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MAKING A MOVE?

The Mag lays down the odds that these young rocket jocks will break big soon.
By Ryan McGee

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BRAD KESELOWSKI, 24
ODDS: 88–1
Nationwide Series

• DRIVES: No. 88 Navy Chevy, JR Motorsports
• HE IS … Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s handpicked racer around whom to build a Cup team.
• POTENTIAL POTHOLE: Junior may decide not to be a Cup Series owner
• NASCAR COMPARISON: Uh … Junior maybe?
• CALLING CARD: Regularly fends off Cup drivers making cameos in Nationwide
• BEST SHOT TO WIN: Bristol, Aug. 22

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CHAD McCUMBEE, 23
ODDS: 30–1
Cup, Craftsman Truck

• DRIVES: No. 45 Wells Fargo Dodge, No. 8 Chevy Silverado
• HE IS … The guy who played Dale Jr. in the ESPN movie 3
• POTENTIAL POTHOLE: Had his Cup schedule reduced to make room for 51-year-old Terry Labonte
• NASCAR Comparison: Kasey Kahne
• CALLING CARD: Best on tracks where speeds are highest
• BEST SHOT TO WIN: Atlanta (Craftsman Series), Oct. 25

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HIDEKI MUTOH, 25
ODDS: 6–1
IndyCar Series

• DRIVES: No. 27 Honda, Andretti Green Racing
• HE IS … The guy who took over Dario Franchitti's title defending ride.
• POTENTIAL POTHOLE: There are only so many wins to go around at AGR
• INDYCAR COMPARISON: Teammate Tony Kanaan
• CALLING CARD: Crazy fast on ovals despite road-racing pedigree
• BEST SHOT TO WIN: Watkins Glen, July 6

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ROBERT KUBICA, 23
ODDS: 2–1
Formula One

• DRIVES: No. 4 BMW Sauber
• HE IS … The Polish driver behind BMW's shocking challenge to Ferrari and McLaren
• POTENTIAL POTHOLE: Sauber has never won an F1 event
• F1 COMPARISON: Autosport mentioned Schumacher … seriously
• CALLING CARD: Win—or wreck (see: 75 g-force crash at 2007 Canadian Grand Prix)
• BEST SHOT TO WIN: French Grand Prix, June 22

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DAVID RAGAN, 22
ODDS: EVEN
Sprint Cup

• DRIVES: No. 6 Ford Fusion, Roush Fenway Racing
• HE IS … The guy who dared to replace Mark Martin.
• POTENTIAL POTHOLE: At best he's fourth at Roush, but that's better than first at most teams
• NASCAR COMPARISON:Ryan Newman
• CALLING CARD: Hides in the back until moneymaking time
• BEST SHOT TO WIN: Texas, Nov. 2

BIG SHOT

By Adam Winer

As a kid, Nick Vena was nicknamed Jolly Green Giant. Now, says the 6'4", 260-pound New Jersey teen, "Friends call me Shot Put Master." With good reason. Since the 15-year-old Vena began crushing national records earlier this year, he has become a track and field sensation. (Fans have posted videos from several of his meets on YouTube.)

The Morristown High frosh notched the longest indoor shot put toss (66'7 1 / 4") of any high schooler this season and set a freshman record (63'9 1 / 2") for outdoor throws. "If all my technique goes well on a throw, the shot feels like a feather," says Vena, named High School Boys' Most Outstanding Athlete at the Penn Relays in April.

Unlike most kids his age, Vena chucks the 12-pound ball with a full-body spin, an advanced method seen primarily at the collegiate and Olympic levels. It leaves spectators buzzing about his future prospects. "Sometimes I think about the Olympics," he says. "But I really don't focus my life around it. I just try to focus on high school."

Vena still has a long way to go to break the national high school record of 81'3 1D2", set in 1979 by Michael Carter, who went on to take Olympic silver at the 1984 LA Games and make the Pro Bowl as a nose tackle with the 49ers.

Carter's mark helps keep Vena's ego in check. So do teammates. "The seniors pull the routine where I have to put away the equipment at practice," he admits. "I do realize I'm just a freshman."

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