The Great American Race, the Daytona 500, is this Sunday, thus completing the two biggest sporting events in the U.S. within a two-week timeframe.
Yes, the 500 is NASCAR's Super Bowl and the sport of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarbrough, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip has settled in very firmly as the second most popular sport in our country. NASCAR, though, is a sport in transition--moving from the rapid growth of the late 1990's into the middle of the new century and is now battling faltering television ratings and declining attendance.
There are several theories as to the slow fallback experienced by the sport--the economic crisis and the resulting fallout on sponsor involvement; races which start at different times each week, thus impacting television ratings; and less discretionary spending by today's consumer of sports and entertainment. Some also point to the five consecutive Sprint Cup Series championships won by Jimmy Johnson as a sign of a boring sport coupled with a points system which even the most veteran racing observer will term as complicated.
It'll all rev up again this weekend when NASCAR hosts its version of the Super Bowl--200 laps around Daytona's re-paved 2.5 mile track. What can we expect this season?
- Jimmy Johnson. The 48 car goes for title number six and there is no reason to think that it can't happen. Johnson has proven himself as the best driver in NASCAR and one of the best ever. And, don't forget Chad Knaus--the best crew chief in the business.
- Carl Edwards. If Johnson falters, who'll be the guy best positioned to be the new champion? Edwards and his team finished 2010 with tons of momentum...and confidence. Don't look for Edwards to start strong--he has historically struggled at Daytona and Talladega in restrictor plate races.
- Kevin Harvick. Harvick finished third last season and Richard Childress Racing seems poised to win a Cup championship.
- Clint Bowyer. 150 points--that's the penalty which Bowyer incurred when his New Hampshire Chase race-winning ride failed inspection. If not for that, what type of noise might Bowyer have created in the Chase for the Cup?
- Little E. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver, and he's still trying to drive out of the shadow of his father. With a winless streak of 93 races, Junior's performance on the track has been disappointing and 2011 did not start auspiciously--he won the pole for Daytona then wrecked his car in practice, thus pushing him to the back of the pack for the start on Sunday.
- A.J. Allmendinger. Richard Petty Motorsports has finally got its financial situation straightened out and appears to have some stability in the garage. How about on the track? Allmendinger will fly the famous #43 colors this season.
Who do I think will win it all? It's really hard to bet against Johnson, but my money is on Harvick.
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