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PureDeathRacing
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Which drivers will be where next season? There is plenty of talk even though there are 22 races to go in the 2005 season.
It seems to happen earlier and earlier each season and this year is no exception. Just past the 14th race of the season, driver changes are the hot topic in the Nextel Cup garage area.
Atop the list of available rides next season are the cars that will be vacated by retiring veterans Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace. The frontrunner for the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford driven by Martin appears to be Sterling Marlin. The writing is on the wall for Marlin at Ganassi Racing, as team owner Chip Ganassi is shaking up his program. Indications are that David Stremme will get the call to replace Marlin in the Coors Light Dodge with Lone Star Steakhouse coming on board as a second primary sponsor. Another rumor has Ricky Rudd filling the seat of Martin’s Ford with Marlin going to the Wood Brothers and Rudd’s No. 21 Ford.
Wallace’s No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge seat is still very much up in the air. Kevin Harvick held a press conference at Pocono to squelch rumors that he may move over to fill Rusty’s ride. That leaves Jamie McMurray as the hot name to fill the seat.
McMurray, however, has an option year left on his contract with Chip Ganassi in the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge. Don’t expect to get an accurate read on this ride for some time to come.
Robert Yates also appears to be intent on adding a third team to his stable of drivers, which includes Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett. Sadler and sponsor M&M’s have just inked contract extensions that would have the two with Yates through the 2008 season. Candidates for Yates’ proposed third team included current MB2 driver Scott Riggs.
Other drivers who appear to be on the hotseat include Michael Waltrip at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Jason Leffler at Joe Gibbs Racing and Brian Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports. Gibbs, however, is traditionally loyal, so Leffler may get another shot in ’06 and Vickers has picked up his efforts in recent weeks, which may help save his ride for next season.
It seems to happen earlier and earlier each season and this year is no exception. Just past the 14th race of the season, driver changes are the hot topic in the Nextel Cup garage area.
Atop the list of available rides next season are the cars that will be vacated by retiring veterans Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace. The frontrunner for the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford driven by Martin appears to be Sterling Marlin. The writing is on the wall for Marlin at Ganassi Racing, as team owner Chip Ganassi is shaking up his program. Indications are that David Stremme will get the call to replace Marlin in the Coors Light Dodge with Lone Star Steakhouse coming on board as a second primary sponsor. Another rumor has Ricky Rudd filling the seat of Martin’s Ford with Marlin going to the Wood Brothers and Rudd’s No. 21 Ford.
Wallace’s No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge seat is still very much up in the air. Kevin Harvick held a press conference at Pocono to squelch rumors that he may move over to fill Rusty’s ride. That leaves Jamie McMurray as the hot name to fill the seat.
McMurray, however, has an option year left on his contract with Chip Ganassi in the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge. Don’t expect to get an accurate read on this ride for some time to come.
Robert Yates also appears to be intent on adding a third team to his stable of drivers, which includes Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett. Sadler and sponsor M&M’s have just inked contract extensions that would have the two with Yates through the 2008 season. Candidates for Yates’ proposed third team included current MB2 driver Scott Riggs.
Other drivers who appear to be on the hotseat include Michael Waltrip at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Jason Leffler at Joe Gibbs Racing and Brian Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports. Gibbs, however, is traditionally loyal, so Leffler may get another shot in ’06 and Vickers has picked up his efforts in recent weeks, which may help save his ride for next season.
