2015 Team Spotlight Preview: Chip Ganassi Racing

Ganassi Racing 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

2014 Team Stats of Returning Drivers

Races: 72

Wins: 0

Top 5: 15

Top 10: 30

Pole: 3

2014 Chase Drivers: 0

If we learned one thing after the Media Tour it was this: That the team strongly believes that the zero in the Chase Drivers column will be two next year. I love the confidence coming from the organization who seemed like they took big strides in 2014.

The best thing about the statement is it could happen. Kyle Larson had one heck of a rookie season but was left win-less. I can see him pulling off a couple of wins in 2015 which puts him in the Chase. Also, McMurray is one of the more underrated drivers at the Cup level and has 7 career wins and has proven he is a threat at every superspeedway stop. 

Will they get two in? The percentages should say no. After a wild 2014 Chase I think drivers will have a better understanding of the system in 2015. That means more aggressive finishes which leads to more wrecks and people left out.

I think the last laps at Daytona and Talladega (McMurray's best shots) will be even crazier because everyone (including small teams) saw that a guy like Almirola can get in. That's bad news for Jamie because the more others push, the higher his chance of being involved in the "big one" is. I do think Larson wil make the Chase in year two, so one of two isn't bad and will still be a proud moment.

Kyle Larson

• This time last year doubters were aplenty. I will admit even as a Larson fan I didn't think it would go as well as it did. Now, I wasn't one who said it was too soon, but I didn't think he would run top 5 and top 10 as much as he did (just want to be up front). That being said he had one heck of a rookie season. The next step will be having a productive year two where he will be searching for a few wins and making the Chase. I think Ganassi will get at least one driver in and my money is on Kyle.

Jamie McMurray

• 2014 was one of McMurrays more consistent seasons in awhile even though he ran into a lot of bad luck to start the season. With the new Chase system Jamie has new life when it comes to making the Chase. All it takes is one win and he is in. He has three chances at superspeedways and if he gets in, and advances to round two, he will have another shot at shocking people with a win at Talladega like BK did in 2014.

2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

In 1993 a young gun came up from the lower levels of NASCAR to make his rookie season debut. In 30 races he went win-less but finished with 7 top 5's, 11 top 10's and a pole. In that rookie season he also finished 14th in points while having an average finish position of 13.1.

Meanwhile, in 2014 NASCAR had another you gun come up and take on his rookie season. That rookie was Kyle Larson. He finished the year win-less but with 8 top 5's, 17 top 10's, and 1 pole. He finished the season 17th in points and with an average finish of 15.6.

If you haven't guessed (or looked up) yet, that 1993 rookie was Jeff Gordon. The following season after his rookie year he broke out to win 2 races, 7 top 5's, and 14 top 10's, while finishing the year 8th in the standings. Year three broke the mold and he finished off his first Cup Championship, 1995 (see why I like the three year scale of new drivers?). The rest since then is history.

And history, that is what Kyle Larson is looking to make going forward. Gordon was just 21 years old his rookie year, as is Larson. In the world of NASCAR at the time there was no way a kid that young would adapt that quick. Some of the same things were said about Larson. He was too young, too raw, and hadn't spent enough time in the NASCAR ranks to do well right away at the Cup level.

Well, in 2014 Larson quieted some of those idea's but going out and putting on some impressive performances throughout the year. The most impressive part of the season to me was when he started the Chase (Chicago) with 5 straight top 10's (4 of those were top 5's). 

The next part that impressed me? In the last 18 races (starting at Loudon) Larson strung together 10 top 10's, 5 of which were top 5's. Not only that, he 15 of those 18 were at least top 15's. That a streak that many top 10 drivers on the Cup level would enjoy.

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectation:

• I think it is safe to assume many fans have high expectations for Larson in 2015, heck I started this article out talking about Jeff Gordon who will go down as one of the greatest drivers in the Modern Era and Chase Era. The question is can he live up to them and what should the real expectations be? I really think he will get his first win in 2015 and I think he may follow that up with one or two more. I think in 2015 his top 5 total (8) and top 10 total (17) will stay about the same, though. With the fact that I think he will win a race or two in 2015, I also think he will obviously make the Chase. 

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2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Jamie McMurray

Jamie McMurray 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

Jamie McMurray had a good run in 2014 with Chip Ganassi Racing and will return to the #1 again in 2015. In 2014 he posted an average start position of 14.5 which was the best mark he has had since 2010 and an average finish of 16.2 which was the best of his career since 2004.

Maybe it was the addition of rookie teammate Kyle Larson that got him going, or maybe Ganassi Racing figured out a few things, but things were on the up tick for McMurray in 2014. In fact, some bad luck for in his way more times than not which took away a few top 10 finishes. 

In spit of that, McMurray still finished with 7 top 5's (best since 9 in 2010), 13 top 10's (best since 23 in 2014), and 2 poles (best since 4 in 2010). All in all McMurray had a very high quality season that came up short of the Chase.

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:

• I think going into 2015 McMurray has to be thinking Chase. After such a successful 2014 season where the team in general took a step forward with rookie Kyle Larson, both cars have to be thinking taking it to the next level. McMurray has shown over his career he can find a way to win (7 career wins), but he is streaky. Sometimes he will post a win after a win-less season and others he will wait a few years. I think he has a good shot at a win in 2015 after leading the most laps in his career in 2014 (368), but it isn't a sure thing. Expect 4-6 top 5's and 8-10 top 10's as a floor, but he could raise those numbers if Ganassi finds some more speed in 2015.

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