Nascar Nextel Chase for the Championship Predictions

NASCAR runs a 36 week season. At the end of 26 weeks, they take the top 10 drivers in points and "reset" the field in increments of 5 point for a 10 week playoff. Here are my predictions for the 10 drivers to make the cut in September.

10. Jeff Burton - change of scenery to Richard Childress Racing lights a fire under Ward's little brother. Jeff breaks his losing streak that dates back to 2001 sometime in the first half of the year - maybe at Texas Motor Speedway.
9. Matt Kenseth - why is Kennseth only 9th? He could be higher.
8. Greg Biffle - do not be shocked that Biffle makes the top 10. Biffle is a wheelman.
7. Dale Jr. - swapped crew chiefs with the 15 team. Wins at least 1 race at Talledega, but it also looks like the rest of Nascar has caught up with the boys at DEI in the restrictor plate area.
6. Kasey Kahne - wins at least 3 races this year.
5. Jimmie Johnson - Jeffie Gordon's teammate can drive the wheels off the car. He'll also win at least one of the races at Charlotte this year, as usual.
4. Jamie McMurray - don't be surprised if he wins the whole thing.
3. Kurt Busch - defending champ from '04 continues on. Jimmy Spencer wishes he could drive 1/4 as well as Kurt - Jimmy, it's time to forget.
2. Jeff Gordon - going for his fifth title this year. Can he make the "Drive for 5 in '05?"
1. Tony Stewart - time for "Smoke" to rebound. Too much talent.

My list breaks down like this by manufacturer:
Ford: 3, and all the Fords are at Roush Racing
Chevy: 5, and
Dodge: 2

Notables missing from my list - Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Labonte.

Bud Shootout is Saturday Night under the lights at Daytona - 8:00 on FOX. Mark Martin makes a statement and has a good top five finish. Jimmie Johnson wins the Shootout.

Boogity, boogity, boogity boys, let's go racing.