Here are some picks from SCS members for the 2006 season.
nadeau01_johnson48:
2006 NEXTEL CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Time to start this thing off with what looks like the best rookie class EVER. So many to pick from, and I think Stremme, Sorenson, and Truex Jr. will compete for the ROY, but won't win. I'm taking Denny Hamlin, based off the fact as to how well he ran already this past year in the few races he did run in. I'm takin' Hamlin.
2006 NEXTEL CUP CHAMP:
Well, it's tough to go against Stewart, or Edwards, but I will. (And no, I'm NOT picking JJ for the first time in my life...LOL) I think Jeff Gordon will rebound from his season last year, and run like he did towards the end of the season and take Title No. 5.
2006 BUSCH SERIES CHAMP:
Hmm, there are a few that stick out to me, like Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Reed Sorenson (assuming none of them miss a race), but I think an old champ is gonna come back to the series full time this year, and win the Championship. That person being Kevin Harvick.
2006 CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES CHAMP:
Tough one here, I think that if Todd Bodine does the whole season, he can probably win it, but I'm gonna go with Dennis Setzer, since he's finished 2nd, what, three straight years now?
2006 CHASE FOR THE CUP COMPETITORS:
I'll go in order as I think they will FINISH the season...
10. Kyle Busch
9. Mark Martin
8. Dale Jr.
7. Ryan Newman
6. Greg Biffle
5. Jimmie Johnson
4. Jamie McMurray
3. Tony Stewart
2. Carl Edwards
1. Jeff Gordon
2006 11TH PLACE $1 MILLION WINNER:
I'm gonna go ahead and say Elliott Sadler. I think he will rebound and have a decent season this year.
2006 FIRST TIME WINNERS:
There are a few of what you could say "any race now they will win" drivers, so I think these guys will get their first cup win in '06. Brian Vickers will finally get one (or two), as will Casey Mears.
2006 BIG STORYLINE:
More than 10 guys in the Chase this year! I just think there are way too many talented drivers to only have 10 in this year. I think Jarrett, Vickers, Mears, Harvick and Kenseth will be close, with a few getting in.
2006 SUPRISE:
I have two:
One rookie will win a race this year.....but it WON'T be Hamlin, Truex Jr, or Sorenson (the obvious picks to win a race, hence what makes this the suprise)...I'm going with Clint Bowyer, maybe at a place like Phoenix. The second, is I think Bobby Labonte won't last the season in the Petty car. I think he might either retire a little early, or try and find a better quality ride somewhere mid-season.
2006 DISSAPOINTMENT:
Evernham Motorsports. I don't see Kahne or Mayfield making the chase, or Riggs doing much there. I do think either Kasey and Jeremy will win a race this year, but both be around 15th-20th in points come the end of the year.
Jeremy, see what happens when you pick against Johnson to win the title? He wins it! You better pick against him again lol.
-----------------
jonsportscards
2006 NEXTEL CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:Sorenson
2006 NEXTEL CUP CHAMP:Matt Kenseth so close last year lol.
2006 BUSCH SERIES CHAMP:Clint Bowyer
Almost had Kenseth right.
-----------------
Skippy
2006 NEXTEL CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
I agree with Jeremy and pick Denny Hamlin, going againest my guy.
Denny Hamlin
2006 NEXTAL CUP CHAMPION:
I think this will be the year and Greg will come through.
Greg Biffle
2006 BUSCH CHAMPIOM:
I think running both series won't be to bad and Denny will prevail
Denny Hamlin
2006 BUSCH ROOKIE of the YEAR:
I have to go with Jr's protege`and pick this young driver
Mark Mcfarland
2006 First Time Winners.
I have two this year
Brian Vickers and Denny Hamlin
Not bad at guessing two correct first-time winners.
----------------------
kahnefan
ROY - Hamlin
Cup Champion - Biffle
Busch Champion - Bowyer
First time winners - vickers and mears
Chase contenders - biffle, edwards, stewart, gordon, johnson, dale jr., martin, newman, mcmurray, kahne(I hope)
11th place - kyle busch
You got Kahne into the top 10. Got Hamlin right and Vickers being a winner.
--------------------
abnascar22
2006 NEXTEL CUP CHAMPION:
With the way Stewart performed from Sonoma through Homestead, it's hard to pick against him or Gordon or Johnson, but Carl Edwards has really matured as a dominate race car driver. If he can learn how to race on the road and on superspeedways, he'll be the 2006 Champion, and he's my pick.
2006 NEXTEL CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
I'm a huge Denny Hamlin fan... but Martin Truex, Jr. will win ROY honors. I think Hamlin, Sorenson, and Bowyer will make it close, but I think it'll be Truex walking away with it. He just has so much experience and he'll have his two-time defending Busch team backing him. I hope I'm wrong and Hamlin does win it, but I just don't see it happening at this point.
2006 BUSCH SERIES CHAMPION:
Denny Hamlin just isn't as good in a Busch car as a Cup car and I don't think Bowyer can back up what he did last year. Kevin Harvick is running the full schedule again this year and he'll win his second championship. He's the best Busch Series driver from the Cup Series since Mark Martin, but with a full tour and so many other drivers doing double duty, he'll be the best and claim it all.
2006 BUSCH SERIES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Burney Lamar will beat out Mark McFarland with a couple races to go to win the Busch Series ROY. He has a lot of talent and in Kevin Harvick's equipment, he'll be tough to beat.
change: I completely forgot that Todd Kluever was in the Busch Series in 2006. So, I'm changing my answer. He has some awesome runs in the Truck Series last year and will be taking over Edwards' Busch ride last year. He's your 2006 Rookie of the Year. Lamar second and third will be McFarland.
2006 CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES CHAMP:
Toyota wants a championship... bad. They need something to show to the fans and NASCAR that they mean business. Todd Bodine is the man to give them their first NASCAR championship. He, Dennis Setzer, and Bobby Hamilton will give it a run, but Bodine will finally get a championship.
2006 CHASE FOR THE CUP COMPETITORS:
1. Carl Edwards
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Tony Stewart
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Greg Biffle
6. Mark Martin
7. Ryan Newman
8. Kurt Busch
9. Matt Kenseth
10. Kyle Busch
2006 11TH PLACE $1 MILLION WINNER:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He'll be better in 06, but still not live up to his 2004 performance. I also think that Martin Truex, Jr., Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick, and Brian Vickers will be close.
2006 FIRST TIME WINNERS:
Casey Mears should score his first win on a 1.5 mile track, BUT it's contigent on Ganassi turning his entire organization around. He has the WORST three-car team in the league (no wins since 2002). Martin Truex, Jr. I think can win on a superspeedway and Brian Vickers will break through at Pocono. Denny Hamlin, Reed Sorenson, and Clint Bowyer will have some shots, but I think will fall short.
ANNOUCEMENTS:
Toyota officially announces plans to enter the Nextel (Sprint) Cup Series in 2007 with Bill Davis Racing, Robby Gordon Motorsports, PPI Racing, Morgan McClure Motorsports, and Michael Waltrip Racing.
2006 SUPRISE:
This year's rookie class could be the best ever and I think they'll make their presence known early with solid top-fives and maybe wins.
Roush Racing will rupture. It started in 2005, but it just looks to be getting worse. Drivers aren't happy, crew members aren't happy, and something has to give.
I don't know how surprising it'll be, but I'm sure a couple drivers won't last through Watkins Glen.
2006 DISAPPOINTMENTS:
David Stremme. What is Chip Ganassi thinking? Sure, he has some talent, but he hasn't proven himself ready for Cup competition. J.J. Yeley, once again, he's shown promise in the Busch Series, but just isn't ready for Cup competition.
Bobby Labonte... I love the guy, but he's not the savior that Petty Enterprises needs. PE needs money and technology and Kyle Petty to retire and fall to a management position. Labonte certainly is a forward step to bring them back to the forefront, but don't expect much more than a 20th place points finish.
Michael Waltrip and BDR. Bill Davis Racing has gone downhill since Tommy Baldwin left in 2002 (believe me, I've been following BDR closely since 1998). Waltrip, like Labonte and PE, is a positive step for BDR, but will not take them out of the gutter. Top 25 in points and a few top 10s and Waltrip will run his own team in a couple years. Dave Blaney is in his THIRD stint with BDR. What is so great about this guy? Seriously, can anyone tell me? He has done nothing in his Cup career, but keeps getting jobs. Unless the NASCAR schedule runs nothing but Atlanta, I don't see him finishing the season. How about Ward Burton? I don't think he'd go back to BDR, but if Blaney can get a ride, why can't he?
2006 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION
Well, I dunno. This a tough one. Gordon will be good along with Harvick, Johnson, and Dale Jr.... even Truex Jr. should be good. But, I'll go with Tony Stewart. He won the Pepsi 400 and he'll continue the 'streak' to two wins.
Well, I got the Busch and Truck champs right. I was WAAAAY off on the Cup champ though. Got Toyota (two of the teams), Stremme, and Vickers right (just wrong track for Vickers).
------------------
<TABLE class=ipbtable cellSpacing=1><TBODY><TR><TD class=row2 vAlign=center width="1%">stewart20rulz
2006 Daytona 500 Winner: SMOKE!!!!!
2006 NEXTEL CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Denny Hamlin
2006 NEXTEL CUP CHAMP: Mark Martin (He's due!!!!)
2006 BUSCH SERIES CHAMP: Kyle Busch
2006 BUSCH ROY: Todd Kluever
2006 CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES CHAMP: David Starr (long shot)
2006 CHASE FOR THE CUP COMPETITORS:
10. Matt Kenseth
9. Kevin Harvick
8. Kurt Busch
7. Greg Biffle
6. Kyle Busch
5. Dale Jr
4. Jeff Gordon
3. Tony Stewart
2. Jimmie Johnson
1. Mark Martin (gotta go with Mark...I sure am hoping even though I root for Tony)
2006 11TH PLACE $1 MILLION WINNER: Torn between Newman or Jamie McMurray?????
2006 FIRST TIME WINNER: Denny Hamlin, Truex
2006 BIG STORYLINE: Martin wins the Championship in last race of the season. Bobby Labonte brings Petty enterprises into top 15.
2006 SUPRISE: Ward Burton is back!!!!!!!!!!! Carl Edwards suffers slump and barely cracks top 20.
2006 DISSAPOINTMENT:
Carl edwards and ...
I can't argue with this:
"Evernham Motorsports. I don't see Kahne or Mayfield making the chase, or Riggs doing much there. I do think either Kasey and Jeremy will win a race this year, but both be around 15th-20th in points come the end of the year."
Got Edwards right as a "disappointment" and having Hamlin as a winner. Correctly had seven of the top 10 in points and Ward Burton did come back... although not what many expected
--------------------------
If anybody else made some predictions from 06. Don't be afraid to share them! As you can see, we were all wrong somewhere and absolutely right in others.
Alex
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_841947--><!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_841925-->