Grant Jedlinsky | The Roanoke Times

Meet Michael Waltrip

2007 NASCAR Preview

Stories

• Dustin Long's High Fives
• 43 Questions for the 2007 NASCAR season
• Michael Waltrip: Joker or genius?
• Fans guide
• Dustin Long's Baker's dozen

2007 Nextel Cup Lineup

• Download this year's lineup

Race photos

• Post your racing shots to yourpix.roanoke.com

5 people on the hot seat

1. Teresa Earnhardt: Fans will blame her if Dale Earnhardt Jr. does not re-sign with Dale Earnhardt Inc. She must keep Earnhardt to keep DEI going.

2. Mike Helton: If the Car of Tomorrow doesn't deliver close competition, many fans will rebel. NASCAR's President must make sure this car works, is safer and provides better competition.

3. Juan Pablo Montoya: NASCAR is counting on him to increase Hispanic interest in the sport. Many also expect big results from him. Montoya likely won't receive much criticism in the first half of the season, but if he doesn't do well at the road courses and doesn't improve during the year, questions will be raised about his move from Formula One.

4. Michael Waltrip: Car owner is trying to go from a part-time Busch team to three full-time Cup teams, bringing in a new manufacturer and building a new shop. If all three teams struggle, Waltrip could feel heat from sponsors.

5. Jamie McMurray: Car owner Jack Roush struggled to find a crew chief that McMurray could work with last season. Roush let McMurray pick his crew chief this season. So, Roush will expect much better results.

5 new experiences this season for rookie Juan Pablo Montoya in his switch from Formula One

1. Martinsville hot dogs.

2. Talladega infield. He'll quickly find out he isn't in Monaco anymore.

3. The wrath of fans. Lord help him if he wrecks Dale Earnhardt Jr. Of course Montoya can ask Brian Vickers about that.

4. Tony Stewart's one-finger salute. Stewart won't be the only driver to give Montoya this universal greeting, but he'll likely be the one who gives it the most.

5. That Jeff Gordon is a fighter. Hey, it caught Matt Kenseth off-guard at Bristol last year.

Denny Hamlin severely cut his hand racing a team member around the hauler last year. Jimmie Johnson broke his wrist after falling off the top of a golf cart. Owners will add more provisions in contracts to keep drivers from certain activities, such as:

1. Golf cart surfing.

2. Competing in ESPN's Winter or Summer X Games.

3. Drinking Sterling Marlin's moonshine.

4. Angering Tony Stewart.

5. Angering Jeff Gordon.

5 things that could happen this season

1. Mark Martin announces his full-time return to the series in 2008.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaves Dale Earnhardt Inc. for Joe Gibbs Racing.

3. A slimmer Tony Stewart brawls with the buff Carl Edwards.

4. Jimmie Johnson struggles, fails to make the Chase, straining relationship with crew chief Chad Knaus.

5. Dale Jarrett struggles so much this season that he decides to retire and settle back with a Toyota dealership.

5 possible names for the Car of Tomorrow once it debuts and becomes the car of today

1. JUNK -- Just UN-other Klunker.

2. Brian France's getaway car.

3. A fad.

4. "A flying brick,'' which Tony Stewart calls it.

5. Honda Civic.

5 races to watch

1. Bristol (March 25) -- The Car of Tomorrow makes its debut.

2. Talladega (April 29) -- Could Dale Earnhardt's birthday be the day Jeff Gordon ties Earnhardt or surpasses Earnhardt's career victory total?

3. Sonoma (June 24) -- First time ex-Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya competes in a Nextel Cup road-course race.

4. Indianapolis (July 29) -- ESPN returns to broadcast its first Cup race since 2000.

5. Homestead (Nov. 18) -- Will the expanded Chase create a tighter finish in the season finale?

5 ways to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup better

1. Fewer commercials during race broadcast.

2. Start title contenders at the back of the field.

3. Give points only to top-five finishers -- that will increase the intensity.

4. Anybody a lap down or more past halfway is eliminated from the race.

5. Did we mention fewer commercials during race broadcast?

CHASE CHANGES NASCAR changed the format for its season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup after three seasons. Here's a look at the old and new versions:

Who gets in

Old: Top 10 drivers after 26 races, plus anyone within 400 points of the overall leader.

New: Top 12 drivers in standings after 26 races.

No. of races

Old and new: It's still 10. It starts with the season's 27th race (at New Hampshire) and ends at Homestead-Miami.

Chase points

Old: Leader after 26 races started the Chase with 5,045, followed by 5,040 for second, 5,035 for third and so on.

New: Drivers start Chase with 5,000 points plus 10 for each win in the 26 races before the Chase.

Dustin Long's