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In the wild, action-packed, and thrilling Camping World Truck Series, anything can happen. The start of each season brings new opportunity for every driver. Whether they are trying to make their name or just make a living, they put all their effort into these trucks with hope of claiming victory. Whether it’s racing on dirt at Eldora, going three wide at Daytona and Talladega, or fighting for room at Martinsville and Bristol, action lives within these trucks and it is renewed each and every February.
It is difficult to predict what will come in this unpredictable series, so taking a wild guess is just as good as making a logical prediction. Below, I give my bold predictions for the upcoming season.
Matt Crafton Will Not Repeat as Champion
Coming off of his first Camping World Truck Series championship, Matt Crafton may yet again be the favorite for the title this season which is only right considering his dominance from a year ago. If Crafton can repeat his magic, there is no stopping him from winning it all again in 2014. However, I see his season playing out differently.
Being perfect for two straight seasons is extremely hard to do. Jimmie Johnson was never completely perfect when he won five straight titles. Crafton, however, did pull off one perfect season. He put all of his marbles into one year, which will backfire this season when he struggles a bit more. Crafton will still be one of the top performers, but a few incidents will take him out of the running for his second straight title.
Darrell Wallace Jr. Will Win the Most Races
Coming off of his rookie year which entailed lots of learning, Darrell Wallace Jr. is ready to compete at a higher level this season. By the end of 2013, he figured out what it takes to be successful. He will apply that knowledge this season and do great things. I expect three or four wins to come from Wallace Jr. and for him to be a top title contender.
The Number of First Time Winners Will Surpass Six from 2012
Once again this season, there are a large number of new drivers in the Camping World Truck Series. Most of these drivers haven’t been to victory lane before in a truck. That leaves the door open for a many of them to visit the winner’s circle for the first time this season.
The drivers who could very possibly earn their first Truck Series victory include Brian Ickler, Tyler Reddick, Brennan Newberry, Ben Kennedy, John Hunter Nemechek, German Quiroga, Cole Custer, and Brandon Jones. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of these names up front and contending for wins this season. With so many vying for their first wins, expect the list of first time winners to be very large once again this season.