Predictions for 2012

Predictions, I've got predictions. They are logical, thought-out, reasoned...and just as much a shot in the dark as anyone else's. Take these however you please. It's a mix of what I think will happen, what might happen, and what I'd like to see happen.

Happy New Year!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win a race at the least, possibly more than one.

Jeff Gordon will be in the top three in points at Homestead, along with Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards.

Kasey Kahne will make the Chase. He’ll win races.

Mark Martin will win a race, too. Just because…

David Reutimann will get a ride, and so will Brian Vickers. They might not be the rides they left, but they will be competitive.

Richard Petty Motorsports will field two teams, one for Marcos Ambrose, one for David Ragan. That announcement will come next week.

Front Row Motorsports will have three cars, and they'll be more competitive too.

Jeff Burton will have another good season. It will make up for the wilderness he howled around in in 2011.

Juan Montoya will win an oval race. Yes, really.

Clint Bowyer will have a good season, Martin Truex Jr. will rebound. Michael Waltrip will race Ferraris and continue being MW.

Jerry Punch will continue to be one of the best pit reporters since Chris Economaki. He'll get his props, too.

Kurt Busch will surprise everyone, himself included, by keeping his pie hole in the closed position and will give James Finch the best season of his 20-plus in the sport. Kyle Busch will resist the urge to move things with the front bumper under caution and win a pile more races.

Matt Kenseth will continue to be one of the best drivers out there without actually drawing any attention to himself, other than when he talks to TV after winning.

AJ Allmendinger will be good in the No. 22 Penske Dodge, and Brad Keselowski will put together a Chase-making season…without the need from broken bones.

Denny Hamlin will let Darian Grubb do the voodoo that he do, so well, and be better off for it.

Joey Logano will blossom out from under the massive expectations he had while Greg Zipadelli was his shot-caller, and Jason Ratcliff will get more out of Sliced Bread as a result.

Larry McReynolds will still mangle the English language. No one will care, because it's fun. Darrell Waltrip will continue beating dead equines, and Mike Joy will finally don stripes as a referee.

Fans will still kvetch about TV coverage. Few will consider how lucky they have it.

Finally, my pick for the champion in 2012 is...wait for it...Matt Kenseth. If I'm right, you heard it here first. If I'm wrong...well, who is going to pull this blog out of the hat, right?

Happy New Year to all, and be safe!