[Racer Duck]

In the first of 2 parts, Jarrod Breeze, NASCAR.COM examines the need to step up in 08. This, the first part, focus on drivers.

NASCAR.COM - Junior isn't the only driver who needs to step up in '08 - Jan 1, 2008



This is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s year, the year he moves from good equipment to great equipment. Now the pressure is on for Junior to take that next step, from becoming a good driver to a great driver.

Aric Almirola: How could a driver who has only made six career starts in the Cup Series and never finished better than 26th (2007 season-finale at Homestead) possibly be in a situation that requires a need to step up in 2008? Because of the car he steps into -- the No. 8 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Inc., vacated after nine years by NASCAR's most popular driver, the aforementioned Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Greg Biffle: After leading the Cup Series with six victories and finishing runner-up in 2005, Biffle was a preseason favorite of many heading into 2006. He failed to even make the Chase that year, winning but twice and finishing 13th in points.

Kyle Busch: The anti-Dale Jr. in 2008, Busch must prove that he can succeed apart from the Hendrick Motorsports domain. It's not as if Busch is going from the penthouse to the outhouse, but there remains a trace of uncertainty with Joe Gibbs Racing's switch from powerhouse Chevrolet to second-year upstart Toyota.

Kasey Kahne: While Kahne will never match Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s level of popularity, he nonetheless has captured the fancy of the NASCAR marketers and in 2008 will assume Junior's identity as the sport's new face of Budweiser.

Casey Mears: Unlike many of the drivers on this list, Mears hasn't experienced sustained success at the Cup level. But as a member of the vaunted Hendrick Motorsports stable, he needs to.

Juan Montoya: The driver who elicited the open-wheel faze to NASCAR certainly made the transition plausible in '07. Montoya won a race -- albeit on the road course at Sonoma -- had three top-fives and six top-tens to secure top rookie honors.

Ryan Newman: Of the full-time drivers with double-digit wins in their careers, only Bobby Labonte is in a longer victory funk than Newman. Eighty-one races have passed since Newman was in Victory Lane, in '05 at New Hampshire (the Chase opener).

Michael Waltrip: Last season was a disaster for Waltrip, the owner of a first-year Toyota organization. It was even worse for Waltrip the driver, a veteran now of 23 NASCAR seasons with nearly 700 Cup starts to his credit.

[JG24]

After the year Kasey Kahn had last year he needs to step it up big time here in 08 especially now that he has budweiser as his sponsor.

[Souporscotty]

I think, without a doubt. All eyes are gonna be on Jr.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

I think, without a doubt. All eyes are gonna be on Jr.

All eyes are on Junior when he walks to the corner store, let alone on the racetrack.

[Bob Tanner]

I'm going to add one, Charlie. It's one which might surprise.

Jimmy Johnson

Why would a two-time champ need to step up?
(1) I'd say many expect him to three-peat. This will be a major topic at Daytona and will pull added pressure on Jimminy.
(2) Hendrick has added one of NA__AR's icons to the stable and has indicated that Junior will NOT fail this year. More pressure on Johnson to stand out at Hendrick.
(3) The media focus will be mainly on Junior. In order to be a standout Jimmy MUST step up and do something really exceptional if he wants to remain HMS' premier driver.
(4) He has Jeffy chasing him. Does Jeffy feel he lost the championship last year due to the format? Will he return this year with a vengeance? If he does, Jimmy will need to step up.

Expectations and pressure make Jimminy Johnson my choice for the driver most in need of a "step up" season. It'll be tough, bettering last year's performance.

[Seahawker 562]

tony stewert

[jks812]

I would say Kasey Kahne.

[Jeffrey4318]

I think I'd have to say Petty Enterprises needs to step it up. To me this is their make or break year. It is time put Bobby in winning cars. If they don't I really hope Bobby looks else where for '09. His time is coming to a end and I would like to see him go out on a high note.

[bears9]

Jr. needs to, he hasn't won yet and now he is on the best team out there, if he can't win now. Well we'll just have to see

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4318

I think I'd have to say Petty Enterprises needs to step it up. To me this is their make or break year. It is time put Bobby in winning cars. If they don't I really hope Bobby looks else where for '09. His time is coming to a end and I would like to see him go out on a high note.

I don't disagree with what you are saying but in '09 Bobby will be 44 years old. Not over the hill but with the onslaught of young guns it will be tough for him to find a great ride without any good seasons in the past few years.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I don't disagree with what you are saying but in '09 Bobby will be 44 years old. Not over the hill but with the onslaught of young guns it will be tough for him to find a great ride without any good seasons in the past few years.

I'm sure there's a lot of teams that wouldn't mind having a Bobby Labonte on board. I mean come on, the only reason he's not winning is because he's in crappy Petty Enterprises equipment.

I think he'd do great if he signed on with a Toyota Team or something along those lines.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by The Dude

I'm sure there's a lot of teams that wouldn't mind having a Bobby Labonte on board. I mean come on, the only reason he's not winning is because he's in crappy Petty Enterprises equipment.

I think he'd do great if he signed on with a Toyota Team or something along those lines.

Not saying that Petty has great equipment, but thats not the only reason Bobby isn't winning. He hasn't won in 4 years and 2 of those were with Gibbs.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by jks812

Not saying that Petty has great equipment, but thats not the only reason Bobby isn't winning. He hasn't won in 4 years and 2 of those were with Gibbs.

Well I think he's probably back to form now. During a few races this year he was running pretty high up considering the lackluster equipment of PE.

I think Labonte still has a few wins left in him if he can get a good car.

[DOF_power]

>
^ Every team not called HMS needs to step up and deal with the COT.

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Jimmy Johnson

(4) He has Jeffy chasing him. Does Jeffy feel he lost the championship last year due to the format? Will he return this year with a vengeance? If he does, Jimmy will need to step up.

I think Jeffy wants it badly, but if it's going to happen, I think his crew chief needs to step it up. Letarte is not Knaus. His setups are often just a tad off, while his counterpart's setups seem to be right on the money time after time.