Image courtesy of www.realclearpolitics.com
The 2011 season was one of great change in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
While the major influx of Sprint Cup drivers winning races from the Nationwide regulars still occurred, a new rule that banned Cup regulars from earning points in the series pushed the success of young drivers.
At the end of the season, it was Ricky Stenhouse Jr. completing a year-long career salvation project by holding off Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier to win the Nationwide Series title. On the ownership side of things, the No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford driven by Carl Edwards and Billy Johnson took home the title.
As impressive as last season’s facelift was, even more agents of change will be at play in 2012. Here’s a look at some of the storylines to watch this time around.
Get used to seeing the No. 3 Chevy up front this season. (Image courtesy of www.catchfence.com)
1. Kevin Harvick Inc.’s transition to Richard Childress Racing.
It looked as if Sprint Cup drivers owning Nationwide teams would be a thing of the past (more on that later), led by Kevin and DeLana Harvick essentially folding their Nationwide and Camping World Truck operations into Richard Childress Racing. The new, improved RCR Nationwide operation will feature Sadler in the No. 2 Chevy and defending Truck champion Austin Dillon in the No. 3 machine, while a rotation of Cup drivers will drive the No. 33 Chevy.
Sadler seemed rejuvenated after years of stagnation and struggles at the Cup level, in contention almost every week. The addition of young Luke Lambert as his crew chief will certainly be an interesting dynamic, especially after Lambert cultivated results on top of Jeff Burton’s pit box on the Sprint Cup level last season.
Dillon’s quick ascension up the ranks is an interesting one, and success this season could mean a Cup ride at RCR for 2013. At the very least, he’s an odds-on favorite to lead a highly competitive Rookie class.
If Trevor Bayne gets to celebrate a victory in the Nationwide Series in 2012, it definitely won't be with this paint scheme. (Image courtesy of www.mysanantonio.com)
2. How significant will Roush Fenway Racing’s presence be this season?
In happier economic times, there would be little doubt that Roush Fenway Racing would be more than willing to run both Stenhouse and Trevor Bayne in unsponsored machines for an entire season. Heck, it almost happened last season.
This time around, however, no plans have been announced for Bayne on the Nationwide level. Bayne, the defending Daytona 500 champion, will defend his crown in a limited number of Sprint Cup races for Wood Brothers Racing this season, while Stenhouse will drive for Roush Fenway in the “Great American Race.”
Stenhouse will return to defend his title, while Roush will definitely provide some support for Richard Petty Motorsports’ foray into full-time Nationwide action. Michael Annett brings his Pilot Travel Centers sponsorship to the No. 43 Ford.
Edwards will not return to help defend Roush Fenway’s owner’s championship, as he’s rumored to join ESPN as a color commentator on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons this season.
Cole Whitt, the other newcomer at JR Motorsports this season. (Image courtesy of www.redbullusa.com)
3. With both Eurys atop the pit box, can Danica Patrick and/or Cole Whitt bring success to JR Motorsports?
By this point, the hype surrounding Danica Patrick making the jump to full-time Nationwide action is heading towards its zenith. (Depending on when this piece is published, it may already have.)
While Tony Eury Jr. will be the man helping Danica attempt to live up to the hype on the track, it will be Tony Eury Sr. working as crew chief for rookie Cole Whitt and the No. 88 Chevy. Whitt, a former Red Bull Racing development driver, turned heads when he briefly led the Camping World Truck point standings for Turn One Racing in 2011. He eventually faded to a ninth-place finish in the points standings, losing the Rookie of the Year award to Joey Coulter.
At just 20 years of age, there’s plenty of untapped potential in Whitt. He proved competitive in a select number of races for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing last season, so it’s possible the learning curve has been smoothed out a bit.
Kurt and Kyle Busch, decked out in the green and black of Monster Energy. Get used to seeing a Busch wearing a firesuit with that logo in Victory Lane over the next several months. (Image courtesy of www.thecarconnection.com)
4. Will the Busch brothers dominate Victory Lane this season?
Much has been made of the Busch brothers’ late-season and offseason issues. There was M&M’s nearly terminating their relationship with Kyle Busch after “Rowdy” proved reckless in a Truck incident with Ron Hornaday last November, Kurt Busch’s tongue-lashing of ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch and the mysterious circumstances regarding Kurt’s decision to leave Penske Racing.
While Kyle will stay at Joe Gibbs Racing for now, Kurt joins Phoenix Racing for a full Sprint Cup schedule that will also see him run a few Nationwide events for the operation. When Kurt isn’t driving for Phoenix Racing, he’ll also drive a select number of races for his younger brother in the No. 54 Toyota – a ride the two will share. That’s just a bit hard to follow, but it may be even more difficult for competitors to catch up to the black, Monster Energy-sponsored machine on the track this season.
Will they stay out of trouble? That’s doubtful.
5. Will this season’s rookie class live up to the hype produced on paper?
In addition to Whitt and Dillon, there’s a long line of Nationwide rookies with a considerable amount of talent and experience under their belts.
Parker Kligerman will run a limited slate in the No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge this season, splitting the ride with Brad Keselowski. He won’t be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award with 15 previous spots, but he’s certainly on the brink of breaking out after solid performances at the Camping World level last season.
Nelson Piquet Jr. will run seven races with Turner Motorsports, in addition to a full Truck Series slate with the team. The German-born driver impressed in his first full season of NASCAR action, finishing tenth in the Camping World standings for Kevin Harvick Inc. last season. As part of an abundant racing pedigree, expect Piquet to be a threat in either series in 2012 – especially if Turner chooses him to run a road course event or two.
Joining Piquet as a newcomer at Turner Motorsports is former World of Outlaws standout Brad Sweet, who plans to run 18 races in the No. 38 Chevy this season. With no top 10s in a national touring series to his credit, it may still be an uphill battle for the youngster this season.
Joey Gase and Johanna Long will drive for Go Green Racing and ML Motorsports respectively.
Bold Predictions:
-Travis Pastrana’s attempt at a NASCAR career never gets off the ground. Impressed with his performance in Rally America, Subaru hires Pastrana to drive in the 2013 edition of the World Rally Championship.
-ESPN announces that any extension of its current TV deal with NASCAR will not include the Nationwide Series. When the new TV deal (effective in 2014) is announced this fall, NBC Sports Group (NBC, NBC Sports Network, Comcast SportsNet) will become the new home of the Nationwide Series and a vast majority of the Sprint Cup schedule.
-Sam Hornish Jr. will win multiple races in 2012 and become a title contender, opening the door for a Sprint Cup return at Penske Racing in 2013.
-The Rookie of the Year battle will revolve around Whitt and Dillon. Both will win multiple races and finish in the top 5 in the points standings.
-Steve Wallace will be in a Nationwide ride by the end of the season. It won’t be a competitive one.
-Kyle Busch Motorsports wins the owners’ title in a close battle with the drivers’ champion.
-Trevor Bayne will run a limited slate for Roush Fenway Racing. Expect him to race at Daytona, but the No. 16 Ford’s presence will be dependent on sponsorship.
2012 Nationwide Series Champion: Austin Dillon takes it in a very tight battle with Justin Allgaier, Sadler and Whitt that goes down to Homestead.
The rest of the top 10 (in no particular order): Allgaier, Stenhouse, Sadler, Whitt, Patrick, Hornish, Kenny Wallace, Brian Scott, Annett.
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