Four big names that won’t make the 2013 NASCAR Chase

Greg Biffle may find getting press for his accomplishments, will be much harder in 2013.This might appear to be a stretch in that the ‘Biff’ had a very strong year in 2012 and was clearly a contender all season.  The hunch here will be that his teammates – Carl Edwards and rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – will get more attention at Roush Fenway; and now the aging 43 year old may be entering a downturn at this point in his career.Kevin Harvick had an adequate year in 2012 that saw him in victory lane late in the season but for 2013, well ...Lame duck is all you have to know.  Yes, even with a substandard 2012 that saw Harvick with only one victory and just five top fives, the 37 year old veteran was still able to stay in the Top 10 during the regular season and ended up eighth overall at the end of the Chase.  However, with the sticky situation of knowing he will be gone at season’s end and heading to Stewart Haas Racing, it would be remarkable if ‘Happy’ continues to be happy during this lame duck year.Ryan Newman did not have a good year in 2012 and 2013 appears to have that sideways look again.Yes, Newman will once more miss the Chase in 2013.  He’s actually only made it twice in the past seven years – which some might say shouldn’t make it that surprising.  Yet, the Rocket is in good equipment at Stewart Haas Racing and at 35, he's still in the prime of his racing career.  His lack of ability to lead laps and run near or at the front is troubling and there's nothing to say that will improve this season.View the list »
Carl Edwards surprisingly did not have much to smile about in 2012

Motorsports newsletter

As the NASCAR Sprint Cup season draws near, expectations are immense and with that, literally everyone is in a first place tie. Hope springs eternal.

Related topics

Advertisement

In 2012, there were several surprises with the winner of the series, Brad Keselowski certainly being one of them plus the emergence of Michael Waltrip Racing as a championship caliber organization.

However, there were also some disappointments with some big names not producing what many expected. Carl Edwards jumps out as probably the biggest name not to make the Chase after tying for the title in the prior year. Another high-profile name that frustrated many by his inconsistent driving was Kyle Busch. Also, Ryan Newman managed a win but did not earn a pole or get into the Chase, which was a signature ability of the ‘Rocket’ – he had achieved a pole in every full-time season of his career … until last season.

So which four big name drivers might surprisingly be disappointing and absent from the qualifying ranks for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase?

Related articles:

America’s Youngest Female Billionaire: Lynsi Torres

ESPN makes big move with new anchor on NHRA telecasts

The iconic rainbow colored #24 is no more

NASCAR offering less to small teams, more to bigger teams

View the list
  • Ryan Newman did not have a good year in 2012 and 2013 appears to have that sideways look again.Yes, Newman will once more miss the Chase in 2013.  He’s actually only made it twice in the past seven years – which some might say shouldn’t make it that surprising.  Yet, the Rocket is in good equipment at Stewart Haas Racing and at 35, he's still in the prime of his racing career.  His lack of ability to lead laps and run near or at the front is troubling and there's nothing to say that will improve this season.
  • Kevin Harvick had an adequate year in 2012 that saw him in victory lane late in the season but for 2013, well ...Lame duck is all you have to know.  Yes, even with a substandard 2012 that saw Harvick with only one victory and just five top fives, the 37 year old veteran was still able to stay in the Top 10 during the regular season and ended up eighth overall at the end of the Chase.  However, with the sticky situation of knowing he will be gone at season’s end and heading to Stewart Haas Racing, it would be remarkable if ‘Happy’ continues to be happy during this lame duck year.
  • Greg Biffle may find getting press for his accomplishments, will be much harder in 2013.This might appear to be a stretch in that the ‘Biff’ had a very strong year in 2012 and was clearly a contender all season.  The hunch here will be that his teammates – Carl Edwards and rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – will get more attention at Roush Fenway; and now the aging 43 year old may be entering a downturn at this point in his career.
  • Could Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his #88 Chevrolet, be fading into history?Junior Nation won’t be thrilled with this prognostication but there may be an end game here for Earnhardt Jr. that doesn’t entail a championship.  Not only that, but his teammates like Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne appear to be garnering all the considerations and interest at Hendrick Motorsports.  Earnhardt Jr. finally broke his winless streak last season and was a serious contender almost all year but struggled during the Chase and missed a couple events due to concussions.  Junior is 38 years old and could probably run another solid half a dozen seasons, but the concussion situation last year may have changed his thinking.  Recall his lack of focus at times in 2012 and then Jimmy Spencer’s SpeedTV article last October about how Junior might be readying for retirement.  All is not well in Junior Nation.    
View the list

, Paso Robles Motorsports Examiner

Daryle Hier has been involved in business as an owner for 30 years with many of them involving the auto industry. He also has been a sports fanatic with motorsports and football as his true loves. Other interests include Hawaii and the California Central Coast. He is a Top 100 writer for...

Advertisement

Today's top buzz...