#1 – Danica Patrick will make a splash.  I think she’s going to be a better NASCAR driver than she is Indy Car.  A little on-track success could go a very long way for Ms. Patrick with the NASCAR crowd.  My prediction is that 2010 will be the last ‘limited participation’ season for Dale Jr.’s newest protege.

#2 – Jimmie Johnson will fade.  Not to say that he’ll have a bad season.  Not even that he’ll drop to the middle of the pack.  But an athlete just can’t stay at the top of the pyramid forever.  I’m not taking anything away from what he’s accomplished, but Johnson’s record breaking run at the top of the Cup Chase has to come to an end at some point, and I’m thinking that point is 2010.

#3 – Jamie McMurray will surge.  I think that a change of scenery will do him some good.  His new home with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing should afford him the opportunity to improve on his 22nd place finish in 2009.

#4 – There will be two Busches in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.  Kurt was a top five contender last year, and Kyle just missed the cut (granted, it was by a lot of points, but just one spot).  I’m looking for Kurt to fade a little, Kyle to jump up some, and the two of them to be in the running by year’s end.

OK, I don’t really know what’s going to happen in the world of NASCAR this year, but I sure am looking forward to finding out.