2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Headlines

By Richard Tix

Last year the offseason was full of changes that got the NASCAR community in an uproar. From Austin Dillon coming into the Cup level in the #3 to NASCAR changing everything we knew about the Sprint Cup Chase, it seemed like it all changed.

This offseason NASCAR didn't make as many changes but that does not mean we don't have any news that made headlines before the season. So just like last season, NASCAR Behind the Wall is going to take a quick look at some of the biggest headlines going into the 2015 Daytona 500.

• Jeff Gordon Done Full-Time Racing After 2015
• Possibly the biggest headline of the 2015 offseason was Gordon announcing 2015 would be his last full-time season. It was even bigger news for myself because I grew up a NASCAR fan primarily in the 1990's, so Jeff Gordon is one of the last big time drivers of the early 90's around. He has impacted the sport in so many ways its hard to count, and that's before even talking about his on track accomplishments. It will be a fun and emotional season watching the Gordon in the #24.
• Chase: Year Number Two
• Last year NASCAR revamped its playoff system after ten years of the original Chase (a few minor tweaks along the way). In 2014 the way you get into the chase, how many get in, and the points in general changed. Well, in 2015 NASCAR heads into year two of the new Chase and will see exactly how year one effected fans. I for one am a fan of the new system and once again can not wait to see how it turns out.

• Do You Need A Win?
• While we are on the Chase, do you need a win to win a Cup title? Ryan Newman ruffled some feathers when he made the Finale in Miami without a win in 2014. That meant, he had a shot at a Sprint Cup Title without a single win on the season. Everyone focused on the fact that winning meant more in 2014, but I think people looked past you still don't have to win. Both statements are true. Winning does mean more because it automatically gets you in or moves you to the next round, but consistency is not dead and Newman proved that.
• NASCAR's New Rules
• NASCAR didn't change as much as they did in 2014, but that isn't saying nothing has changed. The big changes: No more testing other than team testing that either NASCAR or Goodyear has set up. A new Aero package that includes reduced horse power and less down force. Also, NASCAR now has rain tires for the two road course stops in the season. The biggest one to watch will be the new car package and what reduced HP will do to the racing. I thought they hit it big in the 2014 package and it seemed like we had some good racing again, but NASCAR will continue to tinker in 2015 and we may end up with some mixed results.

• ESPN is Gone and NBCSN is in.
• Some were happy to see ESPN's somewhat lackluster coverage gone from the NASCAR schedule in 2015. With that move NBC jumped in and took back over some coverage for the first time in awhile. I think the big issue some might be missing is that 13 of the races are on NBCSN (NBC Sports Network) and 5 of those are Chase races. The issue? I would put my money on many fans do not have NBCSN compared to the millions that had ESPN. My biggest issue is that 5 of the 10 Chase races are on this channel of NBC that many people wont get.
• Carl Edwards with Joe Gibbs Racing
• In the past two years we have watched Matt Kenseth move from RFR to JGR and win 7 races and Kevin Harvick move from RCR to SHR and win a Championship. This year the big mover is Edwards from RFR to JGR. Will we see a refreshed Carl? Will he compete for a title again? I think he bounces back in a big way.

• JGR Moves to a Four Car Team
• With the addition of Edwards JGR moves to a four car team in 2015. Questions always come up when teams that have been three car teams move to four. On top of that Toyota released the new 2015 Camry, so JGR has a lot to adjust to in 2015.
• Kyle Larson's Second Season
• 2014 ROY Kyle Larson enters his second Sprint Cup season. After an offseason of people saying he was coming up too soon, Larson proved everyone wrong. Year two might be even better and Larson will be looking for win number one all year.
• Chase Elliott's First Cup Race
• In 2015, 2014 Nationwide Champion and ROY will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in the #25 for Hendrick Motorsports. However, the bigger news was that he will be taking over the #24 in 2016 for Jeff Gordon. NASCAR has a ton of young talent that will be making there debut's in the next few years which is exciting for any NASCAR fan. The new wave is here.

• Will JR Motorsports Join Cup Soon?
• This will continue to be a headline for a few years, but the idea seems to be out there. After a strong start to the 2014 Nationwide season I started to think about the possibility. Then Chase Elliott won the Nationwide Championship for JR Motorsports. So everything was pointing towards branching into Cup in the next few years. Now, news broke that JR Motorsports will be entering the Camping World Truck Series as well. If things keep going in the right direction with they move to Cup soon? Its something to keep an eye on in the coming seasons. 
• Jimmie Johnson Bounce Back?
• With four wins and 20 top 10's and we are talking about bouncing back? It's the JJ standard. In no way was 2014 a bad year for JJ, but he and the #48 team expect to be competing for titles, so in that sense it was a down year. 2015 should prove to give JJ plenty of fire to get back on top after a down season for JJ standards in 2014.

Added by the Readers:
A few extra headlines readers said they will be looking at in the 2015 season

• No More Side Skirts
• During NASCAR Media week they announced that the ever popular side skirt flaring would now be illegal in 2015. If caught, the team will have to come down pit road and serve a penalty. -Lori Sue on Google +
• Pit Stop Cameras
• NASCAR is doing away with some NASCAR track side/pit officials and in return will be adding camera posts to each track to monitor pit stops and to issue penalties. 45 HD cameras will be placed to watch each pit stall from different angles and a monitoring crew will look at the evidence sent to them to issue out penalties to teams. It gets ride of some potential dangers in regards to extra officials near the cars, but might bring in a new technological edge to how we know pit stops. -Jerome Teal on Google +
• Crew Chief Changes
• This offseason included a few CC changes on teams throughout NASCAR. Some included are Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr and a rotation within JGR (after adding Carl Edwards to the team). Each will be interesting to watch along the way. -Jerome Teal on Google +