Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Continuing with the theme, here are some more of the OnPitRoad.com staff predictions as we continue to predict what will happen across the board in 2016.
Be sure to check out the first round of predictions by clicking here.
Also, be sure to comment with your predictions ahead of the year.
WRITER NAME: Ashley McCubbin
SERIES OF FOCUS: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
CHAMPION AND WHY: Matt Crafton
Over the past three years, Crafton has been near the top of the standings and consistent as ever. Last year, he went a little more all out and that resulted in more wins, but not as many points. That allowed Erik Jones to seize the victory. With the lessons learned and no top-level changes within the ThorSport Racing shop, look for Crafton to return to the top of the standings once again in 2016.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: William Bryon
Bryon comes into the season with lots of experience after winning the K&N Pro Series East Championship. Partnered with Kyle Busch Motorsports, Byron will be a driver to watch throughout the whole season and should make at least one appearance in victory lane.
BOLD PREDICTION OUTSIDE OF ABOVE:
- GMS Racing broke out of their shell last year with Austin Dillon scoring the team’s first victory. Look for Johnny Sauter to take the organization to the next level as he brings his experience and know-how in how to run a full solid schedule.
- Brad Keselowski Racing is going from one full-time truck to two full-time trucks. Tyler Reddick and Daniel Hemric should both be main fixtures throughout the season, with Reddick once again near the top of the standings.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mike Holloway
SERIES OF FOCUS: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Too Close to Call. The Rookie of the Year battle for 2016 has all the makings to be one of (if not THE) most memorable in the last decade or two.
2014 Xfinity Series Champion Chase Elliott comes in as one of the most promising wheel men in recent memory. There’s little doubt about his ability as the 20-year-old Georgia native has proven that he is astute when it comes to learning curves. Couple that with the fact that he scored one of the most coveted rides in the entire NASCAR community – the famous #24 vacated by the newly retired Jeff Gordon – and the Sprint Cup Series could very well be this young man’s personal playground.
But hold the phone, not so quick. Ryan Blaney has declared as a rookie for the 2016 season as well, and he comes in with a ton of momentum on his side as well as piloting arguably the most famous car in NASCAR history – the #21 Wood Brothers livery. The Wood Brothers have committed to return to the Sprint Cup Series full time in 2016. Couple that with their newly formed collaborative with Team Penske (which has already proven dividends on the race track) and Blaney might have the final say in the Rookie of the Year standings.
CHAMPION: Joey Logano
Like him. Hate him. Or otherwise indifferent. Joey Logano is the hottest name in NASCAR, be it for good or bad reasons (just depends on which side of the fence you’re on). The 25-year-old Middletown, Connecticut driver got everyone’s attention in 2015 with six wins (including the prestigious Daytona 500), six poles, a staggering 22 top-5’s and 28 top-10’s as well as 1,431 laps led. If not for a late season “dust-up” with Matt Kenseth, that essentially eliminated him from title contention, many felt Logano was all but assured the championship. It doesn’t seem likely that the No. 22 Team Penske Ford has any intentions of letting up in the new year, which could be some really disappointing news for the other teams. In the current era of the “Chase for the Championship” runaway seasons by one driver is almost unheard of, but not impossible. Look for Logano to prove just that in 2016.
CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP CONTENDERS (in no particular order):
Joey Logano Kasey Kahne
Brad Keselowski Jamie McMurray
Jimmie Johnson Matt Kenseth
Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards
A.J. Allmendinger Denny Hamlin
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Chase Elliott
Kyle Busch Kyle Larson
Kurt Busch Ryan Newman
OTHER NOTABLE AND BOLD PREDICTIONS:
- In his final year of NASCAR competition, look for Tony Stewart’s woes to continue. The past two seasons have been nothing short of dismal and Crew Chief Chad Johnston departing for greener pastures at Chip Ganassi Racing to work with Kyle Larson is sure not to help. “Smoke” will make nothing more than a fair showing in 2016, while the rest of Stewart-Haas Racing will continue to flourish.
- Look for Chip Ganassi Racing to continue their upswing. Riding the wave of Jamie McMurray competing in the 2015 Chase and Kyle Larson ever on the rise, Ganassi should have much to smile about at the end of the season.
- Same goes for Martin Truex, Jr. and the Furniture Row team. After a breakout season in 2015, the Colorado based team is riding high on a tidal wave of momentum. A shift to Toyota this season could be the one little nugget that was missing to help push them over the edge and into serious title contention.
- Drivers who either need to step-up this season and start performing or look for other career opportunities include: Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Greg…well, we’ll just go ahead and say the ENTIRE Roush Fenway lineup. With promising drivers on the Roush horizon like Darrell Wallace, Jr., Ryan Reed and Chris Buescher, the current top tier drivers should be looking over their shoulders as their jobs could be in jeopardy at the end of the season. (worth mentioning – in the case of Bayne and Stenhouse, one or both may not even make that long). Jack Roush needs bold changes at that organization before they – as a team – get left too far behind.
WRITER NAME: Ashley McCubbin
SERIES OF FOCUS: NASCAR XFINITY Series
CHAMPION AND WHY: Elliott Sadler.
After finishes of second, second, fourth, third and sixth – the pieces are finally set to come together, hopefully. The move to JR Motorsports will look to be the catalyst to making the success happen for Sadler. JR Motorsports has proven that they can get the job done as they won the title in 2014 with Elliott, and placed a pair of drivers in the top-four last season. Now, it’s go or bust for Sadler because what other options that he has? He has already tried the wheel of fortune of rides with Roush Fenway, Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing through the years. It just seems that he has found the teams at a time of transition, or poor performance. But that isn’t a possible excuse now as he is walking in right after a top-tier season.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND WHY: Erik Jones.
After winning the Camping World Truck Series Championship last year, Jones is set to step into a full-time ride with Joe Gibbs Racing. He proved that he could get the job done in the series, winning at Texas Motor Speedway last season while running a partial schedule. Therefore, there’s no doubt that not only will be the Rookie of the Year, but also part of the championship discussion.
BOLD PREDICTION OUTSIDE OF ABOVE:
- Last year, there were a handful of drivers that became part of the championship discussion. Early signs indicate that there will be a solid battle once again in the series, containing Sadler, Jones, Justin Allgaier, Darrell Wallace Jr., Daniel Suarez and Ty Dillon. Given the amount of top-notch talent, the XFINITY Series could produce the closest battle of all three divisions.
- Expect the Sprint Cup Series drivers to continue to dominate the win category. They have the most experience, and top-notch talent. It shouldn’t mark a surprise to see this happening.
WRITER NAME: Roger Holtsclaw- Multiple first time winners this season. Competition getting tighter every season. More drivers with a shot to win.
- Expect a few well known names to compete in the series at least on a limited basis
WRITER NAME: Matt Embury
SERIES OF FOCUS: Verizon IndyCar Series
CHAMPION AND WHY: Will Power. He will regain supremacy on road and street courses.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND WHY: Conor Daly, as he is currently uncontested for honor in ’16.
BOLD PREDICTION OUTSIDE OF ABOVE: Chevrolet will be undefeated with 16 wins in 16 races in 2016.
