles at Michael Waltrip Racing are likely to keep him mired in mediocrity.

25. Paul Menard

            Right along with Lake Speed’s win at Darlington in 1988, Menard’s 2011 Brickyard 400 victory ranks as one of the flukiest NASCAR results of all time.

Road Course Ringers (sadly, sans Ambrose and Montoya)

24. Sam Hornish

            For some reason Hornish is mentioned as a dark horse to win at a road course even though all of his Indy Car and Nationwide wins were on ovals.

           

23. A.J. Allmendinger

            Allmendinger delivered the moment of the year last year with his thrilling duel with Marcos Ambrose at Watkins Glen. He’s a good bet to notch another win at Sonoma or the Glen to make a second straight Chase.

Might Win a Race, Might Not

22. Tony Stewart

            We’re sticking a fork in the competitive NASCAR career of Tony Stewart.

21. Trevor Bayne

            It’s hard to believe Bayne won the Daytona 500, and even harder to believe that it took him four years to land a full-time Sprint Cup ride.

20. Kurt Busch

            If there were such an award for “Most Bizarre Legal Case”, crazy Kurt Busch against his physco ex-girlfriend would easily take top honors in 2015. 

19. Clint Bowyer

            No Credentials isn’t buying stock in MWR yet.

18. Kyle Busch

            We had Busch ranked second (mostly due to the changes in the Sprint Cup cars that make them more similar to Nationwide/Xfinity) before his brutal crash Saturday afternoon. There isn’t a great track record of success for guys that missed significant time due to injury, so this could be a lost year for him.

17. Austin Dillon

            Dillon was pretty vanilla in his rookie year, but we expect a slight rise to relevance at the super speedways in Dillon’s sophomore campaign.

16. Aric Almirola

            At times, Almirola was the most consistent Ford driver not employed by Roger Penske in 2014. We expect him to notch his first non-rain shortened victory this year.

15. Greg Biffle

            Biffle is the de facto leader of Roush Fenway Racing, which would be cool if Roush wasn’t a sinking ship.

14. Ryan Newman

            Newman nearly broke The Chase forever with his near championship winning run at Homestead last year. We don’t anticipate another remarkable run of consistency again, but we do predict Newman to return to victory lane.

13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

            Stenhouse was abysmal last year, but he stands to gain from the Cup cars driving like the cars he piloted to two straight Nationwide titles in 2011 and 2012.

Inconsistent Wildcards

12. Jamie McMurray

            With all the big races McMurray was won over the years, it’s crazy that he has never made The Chase. That changes in 2015.

11. Kasey Kahne

            Hendrick Motorsports least inspiring driver should thank his lucky stars Jeff Gordon is retiring after this season, otherwise Chase Elliott would’ve been driving the five car next year instead.

10. Kyle Larson

            The most logical bet for a break through season, we’d be shocked if Larson didn’t win at least two races this year.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

            Dale Jr.’s early returns look good after a strong showing in his Duel race Thursday night, but the real test will come when he needs to communicate adjustments to his new crew chief at Atlanta next week.

8. Denny Hamlin

            No one has Danica’s back more than Denny Hamlin.

Championship Contenders

7. Matt Kenseth

            Kenseth should at least return to victory lane, but we’re not forecasting a dominant season.

6. Jeff Gordon

            The Gordon retirement tour will be fun, but swan songs rarely if ever end with titles in any sport.

5. Kevin Harvick

            Harvick has a great chance of at least making the Final Four at Homestead with how good he is at Phoenix. That gives him a punchers chance at earning back-to-back titles.

4. Carl Edwards

            After doubting the high profile moves by Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick the last two years, we’re all in on Edwards in his debut season with Joe Gibbs Racing.

3. Jimmie Johnson

            2015 might be the last time we see Johnson paired with Crew Chief Chad Knaus if they don’t recapture some of their past magic.

The Favorites

2. Brad Keselowski

1. Joey Logano

            Penske Motorsports was the only team in the same league as Hendrick Motorsports last year, and both drivers should adjust to the rule changes based on their success in the Nationwide series. We’re forecasting that both will be in the Final Four, and one will end up hoisting the Sprint Cup.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (10/17-10/19)

10. Carmelo Anthony Claims It’s Unlikely He’ll Win Scoring Title in Triangle Offense

            Apparently, he’s never heard of Michael fucking Jordan.

9. NBA Tests 44 Minute Game During Celtics-Nets Preseason Tilt

            We’re all for things taking less time, so kudos to the most progressive league in American sports for giving this a try.

8. Penguins Right Winger Patric Hornqvist Puts Up 2 Goals, 1 Assist, and 12 Shots Against the Islanders
            Yours truly is very happy to employ Hornqvist on both of his fantasy hockey clubs this season.

7. Detroit Rallies, Defeats New Orleans
            Like the majority of the league, the Lions have been incredibly up and down on a week-to-week basis, but if they continue to tread water while Megatron gets healthy, they’ll be poised for a deep playoff run in the NFC.

6. Star Players Deliver For Dallas

            DeMarco Murray broke Jim Brown’s record for the most consecutive 100-yard rushing games to start a season. Dez Bryant dominated the Giants secondary in the second half. Both of their efforts contributed to another efficient performance by Tony Romo. It would have been easy for the Cowboys to have a let down after their stunning win in Seattle, but kudos to them for taking care of business in an important division game.

           

5. Florida State Wins Thriller Over Notre Dame

            We’re on board with Jameis Winston and the hate-able Florida State Seminoles. As flawed as they may be, they are the best hope at preventing the SEC from winning a national title.

4. Aided By Awful Call, Rams Earn Upset Win Over Seattle

            This game might have been the best representation of how messed up the NFL is this year.

           

3. Jimmie Johnson Will Not Win a Seventh Title This Year

2. Brad Keselowski Delivers

            It’s a close call on which one of these results gave us more joy, but we’ll give a narrow edge to Johnson being eliminated from championship contention.

1. Peyton Manning Sets All-Time Touchdown Pass Mark

            In case you were wondering, Peyton Manning is really good at football. Even more important in relation to the 2014 Denver Broncos, they are clearly the class of the league.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Past Weekend (9/12-9/14)

10. Adrian Peterson Gives NFL Another Black Eye

            Not a whole lot to do here but hope for the health and safety of Peterson’s child.

9. Kyrie Irving Named MVP as United States Wins FIBA World Cup

            Along with his All-Star MVP from last February, that makes two meaningless most valuable player awards Irving has racked up in 2014.

8. The Dallas Cowboys Won’t Go 0-16
            Also noteworthy was the stink bomb Jake Locker dropped for the Titans on Sunday. After Week 1 there was a chance we were going to have to switch which team my son played for in Madden this year, but luckily for him he won’t have to look for a new squad to suit up for.

7. Packers Spot Jets 18 Points, Win Anyway

            Geno Smith was pretty spunky in the first half against Green Bay, but unfortunately he came crashing back to Earth as Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson took over.

6. Boston College Stuns #9 USC

            We would’ve enjoyed this result even more if Lane Kiffin were still the Head Coach of the Trojans.

           

5. South Carolina Survives With Late Goal-Line Stand Against Georgia

            The beauty of the new college football playoff is South Carolina still has hope after getting thumped in their first game against Texas A&M.

4. Chargers Slay Defending Champs

            Despite losing Ryan Matthews and only averaging 2.7 yards per carry as a team on the ground, San Diego still managed to hang onto the ball for 42 minutes and wear out the vaunted Seattle defense. Antonio Gates delivered a vintage performance, matching his career high with three touchdown receptions.

           

3. Brad Keselowski Drives Up the Middle to Win First Race of The Chase

            Bad Brad’s splitting of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson to take the lead might go down as the launch point for his second championship. He can take it easy the next two weeks as he’s already advanced to the round of 12.

           

2. Bears Steal a Flag-Fest in San Francisco

            We were about to write off the Bears this year before Brandon Marshall dragged them into the lead in the fourth quarter.

1. Browns Stun Saints With Last Second Field Goal

            Apparently, it’s the same old sorry ass Saints when they have to play on the road. Even though it’s early in the season, this loss probably wipes out any chance they have at securing home field advantage in the NFC.

NASCAR Pre-Chase Driver Ranks

            Every year before The Chase we rank who we feel has the most likely shot at hoisting the Sprint Cup. Keep in mind that this list doesn’t represent how we feel the final points will shake out, or who will be included in the Final 4 at Homestead. The new format makes it even harder to predict, as the winner take all finale will be one of the most ridiculous races in NASCAR history, but we’ve reviewed each round of the Chase, and the tracks that represent each driver’s best chances of advancing. Without further ado, our countdown to our pick to win the championship.

Complete and Utter Afterthoughts

16. A.J. Allmendinger

15. Aric Almirola

            Both earned well-deserved first career victories this year (with Allmendinger’s drive at Watkins Glen being the most dramatic finish of the season so far), but they have virtually no chance at winning the title. Almirola did run well at both Loudon and Dover earlier in the season (which are both in the first playoff segment), so there is the minute possibility he could sneak into the round of 12.

Happy to Be Here

14. Greg Biffle

13. Carl Edwards

            The demise of Roush-Fenway Racing has been well documented, and there’s no reason to expect a sudden revival during The Chase. Edwards is a lame duck driver, and Biffle has less Top-5s this season than Paul Menard. 

12. Ryan Newman

            Newman’s season has been just as uninspiring as Biffle’s, but at least he has been more competitive during the summer months. He does have three career wins at Loudon and Dover, which gives him a reasonable chance of making it to the round of 12. 

11. Kasey Kahne

            The greatest enigma of the entire NASCAR season has been Kahne’s inability to be consistently competitive this season. He needed a miraculous run at Atlanta just to be included in The Chase. If he can survive the first segment, Charlotte represents his best chance at cracking the Elite 8.

10. Denny Hamlin

            Hamlin has been more competent than you would think this season, as even with missing a race he would’ve made the playoffs without his win at Talladega. One can’t help but think he’s third on the Gibbs totem pole though.

Unpopular Dark Horses

9. Kyle Busch

8. Kurt Busch

            The Busch boys have only one win, both have occasionally had speed, and both have had an abundance of mechanical issues and crashes. We rank Kurt ahead of Kyle simply because the Hendrick powered Chevrolets have been stronger than the Gibbs Toyotas. 

Fatally Flawed

7. Matt Kenseth

            Kenseth is an honoree for hardest working driver of the year, as he’s tied for second in top-10s and tied for third in top-5s while piloting an underpowered Toyota Camry all year. Martinsville is the only track in the playoffs he has never won at, so it wouldn’t be a total shock to see him go on a run. Ultimately though, the lack of top end horsepower will do him in.

6. Kevin Harvick

            Happy Harvick has had fast cars all season long, but is saddled with the worst pit crew of any driver in the playoffs. His first year of the win was at Phoenix, so if he can repeat that feat he’ll be ticketed for the Final 4 at Homestead.

5. Jimmie Johnson

            With the exception of a stretch where he won three out of four just before the official start of summer, Six-Time has been riddled with tire issues all season. That could be the result of some experimenting by evil warlord crew chief Chad Knaus, but it just doesn’t feel like a championship season for Jimmie Johnson.

Stout Contenders

4. Joey Logano

            We’ve said it at least twice earlier this year, but it’s worth repeating…there really isn’t enough praise for a kid that’s only 24 years old being a legitimate championship contender. Logano has led laps in 18 of the 26 events this season, and has had speed everywhere. Other than his teammate, no one has more momentum than him going into the playoffs with Top-10 finishes in six of his last seven races.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

            Junior’s performance this year has been a huge shot in the arm for the sport, and it’s safe to assume that he should be a force throughout the playoffs. He’s tied for the most Top-5s with Brad Keselowski, and there isn’t a track on the schedule that he shouldn’t have speed at. The only reason we don’t have him in the top tier is the fact that we haven’t seen him post a competitive Chase showing since the first one in 2004.

The Favorites

2. Brad Keselowski

            Keselowski has been a little boom or bust this season, but some of that can be attributed to risk taking after securing a Chase spot early in the season. Penske Racing has had the most consistent qualifying program on a weekly basis, giving Keselowski premium track position right from the get go. The only reason we have some reservations about Keselowski winning is the third slate of elimination races. He’ll be fast at Texas, but Phoenix and Martinsville aren’t his strongest tracks on the circuit. 

1. Jeff Gordon

            Gordon has driven like a man possessed this year, posting more Top-10s than any other driver, and for the first time in many years looking like a guy hungry to win a title. He’s had success at every track in The Chase, and most importantly, has a win at Homestead under his belt. There’s a chance that he’ll be the only driver in the Final 4 that can say that. We’re signing off on Gordon as our predicted winner of the 2014 Sprint Cup.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (9/5-9/7)

10. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic Both Go Down in Semi-Finals of US Open

            Upsets are cool, until the two guys that pulled off the upsets face off in a Final no one cares about.

9. Brad Keselowski Secures Top Seed in The Chase

            A race billed as a last chance, no holds barred attempt to make the playoffs turned into a snooze-fest thanks to a dominant run by the 2012 champion.

8. Home Loss For Ohio State Caps Miserable Day For Big 10
            Following Michigan getting shut out at Notre Dame and Michigan State surrendering 28 unanswered points at Oregon, the Buckeyes looking mediocre at home was the last thing the conference needed.

7. Miami Dominates New England After Halftime, Wins 33-20

            If it wasn’t for some sloppy ball handling in the first half, the Dolphins could’ve won this game by four touchdowns.

6. Nelson Cruz Goes Bonkers Against Tampa Bay

            After missing the end of the 2013 season due to a steroid suspension, Cruz used the extra time off to figure out new ways to use performance-enhancing drugs without getting caught how to naturally improve at his craft.

5. Andrew Luck Leads Improbable Back Door Cover Against Broncos

            Indianapolis should’ve been a lot closer in this game, as they left at least 11 points on the table in the second half. There is a chance that they are better than we think.

4. Cincinnati Weathers Late Push From Ravens, Wins 23-16

            Steve Smith hit the way-back button with his go ahead touchdown, but then was quickly one-upped by superstar A.J. Green. This was a huge win for the Bengals, as it should silence some critics of The Red Rifle.

           

3. Steelers Nearly Implode, Survive Late Scare Against Cleveland

            After falling behind 27-3, at least Cleveland can take heart in the fact that they covered the point spread.

           

2. Buffalo Bills Pull Off a Shocking Overtime Win in Chicago

            There’s always one game a year in our Week 1 picks column that we don’t follow our preseason predictions closely enough and end up missing. At least it only happened once this year.

1. Matt Ryan Carries Falcons Past New Orleans

            For our money, Matt Ryan was by far the most impressive player in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE on Sunday. In other words, he was the opposite of Tony Romo. 

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (3/7-3/9)

10. Rashard Mendenhall Retires From NFL
            This is noteworthy because Mendenhall is only 26, and at the very least could’ve been a productive goal line back for the next few seasons. Hopefully he’s banked plenty of money.

9. Cuban Free Agent Aledmys Diaz Signs With St. Louis

            Major League Baseball’s best-run organization makes it’s most dramatic foray into the international market with the inking of this year’s best international prospect. If Diaz kills it in Triple-A, he could be in the big leagues before July.

8. Wichita State Wins Conference Tournament, Will Enter NCAA Tourney 34-0

            Among a tournament field where the majority of the favorites are anchored by one-and-done freshmen, Wichita State could be the most complete team in the field. We’ll see how they do when they have to run through a slate of major conference opponents.

7. Two Ohio High Schools Share State Championship After Seven Overtime Periods
            Old school, Republican me says that Sylvania Northview and Cleveland St. Ignatius should have kept playing. New-wave, Democrat me says that it was ridiculous that high-school kids were even allowed to play what was the equivalent of over 3 regulation games in one night. Moderate me says they should’ve ended it with a shoot-out.

6. Henrik Lundqvist Pitches Shutout For Career Win #300

            There hasn’t been a more consistently dominant goalie in THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE post-lockout since King Henrik. Sunday’s blanking of the Red Wings puts him one win shy of the Ranger’s franchise record.

5. Jodie Meeks Goes Bonkers, Gives Lakers Reason to Celebrate

            Overcoming a triple-double from Kevin Durant, Meeks outscored Oklahoma City by himself in the third quarter on Sunday.

4. Creighton’s Doug McDermott Tops 3,000 Career Points

            To put this accomplishment in perspective, McDermott is only the eighth player in NCAA Division I history to surpass 3,000 points. Creighton could make some noise as a #3 or #4 seed, depending on how they perform in the Big East tournament.
      
3. Chicago Pulls Out Overtime Victory Against Miami
            Even with Derrick Rose injured, and Luol Deng shipped away in what was essentially a giant salary dump, Chicago still has themselves positioned as a major pain in the ass for the two time defending champions.
         
2. Jabari Parker Nets Career High 30 Against Tar Heels
            While most assume Parker is slated to be one of the prizes of the 2014 NBA Draft, he’s still claiming he hasn’t made up his mind yet about returning to Duke next year.

1. Junior’s Tank Runs Dry, Keselowski Wins at Las Vegas

            Anyone that had doubts about the new NASCAR format for the Chase this year can put those to bed. We wouldn’t of had Sunday’s dramatic finish without it.

2014 NASCAR Preview

            Normally we write about 10,000 words in our NASCAR preview, but you can thank a ridiculous week of winter weather for shrinking this piece down to 1,100. We rank the drivers in order of the best odds we give each of winning the Sprint Cup.

30. Trevor Bayne, #21 Motorcraft Ford, Wood Brothers

            It’s hard to believe that Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 three years ago, and still hasn’t managed to secure a full-time Cup ride.

29. Parker Kligerman, #30 Lending Tree Toyota, Swan Racing

            Kligerman is the rare combination of talented rookie and upstart team. Swan Racing has investors dumping money into it left and right, so it would be fun to see the 23-year old have some success this season.

28. David Ragan, #34 MHP Ford, Front Row Motorsports

            If this year’s “WIN OR GO HOME BITCH” playoff format were in place in 2013, Ragan would’ve been racing for the title when The Chase started. That’s a reason why this format won’t work.

27. Danica Patrick, #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing

            After a listless first full season in Sprint Cup, it’s hard to forecast Patrick having success anywhere other than Daytona or Talladega.

26. A.J. Allmendinger, #47 Kroger Toyota, JTG Daugherty Racing

            It hasn’t taken nearly as long as most experts expected for Allmendinger to secure a full-time Sprint Cup ride. The 47 doesn’t usually have a lot of speed, but he’ll be pesky at Sonoma and Watkins Glen.

25. Paul Menard, #27 Menard’s Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

            Menard shockingly has competition for the title of “most notable trust fund child in Sprint Cup” from new teammate Austin Dillon.

24. Martin Truex Jr., #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing

            When everyone watches Truex struggle in the #78, we’ll get a true appreciation for how awesome Kurt Busch’s 2013 campaign really was.

23. Aric Almirola, #43 Smithfield Foods Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports

            I can’t name one notable thing Almirola has ever done since getting the keys to the #43.

22. Austin Dillon, #3 Dow Chemicals/Cheerios Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

            Dillon has talent, but just like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. last year, he will have growing pains. Remember that he didn’t even win a race last year in Nationwide despite winning the championship.

21. Jamie McMurray, #1 Bass Pro Shops/McDonalds Chevrolet, Ganassi Racing

            There isn’t anything my wife enjoys more during a NASCAR event than the sight of Jamie McMurray bawling in victory lane.

20. Brian Vickers, #55 Aaron’s Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing

            Sort of like when an effective NBA reserve gets bumped up to starters minutes, we think Vickers will suffer a drop in “per-race” production.

19. Marcos Ambrose, #9 Stanley Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports

            The new playoff format gives Marcos Ambrose, who’s the most dominant road course racer of the last decade, a 50% chance of making The Chase.

18. Kyle Larson, #42 Target Chevrolet, Ganassi Racing

            Not since Kyle Busch has Sprint Cup had a rookie with as much raw talent as Kyle Larson. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if he stole a win at one of the short tracks.

17. Ryan Newman, #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

            We’re happy Newman landed a full-time ride after getting the boot from Stewart-Haas Racing, but the #31 group has been struggling for years now.

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #17 Best Buy/Zest Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

            Mr. Patrick’s second half of 2013 gives plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his sophomore campaign.

15. Joey Logano, #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, Penske Racing

            His early season feud with Denny Hamlin last year (which ended up with Logano pulling a Bane and breaking Hamlin’s back in California) was one of the top five events of the 2013 season. It would do Logano some good to cut the drama, but we don’t think he’s at that point in his career yet.

14. Greg Biffle, #16 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

            The end of relevance for The Biff is coming.

13. Tony Stewart, #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
            If anyone is going to come back from a busted leg and compete for wins it’s Tony Stewart, but we’re expecting some bumps in the road as he shakes the rust off.

12. Dale Earnhardt Jr., #88 National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            Evidently, if the new points format were in place last year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would’ve won the 2013 title. Which is ironic, because he didn’t win a race.

11. Denny Hamlin, #11 Fed-Ex Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

            I can honestly say I have no idea where to rank Hamlin. I had him at 15 before he won the race formerly known as the Bud Shootout and his qualifying race.

10. Kasey Kahne, #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            Kahne jumps to the top of my list for a guy that benefits from a championship format mostly based on wins, as he’s never had the race to race consistency for point racing.

9. Kurt Busch, #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing

            It took two years in NASCAR purgatory, but Kurt Busch is finally back with an elite team.

8. Kevin Harvick, #4 Budweiser Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing

            The number and team are different, but we don’t expect a dramatic change in production from Harvick in his first year with Stewart-Haas.

7. Jeff Gordon, #24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            We think Gordon has one more serious championship run in him. A win based championship structure works in his favor.

6. Clint Bowyer, #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing

            The face of MWR’s manipulation of the regular season finale last year at Richmond, we actually expect Bowyer to contend for more wins now that his team has consolidated to two cars.

5. Brad Keselowski, #2 Miller Lite Ford, Penske Racing

            Sprint Cup’s 2012 champ had a miserable, snake bit regular season during his title defense, but a strong showing during the final ten races gives many reasons to believe he can return to a championship caliber level.

4. Matt Kenseth, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

            There’s typically a “runner-up hangover” for the driver that finishes second in the points the previous season, but the #20 car looks like it won’t skip a beat after winning a Duel race Thursday night.

3. Kyle Busch, #18 M&Ms Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

            After Kasey Kahne, here’s our second driver the new format favors the most. He’s plenty capable of qualifying for each round of the playoffs with a win.

2. Carl Edwards, #99 Fastenal Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

            No driver is better at Homestead than Carl Edwards, which gives him a decided advantage if he is in title contention going into the season finale.

1. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            It would be a severe case of tomfoolery to rank any other driver first as Johnson begins his quest for a record tying seventh championship.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (10/11-10/14)

10. Another Buccaneer Goes Down With MRSA Infection
            Unfortunately, it was not Greg Schiano.

9. Texans Fans Had Something to Cheer For

            Unfortuantely, it was because Matt Schaub’s ankle nearly snapped in half. Lets try to stay classy Houson.

8. Jaguars Cover the Spread in Denver

            When they finish the season 0-16, at least they can hang their hat on covering the largest point spread in NFL history.

7. Packers Try to Choke, Hang on in Baltimore
            In what was an oddly paced game from start to finish, Green Bay was fortunate to escape with a win after losing both Randall Cobb and James Jones to injury. Cobb will miss the next six to eight weeks.

6. Missouri Hammers Georgia

            Missouri delivered their most impressive win since joining the SEC in 2012. Sadly, the price of victory was the loss of their starting quarterback.

5. Brad Keselowski Returns to Victory Lane
            In what has been a forgettable season for the 2012 season, it was great to see Keselowski out-duel Kasey Kahne for the win Saturday night.

4. Pitching Dominates NLCS

            We’re not sure if offense will show up at all for St. Louis or the Dodgers.

3. Saints Piss Away A Win in New England

            I don’t know if will ever fully process the sequence of events that resulted in New England still winning after turning the ball over on downs with three minutes to go, and throwing an interception with just over two minutes left. A truly bizarre ending that only half of the Gillette Stadium crowd stuck around to see.

2. Tigers Nearly No-Hit Red Sox in Game 1

1. Big Papi Game Tying Grand Slam Saves Red Sox in Game 2           
            The first two games of the ALCS brought back some memories from the epic ALCS and NLCS series in 2004. Detroit had all the answers in Game 1, but David Ortiz delivered a devastating blow in the bottom of the eighth that based on Game 3, appears to have swung the series.

2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Preview

EDITORS NOTE: The entire following preview was written before the horrific last lap crash in today’s Nationwide. At the time of this posting, one fan is in critical condition with significant brain trauma and is in surgery. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the fans and families impacted by Saturday’s unfortunate accident.

35. David Stremme, #30 Toyota, Swan Racing

            The new owner of Swan Racing says he wants to “compete for victories”, and vows not to be a start and park. David Stremme is the wrong driver to accomplish that goal with.

34. Dave Blaney, #36 Accell Construction Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing

            Other than the jet dryer explosion, the most incredible development from last year’s Daytona 500 was Dave Blaney trending on Twitter.

33. David Gilliland, #38 Mod Space Ford, Front Row Motorsports

32. Casey Mears, #13 Geico Toyota, Germain Racing
            Here are a couple of dudes that incredibly, are still employed as Sprint Cup drivers.

31. Bobby Labonte, #47 Kroger Toyota, JTG Daugherty Racing

            Click the above link if you don’t believe me when I say Bobby Labonte was the 2000 Winston Cup champion.

30. David Ragan, #34, MHP Ford, Front Row Motorsports

            Poor David Ragan is still stuck in NASCAR purgatory at Front Row Motorsports.

29. Trevor Bayne, #21 Motorcraft Ford, Wood Brothers

            This will be Bayne’s last part-time season driving the legendary #21 before driving for Jack Roush in Sprint Cup next year.

28. Regan Smith, #51 Tag Heuer Chevrolet, Phoenix Racing

27. A.J. Allmendinger #51 Tag Heuer Chevrolet, Phoenix Racing
            We’ll have a greater appreciation for Kurt Busch after we see what this duo does in James Finch’s cars.

26. Danica Patrick, #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing

            She’ll compete at restrictor plate tracks but it’s still a steep learning curve everywhere else.

25. Paul Menard, #27 Menard’s Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

            Remember when Paul Menard stole the Brickyard 400 from Jeff Gordon a couple of years back? Me neither.

24. Mark Martin/Brian Vickers/Michael Waltrip, #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing

            There has never been a better performing car that was shared by multiple drivers in the past 30 years than the #55 Toyota. If Martin were driving it full-time, he’d be ranked in the top-12.

23. Jeff Burton, #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

            Kevin Harvick’s departure after the season is the only reason Burton has a chance of keeping his ride for 2014.

22. Jamie McMurray, #1 McDonalds Chevrolet, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing

            That year where McMurray won a few times and was crying all over the place was pretty fun.

21. Aric Almirola, #43 Smithfield Foods Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports

            Almirola did just enough last year to earn a second go around at RPM, but it will likely take a win for him to secure employment for 2014.

20. Kurt Busch, #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing

            I don’t know what to make of Kurt Busch this year, but three straight top-10s to close out 2012 is an encouraging sign for the 2004 Nextel Cup champion. His best chance to sneak into The Chase will be stealing a couple of wins between the two road courses or the short tracks.

19. Ryan Newman, #39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing

           It feels like the end of the line for Newman, as he was only able to lock up a one-year deal with Stewart-Haas. I expect him to enter the Bobby Labonte phase of his career next season.

18. Marcos Ambrose, #9 Stanley Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports

            Both of Ambrose’s career victories have been the most exciting finishes of the ‘10s so far. He needs to add a win at Sonoma to make the playoffs.
      
17. Joey Logano, #22 Pennzoil Ford, Penske Racing
            I like Logano’s move to Penske for the long-term, but I see an adjustment period between joining a new team and adapting to the Gen-6 car.

16. Juan Pablo Montoya, #42 Target Chevrolet, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing

            Montoya put on a show when he gained ten spots to finish third in Thursday’s first Dual. It was almost a tenth as entertaining as his crash into the jet dryer last year.

15. Martin Truex Jr., #56 Napa Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing

            Truex was the biggest surprise of the 2012 season before his team flamed out in The Chase. No Credentials forecasts a significant regression, as his lack of win potential limits his chances of earning a wildcard spot.

14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #17 Best Buy Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

            Mr. Danica Patrick is the best Sprint Cup rookie the series has seen since Denny Hamlin. It won’t likely result in a Chase bid, but I’d be surprised if Stenhouse doesn’t pull into victory lane this year.

13. Kevin Harvick, #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

            I had Harvick pegged at 17 before he went 2-2 in his first two races of Speedweeks. Nevertheless, lame ducks do not win championships.

12. Greg Biffle, #16 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

            Biffle had his best year since 2005, but he struggles too much at short tracks to be considered a serious championship threat.

11. Tony Stewart, #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing

            Ironically enough, I had Stewart ranked at 11 in my 2011 Chase Preview column. We all know how that turned out.

10. Matt Kenseth, #20 The Home Depot Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

            Kenseth will do well in his first season, but I don’t believe he will become the lead driver at Gibbs over Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Regardless, it’s really bizarre to see the former champion in anything other than the #17.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr., #88 National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            I bet you didn’t know that Junior posted the best average finish of his career in 2012. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the switch to the new cars will benefit him more than any other driver.

8. Clint Bowyer, #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing

            Bowyer enjoyed remarkable success in his first season at MWR, so expect a slight return to Earth in 2013.

7. Carl Edwards, #99 Fastenal/Subway/UPS/Aflac/Kellogg’s Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

            Edwards had a disastrous 2012, but history is on his side (sort of). Edwards was a popular pick to win the championship in 2006, but went winless and ended up 12^th in points. He rebounded to win three races in 2007. In 2009, Edwards was again a title favorite after collecting a series high nine victories. Edwards again went winless, but rebounded to win twice and finish fourth in the points in 2010. In other words, the last two times Carl was coming off a shitty year, he rebounded. Inheriting the bulk of Matt Kenseth’s former crew will only help his cause.

6. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            Johnson’s days of winning championships are done. You heard it here first.

5. Jeff Gordon, #24 Dupont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            Gordon never got a hold of the Car of Tomorrow, so following Dale Jr., he’s the second driver who should benefit the most from the car switch. If only he could get Ray Evernham back on his pit box.

4. Denny Hamlin, #11 Fed-Ex Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

            Hamlin would’ve had a puncher’s chance at last season’s championship if not for a disastrous day at Martinsville, which historically, is his best track. He stands to benefit the most from the addition of Matt Kenseth to Joe Gibbs Racing.

3. Brad Keselowski, #2 Miller Lite Ford, Penske Racing

            Bad Brad is just what NASCAR needs. A young, brash young champion who is relatively relatable to the common man. Penske’s switch to Ford was made easier thanks to it coinciding with the switch to the Gen-6 cars.

2. Kyle Busch, #18 M&Ms Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

            Entering his late-20s, Kyle Busch is just entering his prime (which is hard to believe, because he’s been driving in Sprint Cup for eight years). It’s a matter of time before he puts it all together for a championship-winning season.

1. Kasey Kahne, #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

            Kahne’s first season with Hendrick couldn’t have started any worse, but he still rallied to a fourth place finish in points. With a year under his belt, look for Kahne to lead the Hendrick charge and capture his first career Sprint Cup title.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Past Weekend (11/16-11/18)

10. Toronto Blue Jays Ink Melky Cabrera to a $16 Million Deal
            Because you know, when you get the chance to sign an admitted juicer who will probably hit .260 now that he’s clean, you have to do it. Kudos to Toronto though for going bonkers and spending a bunch of cash this off-season. 

9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Wins Second Straight Nationwide Series Championship

            It sucks to lose Matt Kenseth, but Jack Roush couldn’t ask for a better replacement than Stenhouse. In four years, we could be talking about him as the next Brad Keselowski.

8. GSP Returns

            It wasn’t Georges St-Pierre’s most impressive performance, but at least the potential super-fight with Anderson Silva is still a possibility.

7. Houston Texans Win 43-37 Shoot-Out Over Jacksonville

            A suprisingly entertaining game who’s boxscore looks like it was produced by two junior high kids playing Madden. For Jagaurs fans, at least they could see that Justin Blackmon can play when he has someone other than Blaine Gabbert throwing him the ball.

6. Ravens Win a Slugfest in Pittsburgh

            It wasn’t pretty, but thanks to Jacoby Jones punt return, Baltimore has a two game cushion in the AFC North.

5. Patriots Put Up 59 Points

            Throwing some water on the Andrew Luck Love-Fest was a welcome event for Patriots’ fans, but unfortunately they paid a price for it. Rob Gronkowski had surgery today on his broken forearm.
          
4. #2 Oregon Loses in Overtime to Stanford
3. #1 Kansas State Pummeled by Baylor
            What did these two shocking upsets result in? That’s right, another event that proves the Mayans could be right about the world exploding next month…Notre Dame is the #1 team in the country.

2. Dallas Cowboys Rally, Defeat Cleveland in Overtime, Keep No Credentials Alive in the Sportsbook.com $100K Survivor Pool

            I’m glad I was working during this game, because I’m pretty sure I would’ve had a minor cardiac event if I was able to follow it live. Thankfully, I won’t be able to pick them the rest of the season.

1. Brad Keselowski Wins the 2012 Sprint Cup, Then Gets Wasted

            Keselowski is the first Sprint/Winston Cup Champion who’s post-race celebration included chugging Miller Lite out of a 128-ounce glass while being interviewed on Sportscenter.