Yuletide is here, and it’s time to speculate on what Santa might be putting under the tree for your favorite NASCAR personalities.
For Jeff Gordon: a fifth Sprint Cup championship, and his first under the Chase format.
Under the previous scoring system, Gordon would have six titles at this point, but he’s hungry to prove he can win the Chase before he retires. Gordon won’t match Richard Petty’s record 200 wins, but he’s already granted more than 200 wishes to children battling life-threatening diseases under the auspices of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For Jimmie Johnson: a handicap.
When you’re demonstrably better than your competition, you have to start at a disadvantage. Why not make Johnson sit out the Chase race of his choice, just to see whether any of his rivals can score more points in 10 races than Johnson accumulates in nine.
For Carl Edwards: a happy marriage.
Edwards will take the plunge in January, when he plans to marry fellow Columbia, Mo., native Dr. Katherine Downey.
For AJ Allmendinger and Regan Smith: full-time Sprint Cup rides.
Allmendinger showed what he can do at the end of the season, when, as a “temp, ” he outran both his stable mates at Gillett Evernham Motorsports over the final five races. As more highly touted open-wheel stars fell by the wayside, Smith persevered to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.
For Tony Stewart: one victory in 2009.
That would go a long way toward validating Stewart’s choice to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to pursue the elusive dream of success as an owner/driver.
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