Behind the Wall

Thursday, January 21, 2016

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

It is January 2016 and I think it is time to move on from the Kenseth v JoLo incident in 2015. However, even though it is time to move on does not mean that incident and the outcome did not define most of his season.

It really is unfortunate that many will remember the season because of that, but it is what the new Chase is. In the end though, he had a very productive season that started to heat up right around the time Kyle Busch came back. He ended up with 5 wins, 12 top 5's, and 20 top 10's. He now has 12 wins in three years with JGR.

Going forward it looks like the two drivers will put it behind them, but that all could be offseason talk. One thing is for sure, Kenseth is ready to get 2016 started.

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

Over his career Matt Kesneth has been Mr. Consistent so it is hard not to imagine him posting pretty close numbers to his average. I do not think he will get another 5 wins in 2016, but I do think multiple wins is likely. 2-3 wins, 10-12 top 10's, and 18-19 top 10's is right about where I have Kenseth in 2016. All of those numbers are a bit down from 2015, but I think he will advance further just be not having issues and run in's with Joey Logano.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Kurt Busch Career Paint Schemes

All kinds of news surrounded Kurt entering the 2015 season. He was sidelined by NASCAR because of investigations going on in his personal life. He missed the Daytona 500 and then the next two races to start the season.

Not much was going his way after a disappointing 2014 season, which was his first with SHR. In a career full of ups and downs, it wasn't looking good for Kurt, that was until NASCAR officially cleared him to get back in and driver.

He got to step back behind the wheel at Phoenix and it finally felt like the pieces were falling back into place for him. It had been awhile since Kurt seemed to have it all together, but in 2015 it sure seemed like it.

Moving forward to 2016, he will enter the season with only racing on his mind which might be the best thing that has happened to him since getting another shot with Furniture Row and then SHR.

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

Last year I was down on Kurt's outlook. A poor 2014 and the suspension didn't give me much hope in how 2015 would turn out. Well, maybe the off the track issues were holding him down in 2014. He now has a clear head going into 2016. I expect Kurt to once again get a win or two, 8-9 top 5's, and 17-19 top 10's. All of them are down a bit from his numbers in 2015, but I think he will have just as good, if not better, at a shot at a title in 2016.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Ryan Newman Career Paint Schemes

Ryan Newman is now two for two on making the new Chase. Both seasons (2014 and 2015) he has done so without winning a race. All in all his wins, top 5's, and top 10 numbers have not jumped off the page and made you think, Chase driver.

However, when you look deeper you start to see how Newman has transformed from a guy who was fast on occasion (winning a race here or there) mixed with some bad finishes, into a guy who hasn't been winning as often but has been much more consistent.

The last two season's Newman has actually posted his best two season average finishes of his career (12.7 and 13.5). He is sticking in races and doesn't have poor runs. He is also doing this with RCR who has been at best second tier the last few years (Hendrick, JGR, and Penske Tier 1).

No matter how you look at it Newman has been as consistent as they come during this new era, he just hasn't always been a front runner weekly.

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

I expect to see a lot of the same for Newman in 2016. If you look back at his career (minus his hot streak to start between 2002-2004) he has been pretty steady. It is safe to assume he will finish without a win again, with 5-6 top 5's, and 15-17 top 10's. The biggest question is can he make the new Chase three out of three seasons? I think he and the #31 team have it figured out and will once again get in on points if they do not squeak out a trip to VL. He still made it in 2015 even with the points deduction from his team manipulating his tires.

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