NASCAR preview 2010 | High fives

5 races to watch

• Daytona 500 (Sunday) NASCAR says it’s going to let the drivers police themselves more in terms of bump drafting. How will the drivers handle it? How will NASCAR react if the drivers do cross the line right off the bat in the opener?
• Martinsville (March 28) The second consecutive short-track race (after Bristol on March 21) on the schedule. Tight quarters can lead to hot tempers. This might provide the first chance to see if drivers will truly show their emotions, as NASCAR wants more of this season.
• Texas (April 18) NASCAR Chairman Brian France says he’d like to have this be the first speedway race with the rear spoiler instead of the wing. He’s the boss and is likely to get what he wants. Whether the spoiler will change the racing, we’ll see, but the hype for the change – and remember, everything is bigger in Texas – will be huge.
• Atlanta (Sept. 5) Moving this race to Labor Day weekend created a buzz last year that hadn’t been seen in some time at this track. Could be developing into new Labor Day tradition.
• Richmond (Sept. 11) It’s always a fun night when drivers are vying for those last Chase spots.

5 drivers on the hot seat

• Sam Hornish Jr. (above) He must perform this year or else. This is his third season. This team watching Juan Pablo Montoya, another ex-open wheeler, make the Chase in his third year and expects the same from Hornish.
• Elliott Sadler One can question how good his equipment is, but he has not finished better than 22nd in the points since leaving Robert Yates’ team after 2001.
• Scott Speed Second-year driver at Red Bull Racing will need to show greater improvement or his status could be in trouble in a year when some good free agents will come available.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. While he’s not in jeopardy of losing his job, he knows the winless streak needs to end this season. If not for his sake, then for the sport’s sake. Hendrick Motorsports can’t afford to have a repeat of last year, when Earnhardt lost confidence and his team seemed in disarray at times.
• Kevin Harvick He’s in the final year of his contract. He’s on the hot seat because a fast start could increase his value on the free agent market after a disappointing 2009 that was largely because of the equipment he got from Richard Childress Racing.

5 drivers to watch

• Kyle Busch (above) How does he respond to missing the Chase last year?
• Juan Pablo Montoya Where does he break through with his first oval win in Cup?
• Jamie McMurray He returns to drive for car owner Chip Ganassi and is Montoya’s teammate. Can McMurray finally make the Chase?
• Jeff Gordon Can you believe his last Cup title came in 2001? Is this the year he captures his fifth crown?
• Jimmie Johnson Until someone beats him, he keeps making history in this sport.

5 things NASCAR needs

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win. He remains the sport’s most popular driver, and if he does well, it will re-energize Junior Nation.
• Danica Patrick to do well. People pay attention to her. If she does well on the track, it can only serve to help NASCAR.
• Better racing. For all the numbers NASCAR can spout in talking up the quality of the racing, until the fan believes they are seeing better racing, it’s not happening.
• Someone other than Jimmie Johnson to win the title. While there is something to be said about dynasties, many more fans seem to like variety, so NASCAR needs a new champion to keep from being dull.
• Mark Martin wins the title. That would just about make everything right in the world of NASCAR.

5 moments & milestones

• Jimmie Johnson (above) is three wins away from tying Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson for 10th on the all-time wins list at 50.
• The induction ceremonies for the Hall of Fame are May 23, when the inaugural class of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Bill France Sr., and Bill France Jr. is inducted.
• Jeff Gordon is set to make his 600th consecutive career start in July, becoming the sixth driver to reach that mark. Ricky Rudd owns the record with 788 straight.
• Bobby Labonte is on pace to make his 600th consecutive start in July (a week after Gordon), becoming the seventh driver to reach that mark.
• Bill Elliott is four starts away from becoming only the seventh driver in series history with at least 800 career up starts.

5 ways to keep drivers safe (Denny Hamlin recently tore his ACL playing basketball. This comes after Carl Edwards, above, broke his foot playing Frisbee and Greg Biffle bruised his ribs when he fell on his boat dock last year.)

• Bring back testing. If they’re in the car more, there’s less time to play basketball or Frisbee or go boating.
• Add more races. For logic, see No. 1.
•  Compromise. Allow these guys to go skydiving, scuba diving with sharks, even run with the bulls in Pamplona, instead of the apparently more dangerous activities they’re involved in now.
• Get them all an Apple iPad to occupy their idle time.
• Give them all reality shows.

5 driver reality shows worth watching

• Tony Stewart 24/7 – A racer’s racer See how Tony runs his team.
• Kyle Busch 24/7 – On the go. Just try to keep up with him and all the racing he does.
• Juan Pablo Montoya 24/7 – Follow JPM Tweet by Tweet.
• Mark Martin 24/7 – Kickin’ It. This show will demonstrate that he really does like rapper Gucci Mane.
• Brian Vickers 24/7 – Flying. Watch as he goes skydiving and then settles into his “safe” job driving cars.