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Check out the latest news and rumors about driver and crew changes for 2006.
| Team | Car numbers | Make |
| Bill Davis Racing | 22, 55 | Dodge |
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(Updated Jan. 25) What we know: Michael Waltrip and sponsor NAPA have joined the fold for 2006, sort of. Waltrip has formed Waltrip-Jasper Racing in partnership with Doug Bawel, president of Jasper, and will drive the No. 55 using cars, engines and personnel from Bill Davis Racing. Derrick Finley will move over from the 22 car to work as Waltrip's crew chief. Speaking of the 22, Dave Blaney will replace Scott Wimmer as driver, while Kevin Hamlin, who worked with Blaney at RCR, will serve as his crew chief. Odds and ends: It has been announced that starting in 2007, Davis will field two of Toyotas six entries in the Nextel Cup Series. Waltrip Racing will also field two Toyota teams. Red Bull, a company new to stock-car racing, will field the final two Toyota entries. | ||
| Haas CNC Racing | 66 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Jan. 12) What we know: Jeff Green will replace Mike Bliss in the No. 66 car (previously the 0 car) in 2006. He'll work with crew chief Bootie Barker. Odds and ends: The team has shown flashes at times, but life as a one-car operation is difficult. It'll be surprising if Green enjoys much more success than Bliss. | ||
| PPI Motorsports | 32 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Jan. 3) What we know: Travis Kvapil will replace Bobby Hamilton Jr. as driver. James Ince will serve as crew chief. Odds and ends: Hamilton Jr. worked with three different crew chiefs in 2005 and finished 36th in the overall standings with no top 10s. Kvapil, who was freed from Penske after the 77 ride was placed on hiatus for 2005, didn't fare much better, finishing 33rd with two top 10s. | ||
| Hendrick Motorsports | 5, 24, 25, 48 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Dec. 19) What we know: For the drivers, it's status quo with Jeff Gordon (24), Jimmie Johnson (48), Brian Vickers (25) and Kyle Busch (5) all retaining their rides. Gordon will have a new crew chief in 2006, Steve Letarte, who took over from Robbie Loomis toward the end of 2005. Loomis has joined Petty Enterprises as executive vice president of race operations. Odds and ends: There had been some rumblings of a rift between Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus following the tire debacle in the season finale at Homestead, but as of now the two will be together again in 2006. Vickers was the only Hendrick car without a win in 2005 and he has the most pressure on him heading into 2006. Busch will attempt to drive a full Busch schedule in addition to his Cup duties. | ||
| Richard Childress Racing | 3, 07, 29, 31 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Dec. 19) What we know: Jeff Burton (No. 31) is signed through 2007. Kevin Harvick's contract runs through 2006, but after Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch signed with other teams while still under contract, there were some rumors that Harvick was ready to do the same. He didn't jump ship, but he didn't sign an extension either. As for the No. 07, Childress has decided to replace Dave Blaney with Clint Bowyer, who will pull double-duty by racing full-time in the Busch Series for another year as well. Odds and ends: When he ended contract extension talks during the 2005 season, Harvick, who missed the Chase for the second consecutive season, said he wanted to see what type of improvements Childress made to the operation. Unless he signs a new deal before the season, the contract issues stand to become a huge distraction. With Childress more focused on trying to make Harvick happy, plans to get Champ Car veteran Paul Tracy up and running in an RCR-prepared car fell through. | ||
| Penske Racing | 2, 12, 77 | Dodge |
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(Updated Dec. 8) What we know: Kurt Busch signed a multi-year deal to replace the retiring Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 ride and has been granted his release from Roush Racing. Roy McCauley, who served as crew chief for Penske's Busch Series car, will move up to the Cup to work with Busch. Ryan Newman has a new deal to drive the No. 12 that carries through the 2009 season, with an additional three-year option. The 77 car will not run in 2006 as primary sponsor Kodak is unhappy with the performance of the team and has opted to step back for a year until Penske can show it a plan to be more competitive. Travis Kvapil was set free to explore opportunities with other teams. Odds and ends: From the outset most figured something would be worked out to get Busch in the 2 car in 2006. It would have been interesting to find out what they had as a backup plan. Landing Busch was quite a coup for Penske. With 2 and 12 both making the Chase last season, Kodak's exasperation with the 77 isn't without merit (Kvapil finished 33rd in points). | ||
| Petty Enterprises | 43, 45 | Dodge |
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(Updated Dec. 7) What we know: Bobby Labonte is taking the wheel of the famed No. 43, replacing Jeff Green, who will be joining Hass CNC Racing in 2006. Todd Parrott, formerly of Robert Yates Racing, has been named Labonte's crew chief. Jeff Gordon's former crew chief, Robbie Loomis, has come aboard as VP of racing operations. Odds and ends: Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, wasn't happy with the direction Gibbs Racing took as it expanded its operation in recent years. With the Pettys, all the teams resources will be centered on getting that 43 competitive again. | ||
| Robert Yates Racing | 38, 88 | Ford |
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(Updated Dec. 1) What we know: Elliott Sadler (38) and M&M's are signed through 2008. Dale Jarrett is signed through 2006 to drive the 88 car, with UPS on board through 2007. Both teams failed to make the Chase in 2005 and, in response, owner Robert Yates has made wholesale changes, most notably at crew chief where he's added a pair of former Evernham Motorsports employees. Richard "Slugger" Labbe will work with Jarrett, while Tommy Baldwin will join forces with Sadler. Odds and ends: There had been talk about Yates possibly adding a third team, but after a disappointing 2005 season, he opted to focus on improving his two existing teams. Longtime RYR employee Todd Parrott was among those let go in the shakeup. | ||
| Wood Brothers/JTG Racing | 21 | Ford |
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(Updated Nov. 18) What we know: Ricky Rudd is "taking a break" from full-time racing at the end of the season. Ken Schrader, who had pondered retirement from the Cup series, will leave BAM Racing and assume driving duties in the 21 car in 2006. The Wood Brothers announced a partnership with ST Motorsports owner Tad Geschickter and hope to become a two-car operation at some point. Odds and ends: Schrader is merely keeping the seat warm for Jon Wood, son of co-owner Eddie Wood. The young Wood is expected to make the move to the Cup Series in 2007. | ||
| Evernham Motorsports | 9, 10, 19 | Dodge |
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(Updated Nov. 16) What we know: About the only thing not changing at Evernham motorsports is its drivers. Jeremy Mayfield is signed through 2008 in the No. 19, while Kasey Kahne (No. 9) signed a long-term extension. Terms weren't disclosed, but the deal will reportedly take him through 2010. Evernham will start a third Cup team in 2006, the No. 10 Valvoline car, formerly of MBV Motorsports with Scott Riggs as its driver. Most notably, none of the teams will have crew chiefs. Instead there will be a "leadership group" featuring a team director, car director and engineer. Odds and ends: If the new structure is a success, you can bet it will take off with other teams. Meanwhile, Evernham continues to groom 24-year-old Erin Crocker. After announcing in September that she'd drive a full Busch Series schedule next season, Evernham has backtracked. Instead Crocker will drive a full Truck Series schedule with Busch and ARCA races mixed in. | ||
| BAM Racing | 49 | Dodge |
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(Updated Nov. 16) What we know: Brent Sherman will make his Nextel Cup debut next season, replacing Ken Schrader. Odds and ends: Schrader is moving over to the No. 21 Wood Brothers ride. The big question: Was he keeping the team afloat with his experience, or holding the team back with his age? It's a big step up for the 31-year-old Sherman. The feeling here is the 49 gang will be in for a rough ride in 2006. | ||
| Joe Gibbs Racing | 11, 18, 20 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Nov. 13) What we know: Bobby Labonte (No. 18) and Gibbs Racing will part ways after 11 seasons and one championship (2000) together. J.J. Yeley will take over. After some solid finishes during his stint as the replacement for the dismissed Jason Leffler in the No. 11 car, Denny Hamlin has been chosen for that ride full-time next season. He'll run a full Busch Series schedule as well. Tony Stewart (No. 20) is signed through 2009. Odds and ends: Rumors that he would leave Gibbs dogged Labonte all season. Whatever the reason, the team hasn't meshed the past few years. Change might do all parties involved some good. Yeley struggled in his Cup opportunities this season. He got first shot in the No. 11 after Leffler's dismissal, but crashed several times. | ||
| Chip Ganassi Racing | 40, 41, 42 | Dodge |
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(Updated Nov. 7) What we know: After announcing plans to expand to four teams during the summer, there's been a change of plans. Jamie McMurray has been released from his contract and will move to Roush Racing in 2006. Casey Mears, who received an extenstion but had been slated to jump from the 41 into the new fourth car, will instead take over the 42 ride. The other changes remain the same. David Stremme will replace Sterling Marlin in the No. 40 car, while Reed Sorenson is the new driver of the 41. Sorenson will continue to drive most, if not all, the Busch Series races next season. Odds and ends: Impending changes to cars and possible ownership limits probably played a part in Ganassi's decision to finally grant McMurray his release. | ||
| Roush Racing | 6, 16, 17, 26, 99 | Ford |
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(Updated Nov. 7) What we know: Kurt Busch is leaving the No. 97 to drive Penske Racing's No. 2 car. Jamie McMurray, after initially being pegged to take over for Mark Martin in the No. 6 car, will jump into Busch's car (which will have its number changed to 26) after being granted his release from Chip Ganassi Racing. Martin, who had planned to retire after this season, will return for one more year with AAA replacing Viagara as the team's primary sponsor. Todd Kluever, currently driving for Roush in the Truck Series, will replace Martin in 2007 after a year of seasoning in the Busch Series. Odds and ends: It was a long strange trip, but everything worked out in the end. Well, except for Martin, whose Cup career has been extended another season by all the maneuverings. | ||
| Hall of Fame Racing | 96 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Nov. 4) What we know: The startup team owned by former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach has everything lined up for 2006 after choosing two-time Cup champion Terry Labonte and journeyman Tony Raines as it drivers. Labonte will drive the first five races of the season as well as the two road-course races, while Raines will drive the remainder of the events. Philippe Lopez, formerly of Richard Childress Racing, will serve as crew chief. The car will be sponsored by Texas Instruments. Odds and ends: Labonte was chosen to take advantage of his champion's provisional because the team has no points to fall back on from 2005. It takes a little pressure off as otherwise they would be forced to qualify by speed, an iffy propisition for a startup team should Raines have started the season. After the first five races, they are assured of making the remainder of the season's races as long as they are in the top 35 in points. | ||
| MB2 Motorsports | 01, 14, 36 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Oct. 29) What we know: Valvoline has joined forces with Evernham Motorsports and is taking the No. 10 with them. Losing the Valvoline sponsorship hurts, but MB2 still hopes to field a three-car operation next season and is moving to a larger building. Joe Nemechek has signed an extension and will continue to drive the No. 01 Army car. Sterling Marlin will drive the No. 14 (formerly the No. 10). Odds and ends: Boris Said will probably be back in the No. 36, haven't heard any news saying otherwise. He's a terrific road racer, but he's struggled on the ovals. | ||
| Dale Earnhardt Inc. | 1, 8, 15 | Chevrolet |
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(Updated Oct. 18) What we know: Michael Waltrip and DEI will part ways after this season. After a hard push from Penske to replace Rusty Wallace in the No. 2, Martin Truex Jr. remained loyal and signed on the dotted line to drive DEI's No. 1 Cup cars with Bass Pro Shops as the primary sponsor. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. signed a multi-year extenstion to remain at DEI and has reunited with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The No. 15 car will be a part-time team with Busch Series driver Paul Menard scheduled to run a seven-race schedule. Odds and ends: Three teams would have been just too much for DEI, especially after a disastrous 2005. Menard has shown flashes and another year of seasoning in the Busch Series will do him good. | ||
