2014 Season Preview ~ Part 3: From Newman To Johnson
Welcome back to our 2014 Season Preview! This is part three, and we’re going to look at Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and more!
(Unless otherwise specified, all car images are courtesy of Jayski)
No. 31 – Ryan Newman (Alabama Fitz)
Now 35, Ryan has a new team, a new car, and a new three year driving contract. NEW NEW NEW...a lot to handle for a laid back type of guy. Sponsorship is settled for all but one race. Caterpillar will sponsor 20, Quicken Loans 12, WIX Filters has 3, with just the one race unsponsored as of Jan. 8, 2014. Job security and sponsorship are not problems to be considered. Laid back? Not in 2003, considered by some as a weird, crazy year. Quick refresher: Both Labontes won, Ricky Craven won the spring Darlington race in a PONTIAC!...and "Front Row Joe" Nemechek won also. Ryan scored an amazing 8 wins, 17 Top 5s and 22 Top 10s, and swept Dover! Impressive! It doesn't seem he was laid back then. But, he finished 6th in points, 311 behind the last Winston Cup Champion, Matt Kenseth. Why? Because Ryan also had an astonishing 7 DNFs. It doesn't seem he was laid back then, it was all or nothing! Fast forward to 2013: one win, 6 Top 5s and 18 Top 10s, and finished 11th in points. In fact, since 2003 when he had those eight wins, he has only won eight times. Did 2003 break his spirit? Some don't think so. During my research, I found a WEB site that picks him to finish 4th in 2014, behind Gordon, Johnson and Stewart, in that order. My first thought was that won't happen. Upon reconsideration, I think it could. His name won't strike fear into anybody’s heart, but I believe he will be seen as a force to be reckoned with. Let's go for two, maybe three wins and a seat somewhere at the head table at the NASCAR Banquet at years end.
No. 32-Not Announced (PattyKay Lilley)
This team, formerly known as Fas Lane Racing, came into existence with the onset of the 2011 season, and I confess to being one of those that joked about a start-up team with no sponsor and no regular driver signed, being rushed together two weeks before the Daytona 500 by former crew chief, Frankie Stoddard. Before that season ended, I'd stopped laughing and was admiring this team I christened "The Little Team That Could." In three years, this small, low-budget operation has qualified for and run every single one of the 108 races, and does not start and park. Kudos to Frankie and the multitude of drivers that have taken turns at the wheel of this Ford Fusion. The years 2011 and 2012 saw 8 and 9 drivers respectively, while 2013 was run with only four, Terry Labonte, Ken Schrader, Boris Said and Timmy Hill. Overall, the team has managed an average finish of 30.7, and done so with almost $0 in the coffers.
The team recently announced some sort of "joint venture" with Go Green Racing and owner Archie St. Hilaire, a team that can only boast a total of six races, all in 2012, and all run as a start and park operation with a best finish of 38th and the most laps completed in any race... 28 at Kansas. The team will henceforth be known as Go Fas Racing. All comments reserved until it's been shown that this merger of sorts made any sense whatsoever. Go Fas Racing will open the season at the Daytona 500 with 2-time Champion Terry Labonte at the wheel. Beyond that, no driver lineup has been announced, though there is speculation concerning Reed Sorenson and Jeffrey Earnhardt. The only thing certain is that Ken Schrader will not return, as he is now "officially" retired... from the Cup ranks. Good luck Frankie and crew. Here's hoping you are once again the Little Team That Can!
No. 34- David Ragan (Alabama Fitz)
Front Row Motorsports using Roush / Yates engines….All of the this information is "assumed" because as of Jan. 8, 2014, NOTHING had been solidified: contract, sponsors, crew chief, nothing. That said, the following information is almost solid, but could be subject to change as well. Let's pretend David WILL drive for Front Row Motorsports. There was a rumor he was going to shop the market for a ride. He quickly realized that with some teams downsizing, and a decent sized rookie crop coming in, he would stay. Smart move. He still needs a contract. Sponsorship: Taco Bell has not committed to how many races they will cover, nor has CSX Transportation. There are three other sponsors in the wings, but it may be they are waiting to see what the others do. But, supposedly, there are verbal commitments. Front Row Motorsports has been making small improvements each year, but needs bigger steps and David is going to have to provide them. Since his freshman year (okay, rookie year), he has never had a season, for several different reasons, where he has finished every race. His lifetime record running with the Big Dogs is: 2 wins, (2011 Pepsi 400 in Daytona and 2013 Talladega spring race); 14 Top 5s and 34 Top 10s. With that, he also has 29 DNFs! His best year was 2008 with 6 Top 5's and 14 Top 10's, finishing 13th in points. In 2013, aside from the "in the right place at the right time" Talladega win, he had only one other Top 10 and finished 28th in points. Prognosis for 2014....more of the same, so don't bet the farm on him.
No. 36- J. J. Yeley (Kevin Abraham)
Yeley finds himself as the senior driver for Tommy Baldwin Racing, after the team chose to part ways with Dave Blaney, in favor of more sponsorship money from Michael Annett. In 2013, Yeley started the season off with a top ten in the Daytona 500 (and kids got to eat free at Golden Corral due to this top ten); however most of 2013 was spent running in the back of the pack, and having to start and park a couple of races due to lack of sponsorship. There has not been any announcements concerning Yeley in 2014, or the No. 36 team, but all indications are that the team will return, and Yeley will return to the team as well on all tracks except the road courses. I look for this team to struggle to earn top thirty finishes with the exception of restrictor plate tracks where a top ten is realistic expectation. Yeley's main role will be to bring the car home in one piece and support Annett in his first full season in Sprint Cup racing.
No. 38- David Gilliland (Jim Fitzgerald)
I don’t expect much from this Front Row team this season, and that is mostly because they cannot seem to get anything locked down or organized other than a driver. Gilliland is signed to drive for the 2014, but there is no word on a sponsor, and I cannot even confirm if Frank Kerr will return as the crew chief. Other than a possible decent run at the plate track, my prediction is another year mired in casual fans asking “who is in that car again?” One top ten, no Chase, and…that’s about it.
No. 41- Kurt Busch (PattyKay Lilley)
This team from Stewart-Haas Racing is not the #39 vacated by Ryan Newman; that will become the #4, with Kevin Harvick in the driver's seat. This is the brand new fourth team that SHR said they would not run. It was conceived and set up entirely by Gene Haas, without consultation with the injured Tony Stewart, and built around the always interesting personality of Kurt Busch. Daniel Knost, former race engineer for the #39, assumes crew chief duties for the team and it will be Haas Automation on the hood... a strictly in-house sponsor. (No, gentle readers, I cannot confirm whether Martin Truex Jr. sent a Thank You card to Gene Haas for emptying the driver's seat of the #78 at Furniture Row Racing... but it would have made perfect sense.)
All eyes are on this 4-car team as the 2014 season approaches, because it brings together under one roof some of the strongest and most diverse personalities in the Cup garage. The elder, and known to be somewhat explosive Busch, will join Harvick and Stewart, two drivers never noted for the ability to hold their tempers in any given situation and the ever-feisty Ms. Danica Patrick as the team voted most likely to become the entertainment of the day at any given race. For the cave-dwellers among us, this team would be loosely described as a Hendrick Motor Sports Satellite team, driving Chevys with engines from HMS. Personally, I can't wait for the season to commence, just to see if these four will rule the day or rue the day their alliance was formed.
No. 42- Kyle Larson (Jim Fitzgerald)
The Ganassi folks have dropped the Earnhardt from the official team name, and Juan Pablo Montoya from the seat, so now Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will have to harness the young but talented Kyle Larson. A driver’s driver, Larson is a developmental driver for Ganassi, came up through the ranks of the K&N Pro Series East, was the 2012 Champion, and a graduate of the Drive For Diversity program. Larson had a solid rookie year in the Nationwide series, highlighted by some good finishes, and one spectacular crash in the season opener at Daytona. Chris Heroy is the crew chief and the engines will still come from Hendrick’s engine shop. I’m picking Austin Dillon to win Rookie of the Year as I think his equipment will allow for more consistent finishes, but I’m picking Larson to score a win first. Depending on what rules NASCAR puts into play, that may qualify him for the Chase, so that is up in the air. I look for two top-fives, four top-tens, a win, maybe on a short track, and a possible Chase slot. You’re going to be hearing this kid’s name for a while!
No. 43- Aric Almirola (Alabama Fitz)
Aric will be back in the 43 in 2014 and is signed through 2016. There were rumors that he might be looking for another seat somewhere as his contract expired in 2013. On the 15th of this month (January) Smithfield just signed with Aric and the No. 43 thru 2016 for 29 races each year. The Air Force is also scheduled to be back for two races as well. So, sponsorship money should be considered as a plus for this team. He has only been full time in Sprint level for two years and showed some improvement last year over 2012. We know he can race as he has two wins in the Truck Series, and in 2010, finished 2nd in the points. A major change is a new crew chief. Trent Owens will take over, at least for 2014. During the last part of 2013, Aric operated under three different crew chiefs after Todd Parrot was let go. We'll have to see how this goes before we start talking Championship possibilities. Although his 12 Top 10s have been captured at nine different tracks, he SEEMS to like the mile and half and smaller tracks the most. He runs well at places like Loudon, Martinsville, Dover, and Homestead. A point to ponder: he considers himself something of an aggressive driver, but only when necessary. Eh? Nope...not going there. As a prognosis, if he and his crew can gel, ( and I refer to the crew and the chief), I predict his first Sprint Cup win, maybe two, and look for them to happen at the aforementioned tracks, and don't forget about Bristol.
No. 47- A. J. Allmendinger (Kevin Abraham)
Allmendinger finds himself with a full-time Sprint Cup ride after racing part-time in Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the IZOD IndyCar series in 2013. Allmendinger showed promise in a stock car, winning two road course races in the Nationwide series at Elkhart Lake and Mid-Ohio, 'Dinger also was strong in the Indy 500, finishing seventh in his first Indy 500. All this earned Allmendinger a ride in the JTG No. 47 that had been driven by veteran Bobby Labonte. The team is switching from Toyota to Chevy and has entered into a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. In 2014, look for Allmendinger to try to improve on his 2011 stats of one top five and ten top tens. The 2014 prognoses for 'Dinger is that he will give Marcos Ambrose a run for his money on the road courses, and will win his first Sprint cup race in 2014 either on a road course or at a track like Dover. Also look for Allmendinger to be a sleeper to earn a place in the 2014 Chase. Many would say that is a tall order, but Allmendinger is a fighter and has overcome a lot of adversity since he started driving in Sprint Cup, and is determined to prove that he has what it takes to win.
No. 48- Jimmie Johnson (Alabama Fitz)
What can be said that hasn't already been said or thought about this...this...this DRIVER! He is a six time, and defending, Sprint Cup Champion, with dozens of wins. No, he has not won at least one race at all tracks....but you knew that right? There aren't many he needs though: Michigan: possibly never (seems to be a Ford track), Chicago, Kentucky, Homestead and a couple more. The cracks in this mans armor are there, but they are so tiny as to be invisible. Even Petty and Earnhardt didn't have a strangle hold on the Championship like Jimmie does! BUT! They both have one more Championship than he has. Guess what? He wants one more than each of them! That means he needs two more. Personally, unless the wheels fall off his car, I think he's going to get them. Some people are picking him to finish third in 2014, behind Gordon (that would be Jeff), and Stewart. Huh? Crew Chief Chad Knaus is set through 2014, Johnson is in until 2015, and primary sponsor, Lowe's, just re-upped through 2015...NOT TO WORRY! For those that are not JJ fans, it could be another long season. Here's what I see: a top 5 contender all year, more wins (where ever he wants to) and if NASCAR does implement a new Chase format and/or scoring system, look for it to roll off his back like water off a ducks back. Is a REPEAT possible? ABSOLUTELY!
That does it for part 3 of the preview for 2014. Come see us again next week when we wrap it all up with part 4. We’ll talk Carl Edwards, Justin Allgaier, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and MORE!