Top 12 Countdown to Daytona: Brian Vickers

Brian Vickers has had a lot to be thankful for over the past year. Brian faced adversity, and got the love of life taken away from him for three quarters of the 2010 season. Racing. Brian wasn't feeling good one night earlier in the 2010 season, and was rushed to the emergency room. The doctors found blood clots all over his body, which was slowing him down. Brian was not only worried about his life, but about his racing career. The doctors also found a whole in his heart, that was going to have to be repaired, which worried him more, knowing he would have to go through heart surgery. But Brian has pulled through. Due to Brian being on blood thinners, his doctors found it safer for him to stay out of the car, which broke the young drivers heart. He was doing well at the beginning of the season, and was looking forward to fighting for his spot in the chase again. Brian took time to step away from racing during his medical leave, and spent more time with his family, and realized he needed to do that more often. Brian put his priorities in order, and not only did he make more time for family and enjoying life, but he realized what he really wanted to be when it came to racing. Regardless of being pulled out of his car at Red Bull Racing for most of the 2010 season, Brian has kept a smile on his face. Brian has a new view on life unlike other drivers, where he is just grateful that he has the ability to race. Brian Said, "The new perspective of love and appreciation and renewed energy that I have of and for what I do for a living, the love I have for racing, and the love I have for NASCAR, is now something in my life I need, and want to maintain." (NASCAR Media Day, NASCAR Now, February 2011) I believe Brian will come back strong this year. He has a motivation unlike any other driver in NASCAR, which will take him a long way. I believe luck might bite him as it has in past years, and cause him to get involved in a few bad wreaks that will mess with his points position. Regardless, I think he will easily slide into one of the wild card slots, with a good 4 or 5 wins this season. And, I'm sure I can speak for most of NASCAR nation in saying, we WANT Brian to get those 4 or 5 wins.

Top 12 Countdown to Daytona: Clint Bowyer

Last season was a year of major highs, and significant lows for racer Clint Bowyer. Clint was on his game all season long, with most analysts pointing out his outstanding consistency, and almost always coming to the finish line. Clint spend post of the season in the top 12 in points, except for a few rare occasions. Once chase time rolled around, he was in and ready to fight for the Tiffany Trophy given away at Homestead. He started off the chase the right way, with a fantastic win at New Hampshire, after Tony Stewart ran out of gas at the end of the race. Clint was almost on top of the standings, and was planning on knocking Jimmie Johnson off the stage in Las Vegas, when it all came to a sudden halt. The #33 Chevy didn't pass post race inspection. NASCAR brought the car back to the R&D center, where it was assured that yes, the car did fail inspection. The past week in Richmond, the #33 car almost didn't pass inspection, and NASCAR gave the team a stern warning. Clint lost 150 points in the chase, and he lost his crew chief. This ended his championship run completely. Clint wasn't done winning yet though. Clint came back to win at Talledega, just edging out teammate Kevin Harvick for the win. Clint has major potential, but I think he will finish 10th this year. He will finish better than he did in 2010, but he will have to let this penalty go. Clint has been holding this chip on his shoulder, and won't forget about what happened. What happened, happened. You can't do anything now, and its time to move on. Personally, I don't think he will be able to let it go, so I believe he will finish 10th in the points, making it in on points, not on the wild card. I also believe he will win multiple races, just hopefully not in Tony Stewart's detriment this time, or lose more points than he gains out of these wins.

NASCAR plans to change chase/points system

      Just this evening, it has been revealed by a reliable source that NASCAR will implement a new points system with the chase system in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season.

      First, NASCAR has allegedly said they are planning on scrapping the points system they have now, and doing a simpler, less complicated system. First place would receive 43 points for the win, 2nd place would receive 42, and so on and so forth. This makes the math for everyone simpler, and makes the fight for the championship closer.
     Second, NASCAR has allegidly decided according to some inside sources that they will have a 12 man chase again, but with some changes. Ten drivers will make the chase format based off points, and then the final 2 spots will go to the next two guys who don't originally qualify for the chase with the most wins to qualify. THERE WILL NOT BE AN ELIMINATION SYSTEM IN PLACE.
      Third, they aren't sure yet how to award lap leaders, and most lap leaders. Nor are they sure if they will give a bonus to a race winner anymore, or the point leader after the 26th race. There has also been talks about giving pole winners points, but that doesn't look like it will be happening.

NOTE: THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY JENNA FRYER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. NO CONFIRMATION IS EXPECTED TILL LATER THIS WEEK, ALONG WITH THE NATIONWIDE LIMIATION ANNOUNCEMENT. INFO IS UP FOR EDITING UNTIL CONFIRMATION.