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.

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I’ve spent the last week predicting breakout drivers, rebounders, sleepers and duds, and now it’s time to put them all together and name the 2010 Chase. In no particular order, this season’s Chase for the Cup will consist of the following drivers:

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Mark Martin
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Tony Stewart
5. Kyle Busch
6. Denny Hamlin

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1. Kasey Kahne -

Kahne can leave his current team, Richard Petty Motorsports, after the 2010 season. He has not yet made up his mind whether or not he will return, and how well the team runs this season will be the biggest factor.

Either way, I fully expect Joe Gibbs and Tony Stewart to be knocking on his door with a deal for 2011. Kasey has admitted that he really admires Stewart, so it’s reasonable to think a possible ride with Stewart/Haas can distract Kahne this year. I don’t see Kahne in the Chase this season, but I do in 2011 driving the third Stewart/Haas car.

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Sometimes it’s difficult to be a NASCAR fan and remain impartial while running a site like FNP. This is one of those times. I don’t try to hide it. I’m a huge Jeff Gordon fan, which is why it hurts when I say that Jeff Gordon will struggle in 2010.

With that said, let me take a minute to clarify. Jeff Gordon will not have an Earnhardt-like season and finish 25^th in the points. When I say struggle, I mean expect 2010 to be more like 2008, not 2009 for Gordon.

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Penske took a step in the right direction in 2009, Stewart/Haas proved they can play with the big boys and nobody expects Childress and Roush/Fenway to combine for a grand total of three wins again this season. Although each of those teams will take their best shots at the 24, 5 and 48, there is only one poised to end Hendrick Motorsports’ dominance, Joe Gibbs Racing.

Gibbs’ 1-2 punch of Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin combined to win eight races in 2009, including Hamlin’s three victories in the final 11 races. Unfortunately, Denny tore his ACL playing basketball in the off-season and has elected to have surgery after the season. Nobody is really sure how this injury will affect his performance, but I’m not ready to remove him from the list of Championship contenders in 2010.

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