Scott Adamson

The No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft represents the hopes of a brighter future, with the understanding that there is no such thing as a sure thing.

Such was the case with Cameron Jerrell Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Auburn and the man the Carolina Panthers tapped as their signal-caller-in-waiting last spring.

The franchise needed a quarterback, to be sure.

But why Newton? When would he be ready to start?

For a while, the situation read like a movie script.

Jimmie Johnson, winner of five consecutive Sprint Cup championships, was struggling. Jeff Gordon -- the four-time titlist and teammate of Johnson -- was poised to claim a fifth title of his own, and first since 2001.

The old dog would show he still knew some new tricks, toppling his partner in speed, while giving team owner Rick Hendrick another top finish at the top level of stock-car racing.

Now that the 12-driver Chase field is set, the drama that leads to the drama is over for 2011. No longer will fans have to worry that Tony Stewart won't make the chase or Dale Earnhardt Jr. will fade out of contention.

Smoke and NASCAR's Most Popular Driver made the cut.

And the wild-card race, which was designed to add some spice to the Chase, resulted in Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin earning the final two spots in the field.

Both are young, both are brash, and both belong.

Outside the greater New England area, football fans tend to think of Patriots coach Bill Belichick as a guy who spends all his free time polishing his hooves and horns, eating live rabbits and plotting evil.

But love him or fear him, he's a smart dude who I'm certain loves rabbits (but probably not for lunch).

Once the NASCAR Hall of Fame opened in Charlotte, it immediately became the biggest and best hall of fame stock car racing had to offer -- complete with a museum that is interactive, bright, shiny and fan-friendly.

The inaugural Class of 2010 was so exclusive it inexplicably excluded David Pearson, prompting NASCAR's winningest driver, Richard Petty, to wonder aloud how in the world someone like Pearson could be snubbed.

In the National Football League, there's not a lot of space between the highest highs and the lowest lows. The Carolina Panthers understand this well.

In 2008 the club won the NFC South title and was expected to steamroll the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs.

Trying to name the most polarizing driver in NASCAR is open for debate, but there's no debating Kyle Busch would be in the discussion.

His fans love his take-no-prisoners style, and they find his brashness refreshing.