R&R offer their predictions for 2009

How will the season leaderboard look in late November? Deputy Sports Editor Randy Hallman and beat writer Ralph N. Paulk tell you which drivers will qualify for the Chase.
Randy Hallman   Ralph N. Paulk
Carl Edwards He finished last season getting better, and that little spat with Kevin Harvick taught him not to create distractions for his team. Will he do a double back flip when he wins his first championship?
1
 Jimmie Johnson There's not much motivating him these days other than being the only driver to win four straight Sprint Cup titles. Unless the competition figures out a way to keep him out of the Chase, his four-peat will be easier than his three-peat.
Kyle Busch So fast, so brash. Kyle's got a little more growing up to do before he is a champion, but he can race.
2
 Denny Hamlin This may be a sentimental pick, but I can't but think he's matured enough to seriously give Johnson a run for his money. He also learn a lot just watching the good and bad of Kyle Busch's 2008 season.
Jeff Gordon With 81 Cup victories, Jeff is just three shy of Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, who share third place on the all-time list. Motivation enough for Gordon to snap his losing streak.
3
 Kyle Busch Usually, there's a slow progression toward winning a title. If you think he'll go down in NASCAR history as the best to never win a title, think again.
Jimmie Johnson I think the in-team competition among Hendrick drivers will be counterproductive. Still, Jimmie will be a contender.
4
 Tony Stewart The two-time Cup champion is back in a Chevrolet, and he seems more comfortable and confident. He'll do better bossing himself around.
Mark Martin Can a driver who has turned 50 (Jan. 9) still win a championship? Mark driving for Hendrick is the right combination. He'd have already won a Cup title if he hadn't spent so much energy on the Nationwide Series.
5
 Dale Earnhardt Jr. The best thing to happen to Junior was not having too much success too early with Hendrick Motorsports. He'll do better now that he's racing only in Johnson's shadow.
Denny Hamlin Wouldn't it be cool to have a champion from Chesterfield County? Denny could rise to the top in those Toyotas. He needs just a little more seasoning.
6
 Mark Martin Now he gets a chance to prove what he can do with really good, consistent equipment. He'll do just fine.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. He'll win more than one race this year, but I don't think the chemistry is right for the dominating season Dale's fans long for.
7
 Greg Biffle Tempted to pick him to dethrone Johnson, but he's prone to have a so-so stretch that ultimately spoils his chance at a title. Still, he'll win at least three races.
Greg Biffle The Biff isn't flashy, but when the opportunity is right, he'll seize it. He'll make the chase.
8
 David Ragan That's right. And it wouldn't surprise me if he performed even better. He's running in fast company at Roush Fenway Racing.
Clint Bowyer Harvick Schmarvick, Bowyer is the best of the Childress team's drivers, and this year it will be clear.
9
 Clint Bowyer He may never win a title, but he'll always be in the Chase. Consistency and smarts are his advantages.
Juan Pablo Montoya This year he's going to make the chase. If he had a better car, Juan Pablo would win it all. He has won in Formula 1, Indy and NASCAR — the stuff of legends. My fave.
10
 Carl Edwards For some reason, just not feeling it for Edwards. Nine wins. Second in the Chase. You'd think I would be impressed.
Tony Stewart If anybody else had left the Gibbs team to become driver for and co-owner of a lesser team, I'd say that person had no chance to make the Chase. Tony Stewart will put the car on his back and carry it into the Chase, if necessary.
11
 Kasey Kahne Welcome back to the Chase. He might get pushed hard enough by teammate Elliott Sadler to make a run early.
Joey Logano Lets see how good "Sliced Bread" is when he settles into his Joe Gibbs Toyota. Good enough to make up for rookie mistakes?
12
 Kevin Harvick The 2007 Daytona 500 champion has a way of hanging around after stumbling early. Simply surviving won't cut it in what could be a competitive Cup season.

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