NASCAR- Top Headlines In 2007
There will several topics dominating the NASCAR headlines in 2007
The end of the year 2006 is on the brink; therefore we have already encountered all of the top stories for the year.
And with the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season looming, we have a pretty darn good idea which stories will dominate the headlines.
1. Car Of Tomorrow- The unsightly Car Of Tomorrow will become the Car of Today on March 25, 2007 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The newly designed model will also be featured on all tracks less than a mile in length, as well as Darlington, the fall Talladega race, and the two road courses. Even though the Car of Tomorrow debut will spark a plethora of intrigue, the car has yet to receive rave reviews from drivers who have tested the car. And its appearance has been the number one grievance.
2. Toyota Camry- Toyota will finally get a taste of NASCAR Nextel competition in 2007. Their less than popular arrival to NASCAR will be high on the interest list in 2007. The Toyota brand has already lured some big names over to their side of the fence- Dale Jarrett, Jeremy Mayfield, and Brian Vickers to name a few. Also, winning crew chiefs such as Matt Borland and Doug Richert will join the Toyota family in 2007.
3. Juan Pablo Montoya- All eyes will be on the world renowned driver Juan Pablo Montoya as he will begin his first full season in Nextel Cup after converting from Formula One. Obviously, stock car racing is a totally different animal than open-wheel racing, so it will be interesting to see how adaptive Montoya is. He will drive in the Texaco Havoline Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing. Also transferring from the open-wheel ranks is A.J. Allmendinger, the former Champ Car driver. Allmendinger will drive for Team Red Bull, which will field Toyota Camry’s.
4. The Return of ESPN- NASCAR fans are ardently awaiting the return of ESPN, the network that televised the majority of NASCAR races from the early 1980’s to 2000. The previous ESPN broadcasts are sentimental to a lot of old-school fans that grew up watching NASCAR in the 1980’s and 1990’s, so the reemergence is fashionable. However, the ESPN telecasts will by no means be a replicate of the original telecasts. There will be some modernized gimmicks similar to what FOX and NBC have featured. Nonetheless, that first ESPN telecast will be absorbing.
5. Comeback Kids- Most of us are anticipating a Chase for the Championship return for two-time Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart, but there are several other drivers that could materialize as the 2007 versions of Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, and Kasey Kahne. Ryan Newman is coming off his worst season in Nextel Cup racing. His uncharacteristic season included no wins and two poles. He is expected to vastly improve in 2007, as should his Penske Racing teammate Kurt Busch, who also missed the Chase. Other possible comeback drivers include Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, and Elliott Sadler. Also, keep an eye on Ricky Rudd who will embark upon his return to Nextel Cup and Robert Yates Racing.
