December 25, 2002

1.. I predict that Toyota's entry into Winston Cup won't be as smooth as it was for Dodge's return. Most of the engines currently in production are cast aluminum and after some searching, they ran across one of their plants that still makes the old cast iron engine. NASCAR won't allow an aluminum engine. I don't believe that Toyota will get the caliber of help like Dodge did when they hired Ray Evernham to spearhead the re-entry.

2.. I predict more younger, and less experienced drivers entering the Winston Cup ranks. It may be necessary for the motorsports writers to buy a program to see who's running on any given weekend. Raw talent is in and experience is out.

4.. I predict that Jeff Green will emerge as the best driver for Richard Childress Racing and finish in the top-10 in points. Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon will continue to struggle and the two drivers will butt heads on and off the track.

5.. I predict the fifth Championship for Jeff Gordon in 2003, but it will be a heated contest with Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.. I predict more racing deaths in the next two years if NASCAR doesn't mandate some real and meaningful soft wall technology. Someone is doing some serious foot dragging on this issue.

7.. I predict that TRAC, the new racing league, will not get off the ground, not in 2003 or ever. They had some grand plans when the deal was first announced but a weak economy set them back further than they want to admit. It's too bad, I was really looking forward to this type of stock car racing.

8.. I predict Steve Park will be looking for a new ride before the 2003 season is over. As much as I like Park, I don't think DEI has the confidence in him anymore.

9.. I predict more struggles for Evernham racing. Bill Elliott showed flashes of brilliance last season but faded seriously near the conclusion of 2002. Jeremy Mayfield never lived up to Evernham's expectations after bringing Mayfield in to replace Casey Atwood. Evernham would have done much better to have kept Atwood.

10.. I predict NASCAR will put some tracks on notice. NASCAR would really like to revamp the schedule to make room for expansion to newer tracks. It may be time to let some of the tracks know that it's possible they may be losing at least one of their dates in the next few years.

11.. I predict Michael McSwain and Bobby Labonte will mix like water and oil mixes, not very well. The oft bad tempered McSwain will clash with the easy going personality of Labonte and McSwain will find other things to do or another place to work.

12.. I predict John Andretti will give it one more year with Petty Enterprises. If the program doesn't improve significantly, Andretti will move on. Look for Andretti to run the Indy 500 in 2003.

13.. I predict Roger Penske will stick with Dodge until Toyota is ready to make the move to Winston Cup. Penske made a pile of cash to make the move to Dodge but it will pale in comparison to what Toyota is prepared to pay.

14.. I predict Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win the Daytona 500. Junior and his gang have their restrictor plate program together and will win the big one in only his fourth try.

15.. I predict more burnout for Winston Cup crew chief's and crews. Some big names will either retire or step aside. The grueling schedule, especially with the seasons ending with a twenty week straight run, will take it's toll on everyone involved in Winston Cup racing.

16.. I predict when the current television contract ends between NASCAR, FOX and NBC, SpeedChannel will outbid all competition to win the rights to the NASCAR broadcast. I would also look for some of the telecast going to pay-per-view. It's possible that the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 will be the first to fall.

Some of these predictions are pretty bold and all are pure speculation. The face of Winston Cup racing will change as much in the next ten years as it has in the past ten. You can either go along for the ride or find something else to do on Sundays. NASCAR seems have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude these days and I don't see that changing for the foreseeable future.

You can contact Ron at: Insider Racing News