Motorsports

The wheel stories

Plot lines in '07 that keep NASCAR fans tuning in.

By BRANT JAMES
Published January 8, 2007

Juan Pablo Montoya

The former CART and Indianapolis 500 champion embarks on his first full Nextel Cup season; a year ago he was readying for his next Formula One campaign. The personable Colombian could open new markets for NASCAR.

The squabble

The iconic Dale Earnhardt Jr. is committed for just one more season to the team his father created for him and his siblings, and he and his stepmother/boss, Teresa, seem to have more to work out than contract language.

Toyota

The ultra-successful automaker and racing outfit makes its debut at NASCAR's highest level. Neither its team nor driver lineup is especially daunting - Dale Jarrett is a former champion, but at 50 he has won just twice the past five seasons - but Toyota could revolutionize the way NASCAR teams compete.

ABC/ESPN

The cable sports giant and network return as a broadcast partner and could well change how and how much you watch the sport.

Car of Tomorrow

Drivers have so far lambasted the ostensibly safer, certainly uglier winged car set to debut this season.

Local boy makes good

Zephyrhills' David Reutimann begins his first Nextel Cup season for Michael Waltrip Racing.

Preseason Testing 

Where: Daytona International Speedway

When: Today-Wednesday; Jan. 15-17

Why: Teams have three days to gather data and assess the value of the work they've done in the shop. It's more about the engineers and the cars than the drivers. Fast cars in January don't necessarily translate to fast cars for the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 or thereafter, but they're a lot easier on a crew chief's nerves than slow ones. It will be particularly interesting to gauge where the three teams (Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing, Team Red Bull) using the new Toyota entries measure with the Chevrolets, Dodges and Fords.

[Last modified January 7, 2007, 23:40:32]