Denny Hamlin 2006 Preview

The #11 team started 2005 with high expectations, relying on driver Jason Leffler, but unfortunately the team was unable to get on track and for the rest of the season various drivers took turns in the car (Terry Labonte, J.J. Yeley, & Denny Hamilin). In 2006 Denny Hamilin starts his official first year at Joe Gibbs racing piloting the #11 Fedex Chevy. Denny ran a few races at the end of the season for the team and did well in most of those starts, but will he be able to keep it going in 2006?

Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Sponsor: Federal Express Crew Chief: Mike Ford

2005 Stats (Busch Series):

0 Wins
0 Poles
1 Top Five
11 Top Tens
5th in Final Standings

2005 #11 Stats:

0 Wins
1 Pole
0 Top Fives
4 Top Tens

Denny Hamilin ran decently in the Busch series but was unable to pick up a victory for his team. The good news is in seven starts in the Cup series he ran in contention in quite a few races. Denny could find himself in the hunt for the Rookie of the Year honors and could even challenge for a victory in a few races. The one fact will be that the #11 team will have a real full time driver in 2006.

Sterling Marlin '06 Preview:

Sterling Marlin moves from the Chip Ganassi #40 Coors Light Dodge to MB Motorsports as the driver of the #14 car, tentatively set for a 12 race sponsorship by Waste Management, Inc. Marlin chose #14 in honor of his father, who passed away during the summer of 2005. The move to MB means that Marlin will be driving a Chevy this year and the 2007 season, as he has signed on to drive for 2 years. This is the #10 car formerly driven by Scott Riggs, who took #10 and sponsor Valvoline over to Evernham Motorsports.

Sponsor: Waste Managment/CENTRIX Financial
Owners: Nelson Bowers, Bob Sutton, Jay Frye
Crew Chief: Doug Randolph
Team: MB Motorsports

2005 Stats:

0 Poles
5 Top Ten's
1 Top Five
30th in Final Point Standings


Marlin has traditionally been a strong competitor on the restrictor plate tracks, Talladega and Daytona, and finished as high as third in the final NASCAR Nextel Cup standings in 2001. He has 10 career wins, but is coming off a 2005 season in which he only had 5 top ten finishes, 1 top five, and his average finish was 24th. Moving to a new team may help improve a little bit due to his veteran status on the circuit. However, this team struggled last year with a young, promising driver in Scott Riggs and with Marlin towards the final years of his career, I don't see much of an improvement. Look for him to be strong with Hendrick engines at the Superspeedways, but struggle for most of the year. The team still needs a primary sponsor for the the second part of the season and without that, the team will struggle on and off the track.

Ryan Newman '06 Preview:

Ryan Newman should easily be a top 10 driver in 2006. The "Rocket Man" is definitely the best qualifier in the entire field. His number 12 Alltel Dodge should find the Gatorade Victory Lane at least 3 times in '06. Penske South is due a champion, and Newman could get them there this year. The Alltel team should be better equipped this year when it comes to dialing in the car after qualifying. In the past this team has been able to consistently win the pole, but not finish in a strong position.

Sponsor: Alltel
Owner: Roger Penske
Crew Chief: Matt Borland
Team: Penske Racing2005

Stats:

Wins: 1

Poles: 8

Top 5: 8

Top 10: 16

Final Ranking: 6th

Scott Riggs 2006 Preview

Scott Riggs starts the 2006 season with the same number and sponsor, but with a new team in Evernham Motorsports. Last year was a disappointment for Riggs at MB2 Motorsports. He finished 34th in the points at the end of the season but with a new team brings new hopes for a talented driver.

Team: Evernham Motorsports Sponsor: Valvoline Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

2005 Stats (With MB2 Motorsports):

0 Wins
1 Pole
2 Top Fives
4 Top Tens
34th in Final Standings

Scott Riggs is a talented driver and now with a new team he will be expected to produce results in 2006. Riggs has proven that he can qualify good but he has yet to find consistency with his team to run competitive. This is his chance to redeem himself in 2006 but his team will have to be prepared in the first few races because he will have to qualify his way in the first few races. Overall...I expect the #10 ten team to run better in 2006.

Kasey Kahne 2006 Preview

The 2005 season was suppose to be the breakout year for second year driver Kasey Kahne, instead it turned into a huge disappointment. Yes...Kasey finally recorded that elusive victory from the 2004 season but besides that things did not go the #9 teams way. Maybe it was bad luck, but Kahne found himself standing around in the garage area, while his team worked on a wrecked vehicle, during quite a few races last season. Can Kahne shrug off the sophomore jinx to run competitive in 2006?

Team: Evernham Racing Sponsor: UAW/Dodge Dealers Crew Chief: Kenny Francis

2005 Stats:

1 Win (Chevy American Revolution 500, Richmond Speedway)
2 Poles
5 Top Fives
8 Top Tens
23rd in Final Standings

If Kasey Kahne is put in adequate equipment for 2006 then he will put the car in the top 10 but if not.. then it could be another long year for the #9 team. We all know Kahne has the talent to be competitive each week but I believe it all depends on his teams ability to function together that should tell his 2006 season. Look for Kahne to run well at mile & half and short tracks, but for him to get in the chase he will have to prove himself on the restrictor plate tracks and road courses.

Nothing less than success for Dale Jr. in 2006.

The finish of the 2005 season was welcomed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the #8 team. By all accounts, 2005 was the worst possible scenario for the team when it comes to competing in a season. First it started when the team wanted to shake things up by giving Jr. a new crew chief and switching equipment with Michael Waltrip. Well....that turned out to be the bonehead move of the year, resulting in Dale Jr. (the star of NASCAR) missing the chase and finishing a disappointing 19th in the final standing. He did win a race in 2005 but that was only made possible by pit strategy, that put him out front late. Now there should be no excuses for failure in 2006, as Jr. has been reunited with his cousin Tony Eury Jr. and he gets his equipment back...So?? Will Dale Jr. jump back into the chase or will his fans be forced to root on Tony Stewart again in 2006?

Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Sponsor: Budweiser Crew Chief: Tony Eury Jr.

2005 Stats:

1 Win (USG Sheetrock 400, Chicagoland Speedway)
0 Poles
7 Top Fives
13 Top Tens
19th in Final Standings

Will Dale Jr. rebound? I believe he has a good chance too. No one expected him to have that poor of a year, so I'm sure DEI have been working extremely long hours to get Jr. back to running strong. Dale Jr. should, once again, be strong at resrictor plate tracks and short tracks, but it will those mile and half tracks that will determine whether he will be a real contender. It also helps that he has pupil and buddy Martin Truex Jr. as his partner. No doubt, everyone will have their eyes on the #8 car (like or dislike) in 2006.

Big Changes Planned for 2007.

This morning NASCAR CEO Brian France announced various changes related to the 2007 season. The first announcement was to introduce Toyota into the sport. Toyota already competes in the Craftsman Truck Series and will make the leap to Cup and Busch in 2007, running the Toyota Camry. The second announcement was about the "Car of tomorrow", basically they wanted to give an explanation of what this new car will bring to the table. Supposable it will bring better side-by-side racing that could lead to closer finishes, it should provide better safety to the driver and cost less for owners.

Toyota coming into the Cup series in NASCAR is not a surprise to me, they have been looking to get in for a while. I don't foresee them will having an immediate impact but they should get a few of the smaller teams to convert, Bill Davis for one (He already runs Toyota in Truck series). Now...the car of tomorrow. At the present time I view the "Car of tomorrow" as a mistake. I believe it takes away some more of the uniqueness of the sport. If I wanted to watch a bunch of cars that looked the same I would watch IRL, or Champ car. With that said...we will have to see how it performs on track along side other cars before I make a final judgment.

Robby Gordon 2006 Preview.

Robby Gordon had a difficult 2005 season due to the fact that his team had constant engine woes that made it difficult to be competitive each race and it also meant that his team had to qualify for each race. The good news is that Robby changed from Menard engines to DEI engines which could give him an opportunity to run better in 2006.




Team: Robby Gordon Motorsports Sponsor: Harrah's/Jim Beam Crew Chief: Greg Erwin

2005 Stats:

0 Wins
0 Poles
1 Top Five
2 Top Tens
37th in Final Standings

Compared to the 2005 finish, this year should be an improvement for the 07 team. It want come easy in the beginning because Gordon will have to qualify his way into the first few races because of his finishing spot the previous year (not in the top 35 in points) and with DEI engines this can be done. Robby Gordon should run better and be competitive in a few races including restrictor plate and road coarse races. His first goal, make it into the show, then worry about moving up in the points.

Mark Martin back for his last season in NASCAR.

The end of the 05 season was suppose to be the last for Mark Martin. Unfortunately a few things changed, for starters, Jamie McMurray was originally going to fill the shoes of Martin but when Kurt Busch jumped ship it left one car open without a driver. So, Jack (Roush) asked Mark if he would come back for one more season and Mark could not say no to a long time friend. Mark will be back in the #06 Ford for his "official" last season. Now last year Mark made the chase for the second straight year of its existence and for all accounts had a solid season but he still fell short of claiming that elusive NASCAR Championship.

Team: Roush Racing Sponsor: AAA Crew Chief: Pat Tryson

2005 Stats:

1 Win (Banquet 400, Kansas Speedway)
* Winner of the All-Star Race at Lowes Motorspeedway
0 Poles
12 Top Fives
19 Top Tens
4th in Final Standings

This season could some up Mark Martin's season. He will run good enough to lock his spot (once again) into the top ten for the chase, but will he make a run at the championship? I think there is anyone else who deserves the Cup more than Mark but no one is going to just give it to him. I suspect, as in previous years, will give all he's got to his team and to each race to capture the Cup and I believe that he will once again be in contention in the 06 for 2006.

Kyle Busch starts Sophomore season in #5.

Kyle Busch starts his second season at the helm of the Hendricks #5 Chevy. By all accounts the season of 2005 was a good season for Kyle and the #5 team. Kyle won the Rookie of the Year and captured an unexpected two checkered flags. Now how will they do for an encore?

Team: Hendricks Motorsports Sponsor: Kellogg's Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

2005 Stats:

2 Wins (Sony 500, California; Checker Auto Parts 500, Phoenix)
1 Pole
9 Top Fives
13 Top Tens
20th in Final Standings

Kyle Busch will be looking to improve on his two wins from 2005. Like his brother, Kyle is a proven winner and skilled driver, but can he put his attitude in check to make a run at the chase? Yet again, Kyle Busch should post a few victories but he may come up short when it comes to making the chase. Even though I don't believe he will be in real contention this year, Kyle should be tough in the next few years.

Preseason Testing in Full Stride.

Well, the Daytona 500 is almost a month away and this means that testing has begun in preparation for the 2006 season. Last week and this week drivers and teams will be testing various cars to see which one they will bring to the big show. Preseason Thunder is kind of like the spring training of NASCAR. Last week the odd number drivers in the owner points took the track and this week the even number drivers will take their laps. Here are some of the drivers making fast laps: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Bill Elliott, Matt Kenseth, and Elliott Sadler.
This mornings top five speeds:
1. Kyle Busch #5
2. Sterling Marlin #14b
3. Jamie McMurray #26a (Formally #97)
4. Sterling Marlin #14a
5. Scott Riggs #10a

Afternoon
1. Sterling Marlin #14b
2. Scott Riggs #10a
3. Jamie McMurray #26b
4. Joe Nemechek #01a
5. Sterling Marlin #14a

*Update 1/17 Speeds:
Morning Top Five
1. Scott Riggs #10a
2. Joe Nemechek #01a
3. Kyle Busch #5
4. Jeff Green #66
5. David Green #25a

Afternoon
1. Kyle Busch #5
2. Clint Bowyer #07a
3. Kevin Harvick #29a
4. Dale Jarrett #88b
5. Jeff Green #66

Scott Wimmer takes over in the #4 for 06.

Scott Wimmer will take over driving duties of the Morgan-McClure owned #4 Chevy in 2006. The past few seasons have been less than satisfactory for the the team including a car that has seen a host of drivers come in go since 2003 (Mike Skinner, Kevin Lepage, Jimmy Spencer, & Mike Wallace). Morgan-McClure hopes that Scott will get Morgan-McClure back to their winning ways as it was in the early nineties (14 wins).

Team: Morgan-McClure Motorsports Sponsor: AERO Exhaust Crew Chief: Chris Carrier

2005 Stats (Mike Wallace):

0 Wins
0 Poles
0 Top Fives
1 Top Ten (Pepsi 400, Daytona)
35th in Final Standings

Well, the good news for Scott Wimmer is that he does not have to fight to make the first few races with Wallace finishing 35th in owner points but still they will have to show they belong there. The team will have to show tons of improvements if they want to be competitive the whole season. Based on the past few seasons and the introduction of a few new teams this year will definitely show this team if they need to stay at the cup level.

Kurt Busch 2006 Preview

No one wants the 2006 season to start quicker than Kust Busch. By all accounts 2005 was a trying year for the 04 Series Champion. First of all he limps into the chase, then announces that he will not be driving for Jack Roush in 06 but will move to Penske South to drive the legendary #2 car. Then Busch ended last season by getting released from his contract with Roush racing (For the Final two races) for having a less than desirable confratation with the Police, near Phoenix Raceway. So, this year he has the task of taking over the #2 car, formally drove by fan favorite Rusty Wallace, and try to put last year behind him. Overall, last year was an improvement for #2 team making the chase after finishing outside the top ten the previous two years.

Team: Penske Racing Sponsor: Miller Light Crew Chief: Roy McCauley

2005 Stats (Rusty Wallace):

0 Wins
8 Top Fives (Season High 2nd at Pocono)
17 Top Tens
8th in Final Standings

How will Kurt Busch perform in 2006? Well, it all depends on how well his team performs for him. We all know Kurt is an excellent driver and competitor but has he really learned to control that attitude. I believe that he will get back to his winning ways but he may run into a few problems in 06. Kurt Bush will have to show everyone in 06 that he has put his problems behind him and that he is hungry to prove he belongs in the chase.

High Expectations for Truex Jr. Entering Rookie Season.

Martin Truex Jr. starts his rookie campaign with DEI driving the Bass Pro Shop #1 Chevy. Last year Truex proved that he could overcome a rough start to a season in route to winning his second Busch series championship. No doubt there will be pressure on him and his team to succeed, as he sets out to prove himself in the Cup series.

Team: DEI Racing Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops Crew Chief: Kevin Manion

2005 Stats (Busch Series):

6 wins (Mexico, Talladega, Dover, Daytona, New Hampshire, & Indianapolis)
3 Poles
15 Top Fives
22 Top Tens
Busch Series Championship

Truex Jr. will be expected to do more than just win the Rookie of the Year. Of all the rookies he will have all eyes on him to put the Bass Pro Shop Chevy in victory lane. It also helps when your teammate is Dale Jr. meaning that he will instantly become a fan favorite in the Cup series (as long as he produces). Of course, Truex should be strong on restrictor plate tracks but how he performs on the other tracks could make or break his season. Truex will have a few bumps in his 06 season which could keep him out of the chase but he should be in contention for a few wins plus show promise for the future.

Jeff Green takes over the #0 Best Buy Chevy for 06.

For the fourth straight year the Haas owned #0 Best Buy Chevy will start another season with a new driver. Last year Mike Bliss piloted the machine to a disappointing 28th place finish in the points, resulting in his dismissal from the team. Bliss has been replaced by Jeff Green, who departed from Petty Enterprises at the end of the 2005 season. Green finished one spot lower than Bliss in the standings last year and has yet to break through with a win of his own in the cup series but for now Green will give his best effort to put the Gene Haas owned #0 in victory lane in 2006.

Team: Haas CNC Racing Sponsor: Best Buy Crew Chief: Undetermined

2005 Stats (Bliss):

0 Wins
0 Poles
0 Top Fives
2 Top Tens
28th in Standings

What to expect from the #0 team? Well to be honest, not much. Even though I do believe they will do better than 28th (maybe 25th). Green will earn a few top tens but the overall goal for now should be a win and maybe the top twenty in points.

**Update: Green will be driving for CNC Haas but the number has been changed from #0 to #66. Bootie Barker will remain the crew chief and Best Buy will become the primary sponsor.

Bowyer starts Rookie campaign for RCR.

Clint Bowyer is one of seven rookies that will be competing during the 2006 season. Bowyer found success last year in his first full season in the Busch Series in the AC Delco Chevy for RCR racing. With the struggles of Dave Blaney in 05, it allowed RCR to promote Bowyer to the cup series quicker than expected. Last year Bowyer challenged hard for the Busch Series championship but came up short to Martin Truex Jr.

Team: Richard Childress Racing Sponsor: Jack Daniels Crew Chief: Gil Martin

2005 Stats (Busch Series):

2 Wins (Nashville & Memphis)
2 Poles
12 Top Fives
22 Top Tens
2nd Place in Points

Clint could be the wild card out of the rookie class. He obviously has talent but will him and his team come together to produce a win. I think he has the ability to be successful in Cup but this year he may not make it into victory lane, but I do expect him to produce a few top five and tens throughout the season. Also, I look for him and Truex Jr. to have another strong battle in 2006, this time for Rookie of the year.

Nemechek hopes to reverse fortunes during 2006 season.

Last year was suppose to be a break-out year for the 01 Army team and Joe Nemechek, but unfortunately things did not go as planned. Basically, the luck of the team can be summed up in three races, at California Nemechek led the most laps until his engine blew with 77 laps to go, then at Atlanta the 01 car made its way up to 2nd place when a hole in the radiator ended their day, and then there was the Coco-Cola 600, were the team was leading with 10 laps to go when a blown tire sent their chances to win into the wall. The team still managed to scratch back to finish 16th in the points but you can bet that that's not good enough and the team will look to improve on that in 2006.

Team: MB2 Motorsports Sponsor: U.S. Army Crew Chief: Ryan Pemberton

2005 Stats:

0 Wins
1 Pole
2 Top Fives (Season High 3rd in the Pocono 500)
10 Top Tens
16th in Final Standings

If Ole Joe's luck turns around he could easily battle for a top 15 spot. Unfortunately, I do not see the 01 team making it into the chase but they could post a win at one of the mile & a half tracks like Kentucky or Pocono.

NASCAR Changes Testing Rules

NASCAR has implemented a new testing policy to cut down on the amount of information being shared between large teams. Starting with the 2006 season, teams will only be allowed to test on certain dates at certain tracks - Homestead, Daytona, Richmond, Las Vegas, & Charlotte. NASCAR is trying to make the competitive balance more even and this is one way they are cutting into the advantage that large teams currently have over smaller teams.

Read more about this from the article below.

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/13565932.htm

2006 Preview Coming Soon

The 2006 season starts February 11th with the Budweiser Shootout from Daytona. So,Starting next week we will start our 2006 preview of each race team & driver leading up to the start of the Great American Race.

Welcome to the Pit-Stop!!

This is a blog set up to comment on everything NASCAR. Me, Josh Harris and Brice Williamson will be posting articles related to drivers, races, rule changes or anything else we feel like is relevant to NASCAR. So, please feel free to comment on any post we make.

Charlton B. Williamson