For weeks, NASCAR television and radio pundits have breathlessly told fans that the 2008 Sprint Cup season will be impossible to forecast.
According to the image-makers, every driver in the 43-car field can win Sunday’s Daytona 500 or any other event. Races will be ‘‘crazy, spectacular, and spell-binding.’’
Don’t buy the hype from the well-paid hucksters.
While the Toyota contingent will be stronger, the NASCAR spotlight will continue to focus on the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut.
With the addition of fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hendrick has by far the strongest lineup to go along with the most talented crew chiefs, engineers, mechanics, tire-changers, etc...You get the big-money picture.
Just consider the success of Earnhardt, Jr. and two-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson so far at Daytona. For good reason, the pairing of Earnhardt and Johnson with four-time series titlist Jeff Gordon and the emerging Casey Mears has already been dubbed as the “Fantastic Four.’’
With the various mega-teams, mergers and affiliations, the top level of NASCAR is looking very much like the Formula One Series where a handful of owners control everything. Anyone miss the Abingdon-based Morgan-McClure Motorsports team yet?
One year ago, the thought of Earnhardt fans actually cheering for anyone in a Hendrick car would have been laughable. The diehards in the Junior Nation referred to Hendrick Motorsports as the ‘‘Evil Empire’’ or much worse.
Just last week, we saw Earnhardt win the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona with help from his once-reviled new teammates. There were no fights in the stands or flying projectiles.
Whether his old guard fans like or not, Earnhardt has made the best move of his career. And as Dale Jr. goes, so goes NASCAR.  If Earnhardt wins more races, the TV ratings and track attendance will rise dramatically.
As for the actual balance of power on the track, don’t look for that to change.
Much like in Major League Baseball, the day of the little teams and unlikely success stories are gone. Big money — see the Hendrick machine, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees — rule.