up to with

No Shortage Of Title Contenders oming off the closest and attempt to make her Sprint in 2011. Both drivers finished the finish in Sprint Cup Series Cup debut in the . season with four victories. history, NASCAR will be Unfortunately, some familiar Kyle will need to rein in his hard-pressed to duplicate names likely will be missing from emotions if he is to win the Sprint the dynamic events that took the Cup garage. Cup that has evaded him thus far. place last year. and joined David , Busch’s That said, we carry the Reutimann as notable drivers teammate at Racing, momentum of a remarkable 2011 without full-time rides as of press will look to overcome last year’s campaign into the new season. time. disappointing campaign and For the first time in six years, — one of the return to the near-championship goes from being sport’s most talented and at form he displayed in 2010. Krista Voda hosts the popular SPEED prerace the hunted to the hunter. Tony times troubled drivers — landed The offseason acquisition of show “NCWTS Setup,” leading into each Stewart looks to defend the Sprint NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Voda at Phoenix Racing after he and Darian Grubb as crew chief for is also a regular host on “The SPEED Report” Cup championship and Carl Penske Racing parted ways the No. 11 JGR team was a huge and serves as a pit reporter for NASCAR on FOX Edwards tries to take care of some coverage of the Sprint Cup Series. following the 2011 season. AJ boon for Hamlin. Grubb carries unfinished business. Allmendinger will replace Busch the confidence of winning last The 2012 Sprint Cup in the No. 22 . year’s Sprint Cup with him from Series season features plenty There are other changes Stewart-Haas Racing and he of storylines and the promise besides personnel in store this could help Hamlin get over the of another tantalizing finish at year. Electronic fuel injection championship hump. Homestead-Miami Speedway makes its debut and the official No stranger to the come November. start to the season comes a week championship conversation is Before we forecast that far later with the Feb. 26 running of four-time champion , out, let’s look at some of the key the Daytona 500. who broke through last season to changes in NASCAR’s top series NASCAR and its fans claim three victories but finished as a new season dawns at Daytona enjoyed the tightest finish in Cup eighth in points. Gordon still has International Speedway. Series history last year when that “fire in his belly” and you can Former Red Bull Racing driver Stewart captured his third title bet he will be one to watch in his heads the list as in a tiebreaker over Edwards. quest to match his teammate, The question he takes over driving duties in Expect both drivers to be in the Johnson, in the “five-time” is: Who will the No. 5 at Hendrick championship mix again along category. Motorsports. Crew chief Kenny with Johnson. Richard Childress Another competitor to keep be hoisting the Francis joins Kahne and the duo Racing’s has your eye on is , Sprint Cup trophy will try to pick up where it left off threatened to break through with who went from being a midpack after a strong finish to 2011 — his first championship the past driver during his sophomore this time around?” including a victory at Phoenix. two years and bears watching season into a Chase contender —krista voda , NASCAR’s again in 2012. with three victories at Penske elder statesman, will run 25 races Harvick, who shuttered Kevin Racing. Keselowski, who inked for Racing. Harvick Inc. after 10 years of a multiyear extension with team MWR also welcomes former competition in the Nationwide owner , will be the driver and Truck Series, now will hone in organization’s flagship driver in into the fold. on the biggest prize that’s eluded the wake of Kurt Busch’s exit. Bowyer will drive the No. 15 him since taking over for the late While much has changed to with sponsorship from in 2001. Excluding start the 2012 season, we know 5-hour Energy in a majority of Stewart’s remarkable five-win it will end in a familiar place at the races. Former IndyCar star binge in the Chase For The Sprint Homestead. The question is: Who will drive a 10-race Cup, Harvick and Kyle Busch won will be hoisting the Sprint Cup schedule for Stewart-Haas Racing with more regularity than anyone trophy this time around?

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