New rules, Danica among picks for '10 top storyline

By NASCAR.COM
January 25, 2010
04:11 PM EST

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The countdown to the 2010 season is nearing an end and there are plenty of storylines heading into the new season.

The Cup and Nationwide series will both make changes to its car, the most popular female driver in the world will make her debut, rule changes are coming to the Cup Series, the economy, the "Drive for Five", the list goes on and on.

NASCAR.COM's writers pick one story they think will be the biggest one in 2010 and a couple others to keep an eye on throughout the season.

Mark Aumann

Back to basics

NASCAR has announced that it will relax some on-track rules, putting racing back in the drivers' hands in 2010.

In 2010, NASCAR hopes to make like Prince and "party like it's 1999." How else can one explain the massive numbers of retro changes coming to the Cup Series this season? For example: spoilers instead of wings, permitting unlimited bump drafting at restrictor-plate tracks, consistent start times, aggressive markdowns and marketing of race tickets. Of course, back in 1999, NASCAR's popularity was still on the upswing, although the sanctioning body has gone out of its way in an attempt to convince a skeptical fan base that the racing's never been better. But if it's not broke, then why are they trying to fix it? Maybe it's not just the economy, stupid. And will this stop the steady flow of fans finding other things to do on Sundays?

Also in the news:
• Can anyone stop Jimmie Johnson's Cup collection at four?
• Will the introduction of the new Nationwide chassis begin to solve that series' lingering identity crisis?

Jarrod Breeze

NASCAR's decision to ditch the wing in favor of the more traditional spoiler on the new car will take drivers more than a March test at Charlotte Motor Speedway to determine what affect it will have on the racing. After all, these guys have been learning, and sometimes fighting, with the wing since the new car was introduced in 2007. Remember, the reason NASCAR chose the wing over the spoiler in the first place was because initial tests proved the wing to be a better fit. And what the spoiler was to the old car may not be the same with the new. With different tracks come different results, and it will be at least a year-long process. My guess is somebody, somewhere, won't be happy.

Also in the news:
• Opening of Hall of Fame celebrates NASCAR's storied history
• Is Jimmie Johnson's fifth consecutive title a matter of formality?

David Caraviello

The top story of the 2010 season? Danica, Danica, Danica. The success or failure of the IndyCar starlet in the Nationwide Series is already the biggest story of 2010, and the season hasn't even started yet. Will she galvanize stock-car fans as she did those in the IndyCar ranks? Will she be able to handle herself on the race track? Will her skills translate into the heavier stock car? Her every lap around the track is going to be scrutinized like NBC's late-night lineup. Her first wreck will attract hordes of reporters to the garage area. Her first win? If it happens, it just might change the sport.

Also in the news:
• Teams continue to deal with dropping sponsorship values
• Jeremy Mayfield and NASCAR near their showdown in court

Blueprint to success

The formula to beat Jimmie Johnson is rather easy, writes David Caraviello, just copy what the four-time champ and his team.

Bill Kimm

As NASCAR enters into a new decade, it will see a resurgence of some teams that struggled in 2009. Say goodbye to Hendrick dominance and welcome in a new era of competitiveness. Roush Fenway Racing will return to top form, Richard Childress Racing will recover from an abysmal '09, Penske Racing will be even stronger with the addition of Brad Keselowski and Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas will continue to build title contenders with the 2010 championship going to either Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin. It's been a good run for the boys at Hendrick, but all good things must come to an end.

Also in the news:
• All Danica, all the time as she makes her move to NASCAR
• Teams struggle to adjust to all the changes in the Cup Series

Joe Menzer

Tony Stewart holds off Kyle Busch to win his third Cup championship, breaking Jimmie Johnson's stranglehold on the series and stopping Johnson's Drive for Five in its tracks. Johnson will remain a major factor, however. In NASCAR's top storyline of 2010 (NASCAR hopes), it will come down to the final race at Homestead -- with Stewart, the younger of the two Busch brothers and Johnson all having a mathematical chance to win the title. In only his second year as driver-owner at Stewart-Haas Racing, Stewart will pull out the victory -- winning the season finale and his first title since 2005 when he drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch will finish second and storm off blaming his brother, Kurt, for blocking him down the stretch, making for more interesting (read: awkward) conversation at the Busch family's already wacky Thanksgiving dinner table. Johnson will finish third, but critics will say he should have finished fourth -- and would have if crew chief Chad Knaus hadn't been cheatin'.

Also in the news:
• Start-and-parkers multiply in the Cup Series as the sagging racing economy continues to struggle in producing top sponsorship dollars
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally wins another race

Dave Rodman

When two bellwethers of the industry, Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, drop seats -- as in, give up on selling them and delete them from the inventory -- you know there's trouble in Dodge, err, in racing. It's not just NASCAR, it's all sports, all of entertainment and yeah, all of life. By the time the year is over, things will have started to turn around with the economy. But it will be well into next season before the race tracks and race teams start to see light. And everywhere they turn, that will be the big story for fans this season.

Also in the news:
• The impact of NASCAR's rule changes in the Cup Series
• Television: From ratings, to coverage dynamics, to scheduling, to new technology

Danicamania

More Danica

Chris Stanfield

As Dale Earnhardt Jr. gels with Lance McGrew and makes the Chase to the delight of his many fans, Jimmie Johnson continues his unprecedented run to claim a fifth consecutive title. The usual suspects in Gordon, Stewart and Martin each found their respective and familiar places in the standings, but No. 48 and team continue to show their poise and consistency throughout the season. It's over by the time Homestead gets here.

Also in the news:
• Anything and everything Danica Patrick does in the Nationwide Series will be celebrated, second-guessed, over-analyzed and chastised
• The economy and its influence on teams and their ability to gain new and keep current sponsors

Raygan Swan

Everyone will be watching Danica Patrick in 2010. Her offseason appearance at Daytona created a media circus and that was just for an ARCA test. Once she is on the track, everyone will tune it to see if she can learn to wheel a stock car as well as she learned how to race an open-wheel car. That, and everyone is eager to see how the boys will handle her attitude, err, competitive spirit. She's not one to let things roll off her back, just ask fellow open-wheel driver Dan Wheldon.

Also in the news:
• Denny Hamlin replaces Kyle Busch for best villain after Hamlin throws his knee brace at Brad Keselowski's car
• Stewart-Haas Racing forms a third team mid-season sponsored by Budweiser. Driver: Fellow sprint car comrade Kasey Kahne

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.