2007 Nextel Cup Championship Preview...Part 4

Today we look at the drivers who make it into the Top 35 for 2008, thus avoiding an off-season of irrelevancy.

31. 6* David Ragan
Prediction: David will have a rough rookie year, but close strong once he’s able to forget the fact that he’s driving a Ford.
Bold Prediction: David’s already looking at the entire 2007 season as a way to prepare for the 2008 season, which is a way to prepare for making the Chase in 2009.
Fun Fact: David spends 15 minutes a day reminding himself that his sponsor is not pronounced “Ayyyye”.

32. 45 Kyle Petty
Prediction: Kyle will enter the Daytona 500 in a stagecoach.
Bold Prediction: To promote sponsor American Spirit (Marathon Oil’s motor oil line), Kyle will begin walking everywhere with a boom box blaring “Real American” by Derringer.
Fun Fact: If released from its ponytail, Kyle’s ‘fro would fill 2/3 of Talladega Speedway.

33. 38 David Gilliland
Prediction: David will run the first half of the season with Ricky Rudd in the passenger seat.
Bold Prediction: To retain the fans of the M&M’s car, David will grow his hair longer, take up hunting, and get an older brother with a funny voice.
Fun Fact: It CAN’T be a good sign that the sponsor for David’s Busch win was called “Hype Manufacturing”.

34. 21** Ken Schrader/Jon Wood
Prediction: Little Debbie is slated to run the car in the Nextel All-Star Challenge, plus run a limited Busch schedule.
Bold Prediction: If this is indeed Kenny’s last season, his retirement tour will be called “Motorcrafting a Force for a Little Wood”.
Fun Fact: Jon Wood had to fill out an application just like everyone else. So there.

35. 83 Brian Vickers
Prediction: Brian will squeeze into the top-35, setting up Red Bull for a dominating run of top-30s in 2008.
Bold Prediction: Brian will secretly regret not asking Robert Yates about getting the 38 ride.
Fun Fact: The point of the joke above was a “Vickers/Snickers” reference.

(This might surprise you, but Part 5 is next)