2009 Predictions - 3 Sisters Racing

While 2008 was a positive personal year for each of the 3 Sisters - NASCarla married our Bodyguard James, Kathy Beth got a 3-Peat Championship from her Favorite Driver Jimmie Jimmie Jimmie Johnson, and Judy Kay met the Love of Her Life, Dane, and became engaged - 2009 looks to start out the NASCAR season with a big bunch of "NO!'s"... NO Testing. NO Bud Pole. NO Petty. NO Rookies. NO Money. NO Way! So - here are our predictions for the New Year - Short, Sweet, and to the point!

Here's More...
NASCarla - I predict there will be at least 4 races that do not have 43 cars to fill the field. I also predict that Judy Kay and Dane will make headlines once again in Las Vegas for their wedding - in a very good way!
Dan Bellaire - I predict that Brad Keselowski will have alot of success racing in all three NASCAR series this year. I also predict that Brad's brother Brian will find a ride in one of the NASCAR series. Brian and Brad K are both excellent drivers. I think that Tony Stewart will be back in winning form in 2009 like he was in the past driving a Monte Carlo again!

On New Year's Eve, I boldly predicted that Jeff Burton would win the 2009 Sprint Cup Championship. No, I hadn't indulged in too much New Year Eve revelry. (At that point, anyway!) That is truly a hunch, and we'll see if that pans out in better than my previous predictions. I have a feeling it's going to be someone from Childress, who hasn't had a Champion since the late, great Dale Earnhardt, Senior. Losing Senior set that program back more than anyone realized, but boy is it back. And in a big way. The reason I think Burton will get it instead of Harvick or Bowyer is because Burton may be a little hungrier. There's not a better driver out there than Bowyer, but moving to a new team will take some getting used to for the Kansas native.

The Tarot Cards that predicted Jimmies' Three-Peat last year didn't have much faith in a 4th consecutive championship for the 48 team. That would be unprecedented, and really quite incredible. NASCAR may have to tweak the Chase format to keep the Champ from completely dominating this decade, it might be the only way to stop him and Chad.
Jeff Gordon. Heavy Sigh. The first winless season since 1993. Dad and I have discussed this at length, and we have come to the conclusion that Jeff needs to adjust his driving style to his car, not the other way around. The crew spends all their time trying to get the car "perfect" for Jeff, where his teammate Jimmie Johnson can drive about anything that Chad throws at him. Same deal with Junior. He might not get a car that can ride around the rim of the track all race long. He might have to adjust his driving style as well if he wants a championship.
Tony Stewart can't quit smiling. He's back in a Chevy. He could probably care less about all the work his new team is going to take, he's right where he wants to be. And that is a real good start for the fledgling team.
Carl Edwards will probably be competitive all season, but may not be patient enough. Just like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, their immaturity is at times at odds with their talent.
NASCAR as a body will have a "challenging" year, with the economy in shambles, particularly the auto industry. Toyota is really not any better off than the domestic Big Three, except their pockets are a little deeper at this point. But I think this may be what NASCAR needs for a reality check. Just like the rest of us. But, hope springs eternal, and for us racing fans, the only thing better than the anticipation of a new season is the start of it. Come on February! - Judy Kay

There are times when we are forced to let go of something to which we may have been attached, and the process of letting go is frequently quite difficult. However, the sadness of the "loss" will ultimately be replaced by greater clarity, the calmness of the water in the distance, which will bring about a new understanding and a new acceptance of the changes in our lives. Often when we experience what seems to be sadness or loss we are actually only experiencing the "birth pangs" of a brighter future and a more peaceful experience of life. The Six of Swords represents the dull, listless state that can come over us from time to time. When we feel this way, we don't even want to get out of bed. In readings, the Six of Swords usually indicates a period of mild depression. Nothing is seriously wrong, but nothing is really right either. You're getting by, but not thriving. In the picture the woman in the boat is wrapped in a cloak. She is cut off from her surroundings and oblivious to her fellow travelers. Life can seem this way when we feel the blues.

Well, here goes - my predictions for 2009. It couldn't possibly be as far off as last years. Was completely off on most of them... I did predict that everybody had to beat a Hendrick driver in the end. It just wasn't the one I thought it would be. I thought the year as a whole left a lot to be desired. It took so long to figure out why the Toyotas were so strong - one in particular. The word is Horsepower. I have lived on and off my entire life in and around farms, over the road trucks, and construction equipment. If you want to do what you are doing easier and faster, you have to add horsepower. To plow on the farm you have to add a horse. To go over the road better you add a bigger engine. To dig a ditch you add horsepower. I find it ironic that when the power was shut down in one series it also affected the other. So much for my complaining...
I hope everyone has a great year. I hate to lose Casey Mears from Hendrick, but I'm going to predict that you still have to beat Hendrick,

so all four drivers should do well. And if one does win the Championship, it might as well be Jimmie.
I guess I want everybody to have a year like I had... just couldn't get any better! Carla, the oldest, got married. Kathy, the middle one, got her favorite driver to 3-Peat. Judy Kay got engaged to a nice guy, he has to be, he is a NASCAR fan big time. Nola Mae, my wife, won 20 twelve packs of Pepsi. And as of Oct. 16th, still in remission. So thanks to all who made this possible - hang in there! Carl E. Russell