Motorsports 2006

The list of lists

Why wait? Here's how it turns out.

By BRANT JAMES
Published February 17, 2006

CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD

Why wait? This is how it turns out.

1. JEFF GORDON: "Five in '05" slogan didn't work out, but he can find something to rhyme with '06.

2. GREG BIFFLE: A loose lug nut ruined his hopes last season; a resurgent Gordon does this time.

3. TONY STEWART: As good as he is, repeating is virtually impossible with the current competition level.

4. CARL EDWARDS: His time will come.

5. JIMMIE JOHNSON: Near-misses in 2003 and 2004 loom huge.

6. MATT KENSETH: Rediscovers the numbing consistency of title year.

7. RYAN NEWMAN: Oh, to trade some of those poles for some more wins.

8. KASEY KAHNE: A near-miss for Chase as a rookie, a non-factor last year.

9. KYLE BUSCH: Preview of coming attractions; he's going to be scary good.

10. KURT BUSCH: Somebody's not going to hear the end of this at Thanksgiving dinner.

1. CARL EDWARDS (NO. 99 FORD): Won four times, twice in the last four races, to finish tied for second in points.

2. KYLE BUSCH: (NO. 5 CHEVROLET): Won twice as a rookie; a deep well of talent and attitude.

3. DENNY HAMLIN (NO. 11 CHEVROLET): Three top-10s and a pole in his first seven Cup starts; drives like he has been here before.

4. BRIAN VICKERS (NO. 25 CHEVROLET): Managed his first five top-fives (second at Pocono, third at Indy) and seemed to finally get comfortable. Shopmate Busch presses him.

5. KASEY KAHNE (NO. 9 DODGE): Rookie of the year in 2004, a train wreck in 2005 (23rd in points). He got his first win and learned a lot, though.

1. JEREMY MAYFIELD (NO. 19 DODGE): Flopped after another Chase berth; nearly finished behind Kurt Busch, who was suspended for the final two races.

2. DALE JARRETT (NO. 88 FORD): Won for first the time since 2003, but bad finishes ensured 15th place in points again.

3. MARK MARTIN (NO. 6 FORD): He's supposed to be retired but came back for one more whack to help his team. Fourth in points in consecutive years, but the toll of Cup, Busch, truck and IROC schedules could be high.

4. MICHAEL WALTRIP (NO. 55 DODGE): Dale Earnhardt Inc. was no joyride last year, but the driver/owner thing is tough.

5. ELLIOTT SADLER (NO. 38 FORD): A fashionable pick to make a title run last year, he went from third in points midseason to 13th at season's end.

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. fails to make the Chase for the Championship - again - and the Richard Childress Racing rumors flare.

2. International Speedway Corp. finally strikes deals to build tracks in New York and Seattle, setting off a hand-wringing festival among tracks that are bound to lose a race date.

3. Toyota's impending entry into the Nextel Cup and Busch Series prompts Honda to make an official inquiry about joining within two seasons.

4. Kyle Busch wins more races than older brother Kurt.

5. Jeff Gordon wins four times and passes Dale Earnhardt Sr. for sixth on the all-time Nextel Cup win list with 77 with a victory at the Martinsville fall race.

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win the Daytona 500, not that it would be a surprise considering his success there. But this time it's in the numbers. It has been five years since the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet (his father, Dale Sr.) died in the race. Five plus three equals eight (Junior's car number).

2. Dodge officials will be in a tizzy when several big teams start using the old Intrepids instead of the Charger implemented last year because no one can get a handle on how to deal with its balky aerodynamics.

3. Jamie McMurray, who blamed equipment for his failings at Ganassi Racing, doesn't win with Roush's powerful stuff in his first year replacing 2004 champion Kurt Busch. Jack Roush has to begrudgingly consider that Busch might have been worth the hassle.

[Last modified February 16, 2006, 09:46:05]