2008 Nascar preview

The 2008 season is just about ready to begin. The Winston Cup; sorry, I meant Nextel Cup; whoops,the now named Sprint Cup Race is just about ready to begin. What more fun could you have during this year's Nascar season than to join a fantasy league. If you are interested, e-mail me at jboehler54@yahoo.com and we can forward you the rules. We are in Yahoo Sports and you have to join Fantasy Auto Racing. After you get your team info completed, it will ask you join a group. To join our group, the ID# is 6979 and the password is racing. Please e-mail me prior to joining if you want to know the rules.

Now what has changed for this year's season? Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s switch from DEI to Hendricks Motorsports is the story for 2008. Earnhardt has enhanced his chances to win "The Cup". Hendrick's Motorsports dominated in 2007! Jr. won six times in 2004 but has only won twice since then. Jr. had no wins in 2007. So this year we try to figure out if Jr. is overrated as a driver or was not supported with the right equipment. He has the best this year! Tony Eury Jr. will be his crew chief. They have had good chemistry in the past. Look to Jr. to be at or near the top of the Sprint Cup race in 2008. Jr. will be driving the 88 in 2008.

When Jr. moved to Hendricks, then Kyle Busch had to move. He moved over to Joe Gibbs Racing and he should be just as good this year as last. Joe Gibbs Racing did very well in 2007 also. His sponsor this year is M & M 's. Joe Gibbs Racing is switching to Toyotas in 2008. Kyle Busch's challenge will be getting enough attention away from Stewart and Hamlin, who are also members of Joe Gibbs Racing. Kyle Busch will drive the 18 car in 2008.

Casey Mears stays with Hendricks but he is switching from the 25 car to the 5 car. This is an upgrade for him. He will have Kyle Busch's old crew chief in Alan Gustafson. This team has won four times in three years. Casey Mears will be driving the 5 car in 2008.

With Kyle Busch moving to Joe Gibbs Racing, J.J. Yeley was the odd man out. He joined Hall of Fame Racing which is under the Joe Gibbs Racing umbrella. Hall of Fame Racing also have switched to Toyotas in 2008. J.J. Yeley will drive the 96 car in 2008.

Jeremy Mayfield has switched from Bill Davis Racing to Haas CNC Racing which many feel will help him get back to the circuit full time again. Mayfield replaces Johnny Sauter in the 70 car this year.

Scott Riggs will also join the Haas CNC Racing team. He was with Gillett Everham Motorsports last year. Riggs replaces Jeff Green with this team. He will be driving the 66 car in 2008.

David Reutimann has switched from the 00 car to the 44 car with Michael Waltrip Racing. Reutimann will begin the year in the 00 car but will replace Dale Jarrett after five races. Reutimann drives to 44 car after the fifth race in 2008.

The new rookies in the Nascar Spring Cup in 2008 looks like a move from the best of the Indy Car series. Who are the best newcomers in 2008.

We'll start with Regan Smith who drives for DEI in 2008. DEI doesn't have a history of their first year drivers having much success. Paul Menard drove for them last year. Regan Smith mentored with Mark Martin and this is why he is the top rookie we see coming in. Smith is this writer's pick as Rookie Driver of the Year due to experience and the team he will run with. Smith doesn't have a sponsor yet so that could be a hindrance. Smith drives the 01 car in 2008.

Dario Franchitti joins the Chip Gannassi Racing team this year. He comes as the 2007 Indy Racing champion. His wife is Ashley Judd. Which 2008 race will YOU attend so you can see Ashley Judd? Franchitti will join Montoya on the Gannassi team. Really no experience in stock cars. Franchitti will drive the 40 car in 2008.

Sam Hornish Jr. joins Penske Racing South. He is in the field for the first five races and is sponsored all season by Mobil 1. He will have a large learning curve this season. Another Indy racer to Nascar. He will drive the 77 car in 2008.

Jacques Villeneuve has joined the Bill Davis Racing team. Another Indy racer. He will have a difficult time qualifying this year and will miss some races. He may be the best driver of all the rookies. He did race at Talledega last year and finished 21st but in his race at Phoenix, he finished 41st. He will drive the 27 car this year.

The final rookie to be mentioned is Patrick Carpentier who has joined the Gillett Evernham Racing team. His specialty is the road races. He led several laps at Watkins Glen last year. He will be a teammate of Kayne and Sadler. He will have a difficult time qualifying for races. He will drive the 10 car which was driven by Scott Riggs last year.