ThunderDictions: 2008; A Business Proven Ability
In racing, as in all business, there are those that others look at and expect to see investments made that they know for fact will produce results rather they be in dividends or performance in some manner. NASCAR is no different and with owners like Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick and others, one would expect that what ever it was they were doing would generate interest simply due to the fact that they are Brilliant Businessmen not to mention of Proven race Winning Histories.
That being said, one would think that all eyes would be focused on several Teams/Drivers that those owners are investing so much time and money in. Drivers like Clint Bowyer , whose Team RCR seen something so obviously seeable that he would take him directly off a short 52-Race Busch Career, which was enough to influence Childress to give the Kansas native a full-time Cup ride dirt tracks to race in the cup series. I am not sure what some think of Mr. Childress, but all can agree on the fact that he is a Shrewd Business Man who does not spend money unwisely and just as he seen something in a driver that later dominated and became a Legend in the sport, he now is looking at a new driver and spending just as much time and money in him. Not only has Ole #07 proven he deserves to be on the track, but has shone all that he is to be taken seriously as a future contender in the Chase for the Cup.
Other owners like the previously mentioned Rick Hendrick who has drivers that would be considered as “Cream of the Crop” and with the addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr. he has in his stables what some consider to be the “Best of the Best” and should continue being seen in the “Winners Circle”. One thing can be said for sure is that Mr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has no reason not to win now as his owner is in no way going to spare any expense to get him to the top of the ladder. Mr. Hendrick has not put all his eggs in one basket with his stable already full of proven winners, but, he now wants to show that with his leadership Dale Jr. can win the Championship which was never an option at team DEI. Dale Jr. is in good company with drivers who have dominated the scene in the past and will have to Win with Skill because I am sure that they are not going to sit still and watch just to appease an owner.
Speaking of DEI, Mark Martin will drive the all so famous #8 which will bring mixed emotions from most if not all as fans from all over love Mark Martin but expect an Earnhardt to be driving that number which was made famous by the Grandfather of Dale Earnhardt Jr.. Mark Martin not only has the ability but with a nothing to lose situation, he is just likely to show up in a Winners Circle a time or two in the 2008 season.
The “Silly Season” started earlier than I had ever seen it occur in the past (and I have a long one) in 2007 so there will be lots of new faces sitting behind sponsors who, in the past, was not associated with those drivers. Budweiser going to Kasey Kahne whose owner Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced a multi-year agreement, and Dodge director Mike Accavitti confirmed that Kasey Kahne’s additional sponsorship will allow the manufacturer to spread more resources elsewhere. Will be a tough sale; as most fans expect to see the #8 and Dale Jr. driving for that sponsor, who has spent Millions on advertising using Jr. as a face to be recognized by potential customers whose dollars make it worth sponsoring a team in the first place, but if a driver can do it, Kasey Kahne, with his Boyish Charm and Good Looks have a following all his own as in proven in the Dodge commercials he has made famous.
So making a prediction based Exclusively with Business in mind one would have to think that those owners who have proven in the past to make choices which they know for sure has a potential for a return and is now using the same proven method for success with drivers who will drive for their teams in 2008, setting up plans to see themselves on the stage at the end of the year at the Awards Presentation, where ever they may be.
Drivers/Teams to Watch in 2008:
Clint Bowyer
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Mark Martin
Kyle Busch
Personal Opinion Prediction: Tony Stewart; Smoke, in the past, has made certain statements that would lead one to believe he wants to drive a Chevrolet. Joe Gibbs Racing has announced that his teams will drive for Team Toyota leaving one to ask, if Smoke will drive a car he has shown absolutely no interests in driving or will he leave going to a team with known Chevrolet Ties? He, as we all do, has matured and grown older in age leaving the next “Young Gun” to step in a possibly push him into the “Grandpas” seat with the “Younglings” asking for his on track “Experience”. Not a seat he will be comfortable in, so, I expect the most aggressive driver on the track today to go somewhere to drive a car which he likes and so he can be the “Top Gun” for what ever team that he may end up at.
2008 Season
Car Driver Team Sponsor Make
• 00 David Reutimann, Josh Wise, Michael McDowell Michael Waltrip Racing Burger King / Domino’s Pizza Toyota Story
• 01 Regan Smith Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet
• 1 Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt Inc. Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
• 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing South Miller Lite Dodge
• 4 Ward Burton Morgan-McClure Motorsports State Water Heaters Chevrolet
• 5 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Kellogg’s / Carquest Chevrolet
• 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing AAA Ford
• 07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet
• 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Jim Beam Ford
• 8 Mark Martin, Aric Almirola Dale Earnhardt Inc. U.S. Army Chevrolet Story
• 9 Kasey Kahne Gillett Evernham Motorsports Budweiser Dodge Story
• 10 Patrick Carpentier Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge Story
• 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Toyota
• 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Alltel Dodge
• 15 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt Inc. Menard’s Chevrolet
• 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing 3M / AFLAC / DISH Network Ford
• 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing DeWalt Tools Ford
• 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing M&M’s Toyota Story
• 19 Elliott Sadler Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dealers Dodge
• 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot Toyota
• 21 Bill Elliott, Marcos Ambrose, TBA Wood Brothers Racing Little Debbie Ford Story
• 22 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Caterpillar Toyota
• 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports DuPont Chevrolet
• 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Crown Royal / Irwin Ford
• 27 Jacques Villeneuve Bill Davis Racing Toyota Story
• 28 Travis Kvapil Yates Racing Ford Story
• 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet
• 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing AT&T Chevrolet
• 37 Kevin Lepage Front Row Motorsports Dodge
• 38 David Gilliland Yates Racing Ford
• 40 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Story
• 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing Target Dodge
• 42 Juan Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing Texaco / Havoline Dodge
• 43 Bobby Labonte Petty Enterprises Cheerios Dodge
• 44 Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing UPS Toyota Story
• 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Wells Fargo / Marathon Oil Dodge
• 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Lowe’s Chevrolet
• 49 John Andretti BAM Racing Paralyzed Veterans of America Dodge
• 55 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing NAPA Toyota
• 66 Jeremy Mayfield Haas CNC Racing Best Buy Chevrolet Story
• 70 Scott Riggs Haas CNC Racing Yellow Transportation Chevrolet Story
• 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Penske Racing South Mobil 1 Dodge Story
• 78 Joe Nemechek Furniture Row Racing Furniture Row Chevrolet
• 83 Brian Vickers Team Red Bull Red Bull Energy Drink Toyota
• 84 A.J. Allmendinger Team Red Bull Red Bull Energy Drink Toyota
• 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports National Guard / AMP Chevrolet Story
• 96 J.J. Yeley Hall of Fame Racing DLP Chevrolet Story
• 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Office Depot Ford
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