Lee Montgomery: Questions remain heading into 2010 Nationwide season
Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards should certainly be considered a threat to win next season's NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. // LaDon George, NASCAR Scene
COMMENTARY
We’ve dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s on the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series, so let’s take a quick look at 2010. I’ll give you the two-word version: Carl. Edwards.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch, who ran away with the 2009 championship, isn’t going to run the full schedule next year, no matter how much he may want to. And though he’ll be really good in the 24 to 27 races he does run, that’s not enough to contend for the title.
That leaves Edwards as the easy choice to win the 2010 championship.
But there are plenty of questions. Let’s start with his crew chief. As of Friday, we still don’t know who Edwards’ crew chief will be next year for Roush Fenway Racing.
Will it be Mike Kelley, who moved over to Edwards’ team, late in the year? Or will it be Dan Stillman, who led Edwards’ team for most of the season? Or will it be someone else?
In the end, it may not matter. Yes, there will be some contenders to Edwards’ throne, but let’s face it, he’s won 25 races in the last five years with a variety of crew chiefs. No matter who is on his pit box, Edwards is the man to beat.
Who can beat him? It starts with Penske Racing. Raybestos Rookie of the Year Justin Allgaier has a year of experience under his belt, so he should be improved next year. Will he be good enough to knock Edwards off?
And Allgaier will have a teammate to share information with next year. And that teammate is pretty good, too: Brad Keselowski.
Keselowski is running both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide schedules for Penske next year, and he’ll have a new Nationwide team in 2010. But Keselowski and Penske should have plenty of speed next year, so Edwards can’t simply rest on his laurels.
Braun Racing’s Jason Leffler finished fourth in the points this year, and I expect he’ll be better next season. The trouble is, Braun just doesn’t have enough depth to knock off a Cup team like Roush Fenway and Edwards.
Brian Scott joins Braun for a full-time ride in 2010, and Scott should have a breakthrough season. But he won’t beat Edwards.
No one else in the top 10 in points jumps out at you, either. Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace had an improved season this year, and RWR is making an upgrade to Toyota. But does anyone think Wallace can be consistent enough to challenge for the title?
Brendan Gaughan was ninth in the points as Wallace’s teammate, but sponsorship issues may put him on the sidelines next year, as least for some of the races.
Veterans Mike Bliss and Jason Keller had solid seasons in 2009, too, but as of now, they don’t even have rides for next year.
And rookie Michael Annett improved over the course of his season, but he still has plenty of room for improvement.
James Buescher is stepping into a solid ride with Phoenix Racing, but he still has a lot to learn.
And that, folks, is it.
So maybe Edwards better keep that tuxedo dry-cleaned – and get his championship speech ready.
