Lots of series sponsorship drama all season - Monster Energy will say they want to stay, but they will want a lower price (again). Brian France will stir the drama by making inappropriate and incoherent public statements... which frighten off other potential sponsors and strengthen Monster's position. In the end Monster will sign through 2020, but at an undisclosed price (that will be less than today's $20 million per year). Then the TV networks will want to renegotiate their contracts...
NASCAR will announce intentions to beef up its support of local tracks... only to continue to ignore them.
Another year of attendance and TV ratings drops. Tracks will remove more seats, and replace some of them with VIP suites and bars. At least one track will consider operating a bar / nightclub that is open to the public except on race weekends (when it will only be open to VIPs).
The Charlotte road course race will turn out to be a "what the heck was that?" event - just like it was in the old days. Expect a pileup that completely blocks the narrow track.
Danica's press will last longer than either of her race attempts.
William Byron is Rookie Of The Year. (Although I'm rooting for Bubba.)
Big debate about what model Ford will use to replace its Fusion. Mustang fans will gripe, but Ford will return to the Taurus.
NASCAR's "rules stabilization mode" this year means that they will wait a few races before changing or adding rules, but then will go back to their previous habits. Rules changes will be reinstated due to complaints about the new Camaro ZL1.
The new Incident Data Recorders will be a disappointment since they will be tripped too late. NASCAR will first play with the amount of force it takes to trigger them, then will consider installing continual telemetry to monitor and record actions of all cars and drivers during the race so they can obtain data that uncovers causes of wrecks... teams and drivers will balk because it'll be too transparent.
At least half the races will start less than a full field of cars, particularly towards the end of the season. Top teams losing full sponsorship is not new anymore, but we will still be surprised at which teams / drivers continue to struggle to find sponsorship. Another big name driver will get forced out (probably McMurray). Stewart / Haas will cut back (probably Bowyer) due to Haas running low on money, and bad press / social media outcry over Stewart's Kevin Ward lawsuit, hurting their sponsorship hunt.
Infighting at Team Penske will hurt all three of its teams' performances.
Pit crew over-the-wall, lug nut gun, and standardized roster rules will increase team costs instead of easing them. Athletes capable of performing well under the new rules will command higher salaries than what the lower-funded teams can afford. The media will start to notice crew contracts and trades, similar to the NFL free-agent market, in NASCAR.
Earnhardt Jr. will prove to be a good race commentator.
The #6 Roush Fenway car will become a rent-a-ride for well-heeled drivers looking to get back into the sport. Matt Kenseth will take advantage.
2018 champion is Kyle Busch. He will keep his nose relatively clean during the season, but will still have his childish moments…
