NASCAR - A New Season, the Same Champion?

A new season has started for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with it comes the question of if any team/driver is poised to outlast Hendrick/Jimmie Johnson for the Cup Championship.

NASCAR has done their best to equalize the package of the car, changing fuel, fueling process, front end of cars, and the Shootout point system. Teams have reorganized with different owners, manufacturers, teams, and sponsors. It is blur to try to comprehend all of the changes to a simple sport that requires racing acumen and luck.

Will all of these changes equalize the competition in a manner that gives another driver a chance to dethrone 5 time champion Jimmie Johnson?

The spoiler appears to be Kevin Harvick and RCR Racing. With the fairness of equipment and competition venues, Harvick has been the only driver to show the mettle to take home the Cup.