2015 Predictions: Part 1

I’m trying something new this year. Sure, I’ve done predictions before, but nothing like this. Over the next week or so, I’m going to break down teams and their drivers. I’m going to cover: Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Team Penske, Richard Petty Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Stewart Haas Racing, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, and Michael Waltrip Racing. Every little detail will be done.

I’m going to start with Hendrick. Hendrick is always a threat to win the championship with all four of his drivers and I don’t think 2015 will be any different. With a powerhouse like Hendrick Motorsports, I don’t think anything less than the absolute best will do for the team. First up: Jimmie Johnson.

Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie is coming off his worst season yet. Despite winning four races, Jimmie failed to make it to round three of the Chase and finished 11^th in the standings. Despite all of that Jimmie is always a threat for the championship. He did win five in a row from 2006 to 2010 and won his sixth in 2013. 2015 will fare better for Jimmie, but I don’t think he’ll win another championship, maybe. I see Jimmie winning at least 2 races and making it to at least the final 8. With the competition that has been rising over the last two season, I think it will be a lot harder for Jimmie Johnson to win that coveted seventh championship that would tie him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Jimmie will still be paired with long-time crew chief Chad Knaus in 2015.

Jeff Gordon: Just a couple of weeks ago, Jeff Gordon announced that 2015 will be his last full season as a driver. This came as a surprise to everyone in the NASCAR world, reporters and fans alike. Looking into Gordon’s last season, I don’t expect anything less than the very best from Jeff. This is going to be his last chance to bring in that fifth championship, one that has been eluding him since he won his last one back in 2001. Gordon recorded 4 wins and made it to the third round of the Chase, finishing sixth in the final standings. I think Gordon is going to out with a bang. Four wins and possibly a final four spot in the final race at Homestead in November may be in Jeff’s future. Jeff will still be working with Alan Gustafson in his final season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior is coming off his first multi-win season since 2004, winning four races including the Daytona 500. He finished eighth in the final standings. Junior has been getting better these last few seasons, but I don’t think 2015 will be the same. Pairing with new crew chief, Greg Ives, in 2015, it’s going to be hard for the two of them to mesh together right away. Junior will have a slow first half of the season, heating up around Daytona in July. I think he’ll barely make the Chase, winning at Richmond for his lone victory of the season. Dale will make it to the second round of the Chase before faltering at Kansas.

Kasey Kahne: Kasey is coming off of one of his worst seasons of his career, probably his worst at Hendrick. Despite winning at Atlanta and making the Chase, Kasey didn’t make any noise in the Chase. He missed the third round of the Chase by just a handful of points. Kasey finished 15^th. It was announced back on November 21^st that Kasey had resigned with Hendrick for another three season, making everyone question Hendrick’s thinking. I think 2015 will bring Kasey Kahne back to his true form. I think he’ll win a season high of 6 races and be a serious threat in the Chase, possibly winning the entire thing. Kasey got a new crew chief, but that’s not going to slow him down. Keith Rodden has worked with Kasey for the last ten year, not including 2014. I have a big feeling that 2015 is Kasey's year.

Hendrick will be the biggest threat in 2015. Stay tuned, next will be Team Penske and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.