2012 Nationwide Series Championship Odds and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid

2012 Nationwide Series Championship Preview: Favorites, Dark Horses, Sleepers & Drivers to Avoid: Last season, NASCAR unveiled a new set of rules for the Nationwide Series, preventing Cup Series regulars from competing for a championship in more than one series. As a result, drivers like Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were no longer destined to dominate the series and take home the title. For bettors, it widens the field of potential contenders for the Nationwide Series championship, and after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. came out of obscurity and took home the crown in 2011, there are at least half a dozen serious threats to do the same in 2012.

The Favorites – 2012 Nationwide Series Championship Odds and Predictions

Believe it or not, defending series champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was nearly fired during the 2010 season. In 2011, he exploded for two wins, 16 top-five finishes and 26 top-10s in 34 starts. He led all drivers eligible for the title in all three categories, and his 8.8 average finish was the best among the title contenders as well. Stenhouse is back with the same race team that he won the championship with a year ago, and with another year of experience under his belt, back-to-back titles is a real possibility.

Although he went winless last season, Elliott Sadler was in the mix for the title until the final lap of the year. He had 12 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s to go along with a 9.8 average finish. Among Nationwide-only drivers, Sadler ranked second by a wide margin in all three categories. The only problem was that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was even better. As close as the title fight was between Sadler and Stenhouse in 2011, a few small breaks here and there could tip the scales in 2012. Either way, Sadler should be back in the thick of the title fight for the second year in a row.

The Dark Horses – 2012 Nationwide Series Championship Odds and Predictions

If not for a strange illness that forced him to miss five races, Trevor Bayne might have been a threat to win the championship last season. Despite missing time, he managed to win a race, notch 14 top-10 finishes and rank 11th in the final standings. In 2012, Bayne has the added advantage of jumping behind the wheel of the Roush Fenway Racing No. 60 car. The team won the owner’s title and eight races in 2011 with Carl Edwards driving. Bayne isn’t on par with Edwards by any means, but driving for a championship-caliber team should only help one of the up-and-coming drivers. He could be this year’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

He finished a distant third in the title fight last season, but Justin Allgaier has now finished sixth or better in the final standings in all three of his Nationwide seasons. He won a race for the second year in a row in 2011, and if not for running out of gas while leading on the final lap at Road America, Allgaier might have been more of a threat to win the championship. After bouncing between teams in his first three years, he finally has some stability entering 2012. Couple that with added experience, and this could be the year Allgaier makes the leap from top-five driver to championship threat.

Sleeper Specials – 2012 Nationwide Series Championship Odds and Predictions

After failing in his venture into the Cup Series, former IRL champ Sam Hornish Jr. has found a home in the Nationwide Series. A 13-race stint with Penske Racing in 2011 resulted in six top-10 finishes and a trip to Victory Lane. The performance also led to a full-time ride in 2012, and if his limited schedule last year was a sign of things to come, Hornish could turn some heads. After all, he closed the 2011 season with five straight finishes of 12th or better, including three straight finishes of seventh or better.

He is the grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, and Austin Dillon appears well on his way to becoming the future of his grandfather’s organization. Dillon won the Truck Series title in 2011, and in 2012, he will take his talents to the Nationwide Series. He got a little taste of life as a Nationwide driver last year, and he made quite an impact. Dillon finished in the top 15 in all four of his starts in the series, logging three top-10s and finishing as high as third. He has all the makings of a future star in NASCAR, and his rise to stardom could begin as soon as this season.

Driver to Avoid – 2012 Nationwide Series Championship Odds and Predictions

There is plenty of hype surrounding Danica Patrick these days, but all the media attention doesn’t mean that she is ready to take over the Nationwide Series. Granted, she improved leaps and bounds last year, but 2012 will be her first year of full-time stock car racing. Patrick still faces a steep learning curve. From the rigors of a 34-race season to facing several tracks on the schedule for the first time, Patrick needs this season to mature and develop her skills. There will likely be several high points, but the consistency it takes to win a title is probably at least a year away.

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