Edition 39, February 2nd - 2009

Jeff Gordon Wins the 2009 Daytona 500
(And Other Predictions)

Well you read it here first folks, I am putting on my clairvoyant hat and will predict the winner of the Daytona 500 two weeks before it happens. You may wish to gather all your money and place your bets now before speed weeks. If you have been around me at all, you know that I am not a Jeff Gordon fan, so for me to predict him to be in victory circle is not in my usual character. Now let me explain what will happen at Daytona and beyond.

This has been one of the most unusual off seasons that I have ever witnessed. Once powerhouse race teams such as Earnhardt, Petty, and Everhamn have joined forces with other teams and or investors to try to keep operating. Drivers with sponsor money are a hot commodity and are welcomed with open arms no matter what their talent level. The stable of drivers seems to remain intact, but this year like no other is a transition of drivers from one team to another. I am sure it is not just old age when I honestly say you will need a program to figure out who is driving what car.

As I write this article, teams are still being formed to enter at least one race, the Daytona 500. Fifteen teams have no sponsor listed and at least four teams have been formed in the last two months. An unbelievable 55 cars are listed to attempt qualifying and two more may join the group. Pole qualifying will take over two hours at this rate. Do the math, and at least twelve cars will go home. At least one team transferred their points from last year to a new car that joined their stable this year. Three past champions are guaranteed a starting position (which somehow does not seem fair if those drivers are not going to race the whole season this year). Hopefully a couple teams will pull back and save their cash for a race later in the season when a full field will not be obtained.

But back to my opening prediction of Jeff Gordon winning the 2009 Daytona 500. Here is how I came to my conclusion. I took out all the drivers who did not drive in the 500 last year and this eliminated 11 cars. Then I took out the two past champions, nice guys just don’t think part timers have a chance. Next I removed those drivers that to my knowledge have never won a NASCAR race in the elite series and ten more were removed. From there I looked at drivers who are with a new team since last year and 8 more were removed. And that basically leaves us with four owners, Childress, Hendrick, Gibbs, and Roush.

I think that the Roush and Childress drivers will mix it up with the Hendrick boys, but at the end the team Hendrick cars will push each other to the front, and with no off season testing, I think it will be the senior member of the team will dive past Little E and Jimmy for the win. I have seen interviews with Jeff and by the way he answered questions told me he is itching to get back into winners circle and contend for the 2009 championship. If he does not get tangled up in a wreck, the #24 will be a contender.

And for the rest of the year, it will be tough for racing. I envision empty seats, slashed ticket prices and incentives to draw in the race fan. Some races will have short fields. Teams are already splitting sponsorships for partial season to help offset the costs for sponsors. And everyone will need to suck it up, and do business differently to stay alive. Drivers may even need to accept smaller paychecks to help offset costs (gasp can you imagine?). And finally, as Jeff Burton stated this week, we as drivers need to get back in touch with our fans. We have ignored them too long, and we have to be much more accessible to them.

And so as Pat and I pack our bags for our 20th Daytona, we look forward to new adventures and will report back with our Daytona recap.

RACING TO THE CHECKERS

Jim