Ed's crystal ball look into 2007

Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark (left) plays the part of prognosticator this week, offering six predictions for the 2007 NASCAR season to Cox News Service writer Rick Minter. Here's what Clark believes will happen this season:

1. Richard Childress Racing will return to championship form, winning its first Nextel Cup championship since Dale Earnhardt won in 1994.

"I just think they're getting better and better all the time, and they're on a roll. … With the improvement they showed last year, and the year they had in the Busch Series, Richard Childress (right) definitely has his organization back on track. They've got to go out and beat Hendrick and beat Roush, but they're going to be contenders, and it'll be a good story.We all like good stories."

2. Casey Mears will win his first Nextel Cup event in his first year with Hendrick Motorsports.

"He'll have the ingredients he has been missing as far as the calls from the pit box, the extensive testing. Everything he needs will be at his fingertips - better crew chief, all those things."

3. Petty Enterprises returns to Victory Lane.

"The progress they made last year, with Robbie Loomis and Paul Andrews leading the team, is going to allow all the important factors to come together. They've had a year to weed out the bad cars and pick out a few that run decent. I think they can do it. Bobby Labonte is

pretty enthused. [The breakout

LABONTE

win] could come here [at Atlanta Motor Speedway] in the March race."

5. Carl Edwards (left) gets back in Victory Lane with multiple victories.

"He's back with [crew chief] Bob Osborne, and he's too good not to win, especially coming off the year he had last year with no wins [in Nextel Cup.] He's definitely going to be focused on getting back into Victory Lane."

4. Reed Sorenson gets his first victory.

"He came close about three times last year, ran out of gas a couple of times while leading late in races. He ran way better than his finishes showed at times. I know Reed was very frustrated,

but if he came that

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close three times last year, he should get his first win this year."

6. NASCAR will alter the points system, giving more bonus points to race winners.

"But my guess is they won't do enough. … I figure they'll add 10 or 15 points, but it needs to be at least 25. Thirty-five would be great, and 50 would be super. Do I hear 100? We have to put the emphasis back on winning races."

LABONTE SORENSON