Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? I really don’t know. Is there any other sport where you can make an argument before the season starts that taking one team (or driver) is a better bet than the field? It really is hard to go against Chad Knaus, the smartest man in NASCAR, but this is the year that Jimmie’s streak gets broken.

Before each season, the media picks the driver they believe will unseat Johnson at the top. They mistakenly base their selections on the previous season, each and every year. In 2007, Jeff Gordon pushed Johnson, winning seven races and posting 30, yes 30, Top 10’s in 36 races, yet still fell short.

As a result, Gordon was the consensus pick to beat Johnson the next year. That season, Gordon did not win a race and was not a legit title contender, opening the door for Carl Edwards.

Carl won nine races in 2008 and went toe-to-toe with Jimmie, but like Gordon, ultimately fell short. Fast forward to one year ago when Edwards became the hot preseason pick to win the championship. Edwards struggled mightily in 2009, recording zero poles, zero wins and only seven Top 5’s. Does anybody else see a pattern forming here?

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