With the New Year on the horizon, that means we are only two months away from the start of 2012 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.

Coming off a great 2011 campaign which saw Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards come down to the last lap at Homestead, and two new young champions crowned in the Nationwide and Truck Series, NASCAR is looking to maintain that momentum heading into 2012.

Most everyone makes New Year’s resolutions and tries to stick to them. While NASCAR drivers may or may not partake in this practice, I’m going to take a shot at what resolutions some of the 2011 Chasers could be making for next season.

Tony Stewart: Another Championship. Stewart will be looking to tie Jeff Gordon for four Sprint Cup Series championships and despite losing Darian Grubbs; this is one resolution that could come true.

Carl Edwards: To finally win a championship. Carl Edwards has finished second in the championship standings in 2008 and 2011. If Carl finishes second in 2012, maybe he will be this generation’s Mark Martin.

Jimmie Johnson: A better 2012 Chase. Looking at the overall season, you could say Johnson had one of his worst seasons in 2011. The five-time champion finished sixth in the standings, his lowest since joining the Sprint Cup Series in 2002. Johnson will be looking to rebound in 2012.

Matt Kenseth: Long term sponsor. Ever since DeWalt left it has been a revolving door of sponsors for the #17. He does have Best Buy joining him in 2012 but the team needs to find a sponsor for the long haul. How a former champion, and a driver who may have had a shot at the championship if it wasn’t for Brian Vickers, can’t get a sponsor is really odd.

Denny Hamlin: To regain 2010 form. Hamlin fell apart in 2011 and has Darian Grubb, fresh off a championship season, as his crew chief next year. Can he help Denny win the championship in 2012?

Jeff Gordon: To win a fifth championship. Jeff Gordon has been on winless streaks, and even when he has done well he catches bad breaks. 2007 was the last good season for Gordon when he finished second to Jimmie Johnson in the final standings.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: To win a race. This is what Junior Nation has been waiting for since 2008. It has been three long years since his last visit to Victory Lane. He rebounded last year by making the Chase but will need the wins to help him be a championship contender.

Kurt Busch: To avoid Anger Management. That famous youtube video didn’t help Kurt Busch at all, and right now Kurt needs to take the time he’ll have at Phoenix Racing to grow up and mature.

Kyle Busch: Speaking of maturing, this is the one resolution that Kyle needs to work on. The past couple years have not gone well for Kyle as he has been involved in several incidents including getting into a scuffle with Richard Childress and wrecking Ron Hornaday in the Truck Series race at Texas. NASCAR parked him at Texas and sponsor M&M’s elected to stay home for the last two races.

 MORE NASCAR NEWS