10 things to expect in '08 (cont'd)

DAVID CARAVIELLO
Hear that sound? That's Speedweeks, roaring up to your back bumper like a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95.

Here are 10 things to expect as the NASCAR season unfolds before us over the next 10 months:

• Send David your thoughts
• David's Community page

1. Here comes Junior!
Yes, we know some of you are tired of hearing about this. Junior is probably tired of hearing about this. But there's no way to overplay it -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining forces with Hendrick Motorsports, the sport's most popular driver partnering with the sport's most powerful team, is like Pete Townshend joining the Beatles. Like Jimmy Page joining Black Sabbath. Like Del Shannon joining Tommy James and the Shondells. You get the picture. It's a big deal. And it certainly won't hurt ...

2. The ratings game
Television numbers for NASCAR events were down in 2007, leading many to question whether the sport's popularity had peaked. Maybe, maybe not. Most sports' television ratings -- indeed, most TV ratings, period -- have dropped as viewership has fragmented, and NASCAR is not immune. But if a certain driver in the No. 88 car starts winning again, we might see some upticks. And the ratings might also be helped by the strategy of ...

3. Back to basics
That's the catchphrase of the 2008 season, as NASCAR begins its somewhat contrite campaign to win back those old-school fans who felt alienated by all the recent changes to the sport (read more). That means the series' names will stay the same for a while, we hope. That means earlier starting times, we pray. That probably means more country music played at racetracks, unfortunately (see above music references). Of course, all those traditionalists are still going to have to get over ...

4. The rise of Toyota
You're going to have to deal with it, boys and girls. The days where this manufacturer was a laughingstock are over. No, Red Bull and Michael Waltrip Racing likely won't win. But Joe Gibbs Racing will. You're going to see a Japanese carmaker in Victory Lane, in the Chase, contending for a Sprint Cup crown. And you know what? That's not a bad thing. Winning Toyota teams bring the possibility of more international attention and investment, which may help alleviate ...

5. Sponsorship woes
In some ways, it feels like 2002 all over again. The economy is tightening up, something that's evident on the blank hoods of many racecars (read more). Doug Yates is still trying to find full-time sponsors for both his cars. Chip Ganassi is trying to piece together sponsorship for Dario Franchitti's ride. Waltrip is looking for a backer for Michael McDowell's vehicle. There are many more Nationwide and Truck teams in the same situation. And since money is so tight, it's not going to help when teams get hit with ...

6. Fines, fines and more fines
NASCAR may loosen its rules on driver behavior, but technical limitations on the new car are as tight as ever. We saw what happened last year when several crew chiefs received long suspensions for tinkering with the vehicle. Well, now it's here full time. And they're going to run it at Daytona, where even with the old car the Speedweeks penalty list was often as long as Pacman Jones' rap sheet. Open your wallets, boys. Because it also won't be cheap keeping up with ...

Autostock

Rick Hendrick

7. Hendrick's continued domination
One day, they'll come back to the pack. But not now. No organization better handled the assimilation of old and new vehicles last year, giving Hendrick Motorsports a leg up on the competition as the winged thing goes full time. Sure, Gibbs and Richard Childress Racing are threats. Sure, Roush and Penske should be better. But somebody has to knock Hendrick off the pedestal first. And that won't be easy as ...

8. Jimmie goes for the three-peat
The pride of metro San Diego tries to become the first Cup driver to win three consecutive titles since the pride of Sardis, S.C., Cale Yarborough, did it three decades ago (read more). If we were in Vegas today, we'd take odds on Johnson. He has the most imaginative crew chief in the business in Chad Knaus, a team with minimal turnover and an unflappable mentality. Who's going to unseat him? Current teammate Jeff Gordon and former teammate Kyle Busch may be his biggest threats. But it won't be one of the ...

9. Open-wheel refugees
First it was Juan Montoya. Now Sam Hornish Jr., Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier join NASCAR to run the complete Sprint Cup schedule. Who's next, Fernando Alonso? Michael Schumacher? Gerhard Berger? While these additions only add to NASCAR's reputation as North America's premier racing series, we have to wonder, what's happening to the late model drivers they're displacing? Of course, you may never find out, because of ...

10. The death of local coverage
National media coverage of NASCAR has become so comprehensive, and the newspaper industry is in such a recession, that many local publications have scrapped or are phasing out their racing beats. We're not talking about Mayberry, but places like Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville and Greensboro. This isn't just a media issue -- it's of great concern to NASCAR, which sees big-city newspapers as a primary way of reaching casual sports fans. And it's another blow to short tracks, and those future Clint Bowyers and Denny Hamlins of the world who'll now have a little more trouble getting discovered. (Continued)