With great enthusiasm for the coming race season I present to you my predictions for the 2012 Sprint Cup championship standings.

1. Kevin Harvick – A step away from ownership of a Nationwide Series team will elevate him to Champion status.
2. Carl Edwards – Will get more than one win this year but his streak of 64 races without a DNF will come to an end.

3. Jeff Gordon – More consistency in the Chase but will fall short in his efforts to claim a fifthh Sprint Cup title
4. Kyle Busch – Will lead less laps but be more consistent at win a race in the chase early to put pressure on.
5. Jimmie Johnson – His sixth Championship will not happen this year.
6. Matt Kenseth – Only driver last season in the top-five with more than one DNF. (He had three)
7. Tony Stewart – Will not be able to repeat history in the Chase and will need to win in the first 26 this season.
8. Denny Hamlin – A disappointing season after a second place finish in 2010, needs more speed.

9. Jeff Burton – I expect a big season for RCR after a lackluster 2011 campaign and one of the biggest reasons is the 31 team performing like they did in 2010.
10. Kasey Kahne – New Hendrick Driver, another Chase appearance.
11. AJ Allmendinger – Penske’s replacement for Kurt Busch is improving every year it seems.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.– Victory Lane will be visited sooner rather than later by the sport’s biggest name.

Questions or comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it follow me on twitter, @tharris_HRF