Ten days after the calendar hits Valentines Day, the roaring engines and epic speed that is NASCAR makes its way back to tracks all around the country. The regular season runs from late February to the first week of September, when an elite field of twelve drivers culminate the season with a ten race Chase for the Sprint Cup. The fact that 42 to 43 drivers start each race means finding the twelve best is a long and difficult task. With that said, here are some of the top drivers to watch out for in 2013. From the it should come as no surprise category, Jimmie Johnson is once again considered a top contender to win his 6th NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Though he has not won the past two seasons, Johnson went on a Cup record setting run of five straight titles from 2006-2010, earning him the nickname Five Time. He might have been a little off in 2012, but 2013 has seen him start off on fire, winning the Daytona 500 and at Martinsville. The mojo seems to be back for the number 48, and he will be hard to stop when it gets to Chase time. Johnson drives for car owner Rick Hendrick, who has a stable of other drivers that will vie for positions in the Chase. Dale Earnhardt Jr has already had a heck of a start, sitting fifth in the points. That has made NASCAR nation quite happy, but sitting number two in the points standings is Kasey Kahne, who has a win and four top 5’s thus far. It just goes to show that Hendrick is serious about winning, and gives his drivers everything they need to win. Brad Keselowski won the Sprint Cup title for the first time last season. He did so by dominating when it counted, which is during the 10 race sprint to the finish. He brought Roger Penske a NASCAR Championship, and looks poised to recreate the feat yet again. Though he has not won a race yet in 2013, he has been one of the most consistent high finishers, with seven top tens and 4 top 5’s at this point. Two other racing teams figure to bring a slew of title contenders to the track. Jack Roush, whose drivers have been conspicuously absent from the Champions stand, have Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle high up in the current standings. Edwards broke a long losing streak with a win in 2013, while the Biff has managed to put together solid outings in almost every race, leaving him in fourth place with 4 top ten finishes. Joe Gibbs racing also has several contenders, but the leader right now might surprise some. Matt Kenseth, who switched to Gibbs over the winter, has won twice in 2013, while teammate Kyle Busch has also taken the checkered flag on two different occasions. Looking for a few dark horses? Paul Menard is stunning everyone with his fabulous finishes and top notch driving skills. He is hanging around the top 12 in points, while showing the Cup scene that he belongs. Also worthy of note could be young Aric Almirola, who is hanging around the top ten, while veterans like Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray should also be considered among the group with a chance to contend for a title in 2013. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society