NASCAR 2008 Team Capsules, Part 2

Here is part two of my NASCAR 2008 Team Capsules. This batch runs from Denny Hamlin's No. 11 to Dave Blaney's No. 22. Enjoy!

Car No.: 11
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Sponsor: Federal Express
Car Make: Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
Chase Outlook: Higher
Summary: This team looked to be in championship form entering the 2007 Chase but fizzled out and ended up taking home 12th place in the standings, a far cry from where many experts expected him to finish. Denny is hoping that 2008’s finish is drastically better. Lets not forget that all the Gibbs Racing teams have switched to Toyota in 2008, which could be a major storyline to watch. Will JGR struggle with the new manufacturer on board or will they be the first Toyota team to pick up a win in NASCAR’s elite series?

Car No.: 12
Driver: Ryan Newman
Sponsor: ALLTEL
Car Make: Dodge
Owner: Roger Penske
Chase Outlook: Fairly High
Summary: When is Ryan Newman going to break this dry spell? He hasn’t won a race since the 2005 season and one would imagine that’s got to be eating at him by now, especially after winning 12 races in his first four seasons in the series. With any luck 2008 will be the season he breaks his unlucky streak and returns to victory lane and maybe even the Chase.

Car No.: 15
Driver: Paul Menard
Sponsor: Menard’s
Car Make: Chevrolet
Owner: Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Chase Outlook: Mild at best
Summary: The most underachieving driver on DEI’s roster returns for his sophomore season in NASCAR’s top series. Menard, who struggled to make races last year until he was given a gift during the Ginn/DEI merger, the owner points from one of Ginn’s cars, will need to really up his performance in 2008 if he expects to continue driving a DEI Chevrolet. I’d say anywhere from five to eight top 10’s will be a victory for him this season with a top 5 or two thrown in there to even things out.

Car No.: 16
Driver: Greg Biffle
Sponsor: 3M (23 Races)/Unconfirmed
Car Make: Ford
Owner: Jack Roush
Chase Outlook: Fairly High
Summary: Greg Biffle hasn’t exactly had a good season in awhile. The man many expected to become the first driver to win a championship in each of NASCAR’s three top divisions (he already has Nationwide and Craftsman Truck titles) has stumbled the last two years, managing finishes of only 13th and 14th in the standings. This is another driver who really needs to up his performance if he expects to stay in the quality equipment he is currently driving. Sponsorship is mostly covered for this team with 3M sponsoring the car in 23 races, but that still leaves 13 races with no colors on the car, at least not yet.

Car No.: 17
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Sponsor: DeWalt Tools
Car Make: Ford
Owner: Jack Roush
Chase Outlook: Highest
Summary: A staple of the Chase since its inception and a threat to win the championship every year since he won it in 2003, Kenseth had another good year in 2007 (not to mention an outstanding close to the season). This year could be another great year or a major struggle for Kenseth, depending on how well he adapts to the Car of Tomorrow. Easily Ford’s best threat for a championship, looking past Kenseth is going to be hard to do in 2008.

Car No.: 18
Driver: Kyle Busch
Sponsor: Mars Foods (30 Races)/Interstate Batteries (6 Races)
Car Make: Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
Chase Outlook: High
Summary: A new era begins in 2008 for Kyle Busch and his new team over at Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs is hoping that Kyle will be able to bring this former championship winning team back to the same form that Bobby Labonte had it in when he picked up his lone Cup Championship in 2000. Mars Foods (M&M’s, Snickers, Pedigree Dog Food) comes on board as primary sponsor for most of the schedule while Interstate Batteries will stick around for six races. Of course, Toyota comes on as manufacturer over at the Gibbs house, making this car one to watch in 2008.

Car No.: 19
Driver: Elliott Sadler
Sponsor: Best Buy (15 Races)/Stanley Tools (?? Races)
Car Make: Dodge
Owner: Gillett Evernham Motorsports
Chase Outlook: Fair
Summary: Elliott Sadler returns to the seat of the No. 19 Dodge in 2008 with some new colors on the hood courtesy of Best Buy, who jumped ship from Haas CNC Racing. Sadler, who always seemed to be good in qualifying in 2007, didn’t always race well, resulting in a 25th place finish in the standings. While a Chase berth is probably out of the question, this is one of those sleeper teams that with the right amount of skill and luck could sneak in and still a race win at some point during the season.

Car No.: 20
Driver: Tony Stewart
Sponsor: The Home Depot
Car Make: Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
Chase Outlook: Highest
Summary: Tony Stewart, the man, the myth, the legend, continues to be one of the best drivers in NASCAR today. 2008 should be no exception for this former Sprint Cup and IndyCar Champion, who came home 6th in the 2007 standings. The only major question is how well he will do with Toyota on the hood of his car rather then the familiar bow tie of Chevrolet. Only time will answer this question. But here is a different question: Can we really expect a team with drivers like Stewart, Hamlin & Kyle Busch to go an entire season without winning?

Car No.: 21
Driver(s): Marcos Ambrose (12 Races)/Bill Elliott (1 Race?)/Unconfirmed
Sponsor: Little Debbies (18 Races)/Unconfirmed
Car Make: Ford
Owner: Wood Brothers Racing
Chase Outlook: Slim to None
Summary: Oh how far the mighty have fallen. The once dominant Wood Brothers Racing team is struggling to keep its head above water in these modern times. The team used a number of drivers in 2007 to help gain some stability (which made no sense to me) and will continue to do so starting with Bill Elliott at the Daytona 500. Marcos Ambrose will start 12 races in the famous No. 21 and its likely Elliott will start several more as well. The question marks are Jon Wood and Ken Schrader, where do they fit into the picture? Also, with Little Debbie only sponsoring the car in 18 races, who will step up and sponsor the car in the remaining 18?

Car No.: 22
Driver: Dave Blaney
Sponsor: Caterpillar
Car Make: Toyota
Owner: Bill Davis Racing
Chase Outlook: Mild at best
Summary: This team was easily Toyota’s most successful in 2007, coming closest to victory (3rd at Talladega in the fall) and was the only Toyota team to end the season in the top 35 in owner points. However with Joe Gibbs Racing joining the Toyota camp, the power will shift to them, making you wonder just how good this team is going to be in 2008.