Should fans be thinking about Jimmie Johnson winning a 3rd straight Cup Series Championship now and if not, what then?

This past Monday on the season premiere of NASCAR Now, I couldn’t believe it when they asked “Will Jimmie Johnson win his third straight Cup Series Championship?” why? Why would you ask that, when did it become Richmond in September… This would be one of the last things I’m thinking about going into the new NASCAR season.

What about the fact that the Budweiser Shootout is this Saturday night or that the Gatorade Duel is next Thursday or even the fact that the 50th running of the Daytona 500 is a week from Sunday, yeah what about those.

So in light of that question, what might fans be thinking about going into the new season:

First, Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving for Hendrick Motorsports with a new number, sponsors and mostly new team., the only things that stayed the same was his crew chief Eury Jr., a couple members of his crew and he’s driving a Chevrolet. As a Dale Jr. fan, I am hoping for a good season and that that Hendrick equipment that has won the last two championships will stand up. I’m not making any predictions here, ok many one, a victory.

Second, The Car of Tomorrow becomes the 2008 full season car and no matter what fans say, NASCAR isn’t getting rid of it and we are stuck with it. I have heard that teams have worked with it to make it turn left better. However, I hope it makes racing better all season long and yes even from Atlanta to Martinsville and all out to Sonoma road course. I just wish it looked better.

Third, What about the Open Wheelers coming in, I mean you have former IRL Champion & Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti (with wife Ashley Judd – thanks 4ever3 for reminding me) driving the #40 Dodge for Ganassi Racing, former IRL & CART standout Patrick Carpentier driving the #10 Dodge for GEM, former F1 stand out Jacques Villeneuve driving the #27 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing (heard on SPEED, not full season deal yet with sponsor?) and of course the driver who made news for getting owner points from teammate Kurt Busch, Sam Hornish Jr. will drive the #77 Dodge for Penske Racing.

Predictions for the Open Wheelers, its too early to tell with the exception of Daytona, California and Las Vegas testing and I would have to say they will struggle for the first half of the season at least until they really get the stock car experience they need first. They all should have been starting off in the Truck Series or Nationwide Series for at least one full season if not two.

Four, How will Toyota do this season considering they signed Joe Gibbs Racing with two-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and new comer Kyle Busch.? I have to say, second year out of the gate and I see them winning at least one race and contending in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. The question now is, who will be the first driver to win for Toyota? Thinking Stewart or Busch, yes Kyle Busch.

Fifth, what about the Nationwide Series? Should this series be named the Nationwide GS Series? GS stands for Grand Sport. That’s round one, the series needs a name like Truck or Cup. Second is a better car, pony cars maybe the answer or Sport Compact cars like the Cobalt SS, Focus, Caliber SRT4 and Scion tC (Toyota Matrix). That’s enough for now, I’m still thinking and I will have a column on it soon.

Sixth, The television package – mainly ESPN/ABC, All I got to say is all fans should be able to watch there races live and I mean watch them on television live even if the race goes over the schedule time frame – I’m talking to some of those ABC affiliates who decided to leave the race despite the fact that the race wasn’t over. The Daly Planet has a great article on this that everyone should read. That’s enough for now, I’m still thinking and I will have a column on it soon.

Seventh, oh boy, will the Hendrick Motorsports domination continue? Don’t be surprised if between the four drivers, they win 18 races (around half the cup series schedule), I know I wouldn’t be.

Eighth, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, what its future going to hold, Cup dates? A possible NHRA date? A redesign of the speedway? Lower ticketr prices, what? I really don’t have the answer for this one, all I can say is late June will be interesting when I go up for the Nationwide Series race and the Modified Tour race.

Ninth, will Juan Montoya spin out his new teammate Dario Franchitti going for a victory or will it be the other way around. Its always a big question mark to see who will challenge Juan Montoya next or who will challenge him.

And with all that said, finally number ten, who will be in the top 35 in owners points going into Martinsville and who be out? Drivers to watch on the bubble include Kyle Petty, Sam Hornish Jr., and Paul Menard to name a few. Time will tell.

As for the Jimmie Johnson winning his 3rd straight Cup Championship? If he does, it will be huge, however he has to deal with his over two teammates – Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. plus maybe other teams including Gibbs Racing…

- Racedriven