2015 Happy New Year: NASCAR Addition

By Richard Tix

Last year I started the NASCAR New Year article, so I thought I would revisit it again in 2015. This article is dedicated to the NASCAR drivers who will be celebrating a little harder then the rest. No, not Kevin Harvick after he won the Championship, but rather guys who want to forget the 2014 season. If you need a reminder of how it works, look back at last years Happy New Year: NASCAR Addition.

Tony Stewart

Smoke was looking forward to the 2014 after a huge let down in 2013 because of an injury he suffered in a Sprint Car race which left him missing races. He had a few surgeries and looked like he would slowly ease back into the 2014 season. However, Smoke never seemed to really make it back into old form. For the first time in his career Tony Stewart went a full Cup season without at least one win in NASCAR's highest level. He also had a bunch of off the track news that helped hold a cloud over his 2014 season, so Smoke will be as ready as anyone for 2015.

Clint Bowyer

Bowyer still seems to be reeling after the "spin gate" in 2013 at Richmond. I'm sure that event isn't the main reason, but it is ironic. Yet again Bowyer had a win less season and ended up finishing the season outside the 16 driver Chase. To make matters worse he finished a career worst 19th in the points and had his lowest number of top 10's since his rookie year.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr

I hate putting a second year guy on this list, but Ricky did not take a jump in the right direction in year two. Heck, he didn't even really take a baby step. Year three needs to be a bigger show of improvement for him not to be on this list again. Here is to an improved 2015!

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch made the Chase by winning one race during the first 26 races, but that is where most of the good news ends in 2014. Some off the track issues came up that may have lead to him losing focus, or maybe it was just a down year for him. One thing is for sure, he had a better season in 2013 with a small team than he did in his first year with Stewart-Haas Racing. Here is to 2015!

Greg Biffle

Ill be honest, RFR should be on here in general. Something was just missing in 2014 with those cars. So not all of this falls on the drivers. That being said, Greg still went win less in 2014 even when Carl Edwards still found a way. His 2014 numbers were some of his worst numbers in the last three years so Biffle is looking forward to the new year.

Jimmie Johnson

If this is just based on an average drivers numbers than JJ would never touch this list, but he gets judged on a different scale, a JJ scale. In JJ standards he had a very below average season. His average finish of 15.3 was the highest of his career. He finished 11th in points which is the first time he finished above 6th (and he only finished about 5th once). So JJ and the #48 team will be looking forward to the new year in 2015 and getting back into there comfort zone.

Happy New Year Race Fans!