MUSCIAL CHAIRS SET TO BEGIN? Ricky Rudd looks to be closer to signing a deal with Chip Ganassi Racing to take over the team's No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge in 2006. Rudd's contract with the Wood Brothers expires at the end of the season and the free agent has suddenly become a hot commodity in the NEXTEL Cup garage area now that his plans for retirement seem to be pushed to the back burner.
Rudd's move to Ganassi would free Jamie McMurray from his 2006 contract and allow him to take over Roush Racing's No. 97 ride with Kurt Busch moving to Penske South Racing's Miller Lite Dodge a year earlier than expected.
SCHRADER SHUFFLE With Jon Wood locked into a Busch Series deal next year and unable to take over the family Wood Brothers Ride until 2007, veteran Ken Schrader has become a serious candidate for a one year contract to drive the famous No. 21 next season. Sources report that BAM Motorsports, where Schrader is currently, is having sponsorship problems. That could pave the way for Schrader to drive his final year of NEXTEL Cup competition for the Wood Brothers, before making a jump to a full-time Craftsman Truck Series program in 2007.
PETTY ALMOST READY Petty Enterprises is close to announcing sponsorship for its No. 45 Dodge in 2006, which will find Kyle Petty back behind-the-wheel. With Jeff Green vacating the team's famous No. 43 to join CNC-Haas Racing next season, RacingOne has learned that Dave Blaney is a strong candidate for that seat. Blaney was bounced out of the Richard Childress Racing No. 07 next season for Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer, who will run for NEXTEL Cup Series rookie honors in 2006.
Bliss meanwhile looks like he'll return for a full season of truck racing next year with XPress Motorsports, where he won a championship a couple years back. Bliss will wheel the team's No. 16 truck this weekend in Atlanta.
NUMBERS GAME You'll need a scorecard to keep all the Chip Ganassi Racing cars straight next season. While either McMurray or Rudd will pilot the team's No. 42, the rest of the line-up will change. David Stremme will run the No. 40, with sponsorship from Lone Star Steakhouse and Coors. Rookie Reed Sorenson will drive the 41 car, using owner points from this year earned by Casey Mears. Mears' Target Dodge will carry the No. 30 in 2006.
CALL TO PAUL? Champ Car driver Paul Tracy could be driving a limited Busch Series schedule in 2006 for Richard Childress Racing, sharing duties with Clint Bowyer in the AC Delco No. 2 Chevrolet. Bowyer will be running RCR's No. 07 NEXTEL Cup car full-time, but plans on doing the bulk of the Busch Series races as well. However sources report Tracy may drive the car in 10-12 races around his Champ Car schedule.
SWEET DEAL? GM Goodwrench and Reese's will hold a press conference on Saturday that could possibly see Reese's announce more of a primary sponsorship role in 2006.
Hall of Fame Racing officially announced today at Texas Motor Speedway that Tony Raines and Terry Labonte will co-drive the No. 96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet in the inaugural season for the team headed by former Dallas Cowboy stars Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.
Along with crew chief Philippe Lopez and managing partner Bill Saunders, Labonte will kick off the season in the first five races starting at Daytona. Labonte, who also ran some races for Joe Gibbs in 2005, will return for the road course events with Raines piloting the car in the remaining 29 races.
petty enterprises-is a much better team for bobby i am extremely happy about this i expect him in victory lane and the 43 team in the top ten next year if not he'll be close.
