Carl Edwards, the 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, should become the eighth driver in NASCAR Nationwide Series history to win multiple titles, according to the media.

In the 2010 preseason poll, Edwards was the runaway favorite, outdistancing Brad Keselowski.
“It’s wonderful that the media picked me as the top contender, but that doesn’t mean anything with the competition out there,” Edwards said. “There are so many up-and-coming drivers like Brad Keselowski, or the breakthrough guy of this year. We don’t know who it’s going to be.

“In a way it’s fun to go in as a favorite and a veteran of the series, but it’s a little nerve-wracking, too. I’m putting myself out there to get beat by someone that no one expects. I think that’s pretty exciting and fun for the fans, too.”

Justin Allgaier was forecast to finish third in the final standings, followed by Jason Leffler in fourth. Colin Braun, one of five Raybestos Rookie contenders this season, was fifth.

The rest of the top 10: Kelly Bires in sixth, Brendan Gaughan in seventh, Steve Wallace in eighth, Paul Menard in ninth and first-year full-time driver Trevor Bayne in 10th.
Braun was chosen to capture the 2010 Raybestos Rookie honor over Roush Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr., followed by Brian Scott, James Buescher and Parker Kligerman.

As the 2010 NASCAR Season gets underway, we chat about the Rolex 24, Toyota Showdown in Irwindale, Budweiser Shootout, Daytona 500 Qualifying and more. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop

LISTEN HERE (About 46 mins)
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2010) – It only took an unprecedented fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, but the media finally thinks Jimmie Johnson will defend his crown, according to a preseason media poll.

Incredibly, this isn’t a typical outcome. Only once in the previous five preseason polls has Johnson been tapped as the favorite – in 2005, the last season he didn’t win the championship.
In 2006 and 2008, the media picked Jeff Gordon to win it all, in 2007 it picked Tony Stewart, and last year, the press picked Carl Edwards.

But at long last, Johnson, the 2009 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, is the favorite to continue his dynasty.
“I’m glad the media thinks we are the team to beat this season,” Johnson said. “This is the first time in the last four years. … it might not necessarily turn out to be a good thing, though. Everyone seems to be asking if we can do it again this year and my standard answer is that we are going to try our hardest. It sure would be great to prove the media right this time.”

Rounding out the top 12: Gordon in second, Stewart in third, Kyle Busch in fourth, Edwards in fifth, Denny Hamlin in sixth, Mark Martin in seventh, Kurt Busch in eighth, Juan Pablo Montoya in ninth, Matt Kenseth in 10th, Greg Biffle in 11th and Ryan Newman in 12th.

Drivers who made the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but were left out of the 2010 preseason media top 12 poll are Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers. Kahne ranked 14th; Vickers 20th.
Predictors think Dale Earnhardt Jr. will again miss the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but barely. He ranked 13th in the poll.

In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year poll, the media thinks Kevin Conway will take home the trophy over Terry Cook.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., 2/3/10 — Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) and Kim Kardashian have joined forces to form one of the most unique sponsor partnerships in NASCAR history, team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. announced today.

Kardashian, a world-famous pop culture icon, entrepreneur, television personality, actress and model, has also partnered with Lighthouse Beauty Marketing to develop her own personal fragrance, which will debut on Valentine’s Day.

In celebration of her new fragrance, Kardashian will make a personal appearance in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Sephora in The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes from 7 to 9 p.m. (PT). Also on hand outside Sephora will be a TBR No. 36 Chevrolet, featuring the custom Kim Kardashian fragrance paint scheme that will be used the following day, Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Kim for this race and getting her involved in our sport,” said Baldwin, who will have Mike Bliss in the driver’s seat. “She’ll certainly bring a lot of star power to the No. 36 Chevrolet.”

In addition, Kardashian will serve as the Grand Marshal of the race and spend the day with the Tommy Baldwin Racing team.

“I’m really looking forward to this partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing and the opportunity to experience the exciting world of NASCAR up close,” Kardashian said. “It’s going to be truly amazing to see our car out there competing and exposing my new fragrance to millions of racing fans.”

Leading up to this two-day event, pairing Kim Kardashian with Tommy Baldwin Racing, a sweepstakes contest will be held surrounding the launch of Lighthouse Beauty Marketing’s newest celebrity fragrance. The grand prize winner and a guest will join Kardashian for the personal appearance at Sephora, the after-party at Tao Nightclub, and the NASCAR race the following day.

The Daytona 500 uses a different qualifying procedure than any other race in the world. On qualifying day, Saturday, Feb. 6, the fastest two cars “lock in” their starting spots for the Daytona 500, earning the pole and outside pole positions, respectively.

WHEN: Saturday at 1pm Eastern on Fox

The fastest qualifier earns the pole for both the Daytona 500 and the first 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race. In addition to the polesitter, the odd-number positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35 finishers in the final 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner points standings are assigned to the first Duel race.

The second-fastest qualifier earns the outside pole for the Daytona 500 and starts on the pole for the second 150- mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race. In addition to the second-fastest qualifier, the even-number positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35 finishers in the final 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner points standings will be assigned to the second Duel event.

The lineup for each qualifying race is set based upon the qualifying speeds in the time trials for all cars, including those who are among the highest-ranked 35 in the final 2009 car owner point standings. The highest-ranked 35 des- ignation does not determine the car’s starting position, only the assignment of its 150-mile qualifying event.

Additional cars that are not among the highest-ranked 35 in the final 2009 car owner points are alternated between the first and second 150-mile qualifying events using an odd-even format. The odd-number positions are assigned to the first event while the even-number positions are assigned to the second event. The odd-even positions are not determined by where the car qualified in the overall field, but their specific qualifying order among those cars not part of the highest-ranked 35 group.

A maximum of 66 cars are permitted to compete between the two qualifying races, and all cars must compete in one of these events to be eligible for the Daytona 500.
Starting positions for the Daytona 500 are designated for the highest-ranked 35 positions from the final 2009 car owner point standings from each Duel race, the two-highest finishing cars in each Duel race not among that highest- ranked 35 group and the two front-row qualifiers.

The balance of the 43-car field is filled by the fastest remaining qualifiers who have not already earned a starting posi- tion, with the exception of the 43rd position which is assigned to an eligible former or current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

Should there not be an eligible champion; the position is assigned to the next fastest qualifier not in the field.