Nascar Nextel Cup Series Stories For 2007

Nascar Nextel Cup Series Stories For 2007

This year seem to have a few more stories that will play out in the upcoming Nascar Nextel Cup Series. Each one has it own set of characters and story line so tune in throughout the season and follow along like you would any good television show.

The future largest automaker in the world has entered Nascar
competition. Toyota, who was previously in the Craftsman Truck Series and won 12 of 25 races last year, has come to the Big Show. It has funded 3 full time teams with a total of 7 full time drivers. The new term in Nascar is Globalization.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is in contract negotiations with his current team that was founded by his father. His sister is handling the negotiations with their step-mother, his two step-brothers work with or for Dale Jr and all four of the siblings would like to own a piece of their late father's organization. This could be the stuff that soap operas will be based on.

The Car Of Tomorrow will be introduced and race in 16 out of the scheduled 36 races in 2007.Early reviews are divided on it, which probably goes along the lines of whether a team or driver has found a good setup. The car is safer and has a wing instead of a spoiler on the back with an air splitter up front. Racing should be closer with the reduction of turbulence.

Nascar has tweaked the Chase Format and changed the Pass Champion Rule. The Nextel Cup past champions provisional may only be used by an eligible driver six times this season. Before this year there was no limit to usage of the past champions provisional. NASCAR has increased the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship field from 10 to 12 drivers and increased the points premium for winning races in seeding that 10-race title run. Yes the Officials have seen the need to make changes but what they have done will have little affect on fans and television viewing.

Last is the announcement that Anheuser-Busch has decided to stop sponsoring NASCAR's Busch series. I never thought a beer company would pull back on advertising or sponsorship, but times are a changing. Subway, Samsung and Wal-Mart have been mentioned as possibilities willing to pony up the $30 million annual price tag for the Triple A League of Racing.

Thirty-one year old driver JUAN PABLO MONTOYA is my pick for Rookie of the Year. Not a big stretch when you consider he was the 1999 Cart Champion, 2000 Indy 500 Winner and had 13 poles and 7 wins in Formula One Racing. Will he bring a new style of racing to the sport? Only time will tell.

Other stories that will have an impact are TV Ratings going up or down, Big City Markets for ratings and future races, the Silly Season which happens every year earlier and earlier and moving races to overseas cities.

Now sit back and enjoy the 2007 Nascar Nextel Cup Season.