- Joined
- Jun 12, 2022
- Posts
- 205
- Reaction score
- 326
- Points
- 63
Welcome everybody, this is Ian White with TPG Racing Network, and I'll be your presenter for the upcoming NEXTEL Cup series season.
Last year saw an exhilarating finish to the first ever Chase For The NEXTEL Cup, with Kurt Busch winning the title despite a wheel falling off mid race. This season is shaping up to be equally as exciting, so lets get down to the news.
The major announcement for 2005 is the implementation of a new "Top 35 rule." This basically guarantees any team in the top 35, starting from race 6 onwards, to start the race no matter their qualifying time. For the first 5 races of the season, the top 35 will be set by 2004 owners standings.
Another change is the introduction of a body for the Dodge teams, with the introduction of the Charger, with a unique anteater shape designed for extra downforce.
Finally North Carolina Speedway has been removed from the schedule, while California Speedway takes over the labor day date from Darlington.
Team Power Rankings
Roush Racing
Last year was a strong showing for 'The Cat in the Hats' race team, with them bringing home their second title in 2 years. This year they hope to improve on what was already a great season by putting all 5 cars into the Chase For The Nextel Cup, a bold goal, but one Jack Roush says the team is more than capable of.
The main change at the Roush camp involved Carl Edwards, who joined on late in 2004 replacing the outgoing Jeff Burton. The #99 team spent most of last season looking for funding, but with sponsorship from Ortho, Office Depot, Scotts, among others, that shouldn't be an issue this time around. Unfortunately Edwards will be ineligible for ROTY honors, as he ran too many races the year prior.
The rest of the team remains in order, with Reigning Champ Kurt Busch expected to go for title #2, while Biffle, Kenseth, and Martin fill out the rest of the core. Martin in particular has announced his retirement from the Cup series at the end of the year, hoping to go out with one last bang. Rumors are already swirling about who will replace Martin at Roush, but that is yet to be seen.
Hendrick Motorsports
2004 was a tale of two teams for HMS, with the #24 /#48 camp putting on a strong showing, both within 16 points of the title. 4 time hopes this year will be the year he adds title #5 to his resume, while Johnson is looking for his first.
On the other hand, the #5 and #25 teams struggled throughout the year, with Vickers and Labonte finishing 25th and 26th respectively. This year Hendrick has brought up Rookie phenom Kyle Busch up from the Busch series, the hotly debated Las Vegas native sporting the potential to surpass his already established older brother. Vickers stays put, hoping his sophomore season will see a marked improvement in performance. Terry Labonte will run a partial schedule in a 3rd car doing R&D work
Joe Gibbs Racing
Steady at the wheel was JGR in 2004, with Tony Stewart doing as Tony Stewart does, 2 wins and a 6th place points finish, a stat line he hope to improve upon, as he aims for title #2. His teammate on the other hand had one of his worst seasons in years, a mid season slump late into the summer spoiling his Chase hopes, and even more surprising, going win less for the first time since he joined Gibbs back in 1995. Labonte hopes 2004 was just a small lapse, and he can return to his winning ways this year.
But the 18 and 20 cars are joined this year by a new #11 car, debuted late last year, and now upgraded to full time status with Jason Leffler at the helm. Leffler hasn't attempted a full cup schedule since his rookie year with Ganassi back in 2001, but hopes a few extra years in the lower ranks will give him the edge needed to finally establish himself amongst the NEXTEL Cup ranks.
Evernham Motorsports
The team run by one of NASCAR's greatest crew chiefs continues to show marked improvement year on year. Jeremy Mayfield made the chase with last minute heroics at Richmond, while Kasey Kahne, who handily took ROTY honors, repeatedly came close to win after win, and hopes to finally break through this season. The new Dodge Charger body style promises improved downforce, and the team hopes to have both teams in Victory Lane for the first time, and if he can get them both in the Chase? Even Better. Bill Elliott will continue to do R&D work for the team in a select few starts, but not much is expected on that front.
Penske Racing
The Captain's 2004 fortunes were not exactly as hoped. While he did manage to get one car into the chase, inconsistant performance prevented the team from truly reaching what they could have. This is evident in Ryan Newman, who scored 9 poles in the #12 Alltel Dodge, but struggled to finish races, only running at the end of 27 of 36 events. If Newman wants to truly establish himself as a title threat, he needs to backup his Saturday speed with more consistency on Sunday.
Rusty Wallace meanwhile had a somewhat disappointing year, as despite a win, he only managed 16th in the year end tally. 2005 will mark his swansong in the Cup Series, and Rusty hopes to end his career on a triumphant high rather than a lowly whimper.
The #77 features it's second Rookie Driver in 2 years, as Brendan Gaughan was unceremoniously dropped at the end of 2004 for Travis Kvapil. The Wisconsinite has proved his worth in the Truck series, and that performance caught the eye of Roger Penske. The hope is Kvapil comes out the the gate better than his predecessor did, as the Captain is looking for results, and his sponsors do as well.
Robert Yates Racing
2004 was a pretty run of the mill year for Robert Yates' 2 car operation. While not at the heights they reached at the start of the decade, you still can't count them out either. Elliott Sadler took over the reigns as top dog in the organization, securing 2 wins, momentum he hopes to maintain coming into this season. Dale Jarrett meanwhile failed to find victory lane for the first time since 1992, though despite that he had a markedly improved season compared to his woeful 2003 campaign, and the veteran may still have tricks up his sleeves yet.
Dale Earnhardt Inc
A true tale of two teams, The son of the late Dale Earnhardt was well within the thick of the title hunt, and many say he would have had it if it were not for a penalty for cursing and a dreadful two weeks at Martinsvile and Atlanta. Michael Waltrip on the other hand regressed majorly, continuing to struggle to find speed on a weekly basis, and rumor has it he is on the hot seat if he fails to pick up the pace, it's Chase or Bust for the #15 crew. DEI has swapped the teams around, hoping to improve the parity amongst the organization but time will tell if the move will produce results.
Chip Ganassi Racing
Jamie McMurray was the standout of the season, being by far and away the best of the rest, and putting up stats that put even some Chasers to shame. Unfortunately it could be said to be too little to late, but on the other hand, the #42 crew has a lot of optimism coming into 2005. The rest of the team is a question mark though, as Sterling Marlin hasn't seemed the same since his accident late in 2002, with 9 DNF's and a disappointing 21st place finish in points. Casey Mears meanwhile improved substantially over his dismal 2003 Rookie Campaign, but that being said, performed roughly the same to Marlin. The team hopes he can find his footing and finally break out in 2005.
Richard Childress Racing
The 2004 season seemed like 2002 all over again, with the team overall struggling for speed, and not scoring a single win over the course of the year. Kevin Harvick was their best driver by far, with a respectable 14th place points finish, but with the promise the replacement for the late Dale Earnhardt has shown in the past, more is to be expected.
The 31 team has a new driver in Jeff Burton, who joined the #30 team midway through the season after a split from Roush, taking the seat that Johnny Sauter started the season in. For 2005, he takes up Robby Gordon's old post, the rides former driver starting his own team. Burton showed some decent form late last year, so a good season is definitely on the cards.
The #30 car meanwhile gets renumbered to #07, with Dave Blaney returning to the seat, having run the car between Sauter and Burton. Jack Daniels graces the hood of the rechristened ride, though overall performance is up in the air. Blaney isn't a bad driver, but this team has yet to see regular success, and many think the Buckeye Bullet is a stopgap rather than a permanent solution.
MB2 Motorsports
The Nelson Bowers owned effort continues to be a mid pack staple. Joe Nemechek brought the team it's second ever victory, along with 2 poles and a respectable 19th place points finish to show for it. Rookie teammate Scott Riggs didn't have as smooth of a time, even racking up a DNQ, but with a spot in the top 35 in owners points guaranteed, that shouldn't be an issue unless things go catastrophically wrong.
This year the goal is another win for Nemechek, while Riggs just hopes to improve his results. Road race ace Boris Said will be driving a 3rd car in select races, and is expected to be competitive on the Road Courses at least.
Wood Brothers Racing
2004 was standard fare at the Wood Brothers camp, with Ricky Rudd continuing to put in consistent, if not spectacular results. Though that being said, Rudd almost won at Kansas, being passed at the line by Joe Nemechek in a true battle of the underdogs. Rudd still has race winning potential even in his old age, but the question is on if the equipment can carry him there.
Bill Davis Racing
2005 is expected to be yet another dud year, and with little factory support, the expectations are measured for this team. Focus right now is clearly on the Truck series effort, while the cup team is currently treading water, waiting until Toyota hopefully comes up to the Cup series. Scott Wimmer is known to be a talented driver, but seems to have joined a team on a downward trajectory, with the hope of simply staying in the top 35.
Petty Enterprises
One of the sports legacy teams, Petty Enterprises 2004 was one to forget. Jeff Green only had a single top 10, and while Kyle Petty did improve over 2003, the jury is out if his heart is still in it. The team does have consistency on their side, and that might just be what the team needs to stay relevant.
Haas-CNC Racing
2004 saw a notable improvement in the teams second season, with the team showing pace at times, though the equipment quality was still suspect. They have a new driver this year in Mike Bliss, who has, similar to Leffler, been focused on the lower rungs since his Rookie year in 2000. The hope is high for the team to move up the ranks, as the definitely have the funding and manpower to do so.
BAM Racing
Owned by one of the only Female team owners in the sport, Beth Ann Morgenthau Racing, had a solid 2004 season, continuing to show slow but steady improvements year on year. With veteran Ken Schrader on for another year, and sponsorship staying course too, the team expects to stay in the top 35 and potentially crack the top 30
PPI Motorsports
Far from the highs of winning the 2003 Darlington race, the teams fortunes since have taken a nosedive. Ricky Craven was out midway through last season for Bobby Hamilton Jr., who showed some promise, but whether he is truly the right choice to turn the team around is uncertain.
Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Boy how the mighty have fallen. Once a team who was a regular threat on the plate tracks and more than capable of showing up everywhere else is a husk of it's former self. Last year saw a rotation of drivers as the team tried to find funding and results, and even worse for them, they and driver Mike Wallace will have to qualify for the seasons first 5 races, as they dont have a top 35 spot to rely on.
Mach 1 Motorsports
The team showed some flashes of performance in their limited 2004 campaign, but without a full time sponsor, the ceiling seems awfully limited. Randy Lajoie has been tapped to try and start the season off on the right foot.
R&J Racing
Another part time team from 2004 making the switch to a full time campaign in 2005, again no sponsor, though Kevin Lepage is a safe pair of hands, and shouldn't cause too much trouble.....
Peak Fitness Racing
What's essentially a rebranding of Hermie Sadlers part time operation under a new owner, Jeff Stec has placed his business on the hood of the car, but outside sponsorship is still on the table. Hermie Sadler should do respectable with what he has as he always does, but don't expect any heroics.
Robby Gordon Motorsports
Aside from the teams bombastic owner/driver, everything else about this organizations outlook for 2005 is a complete mystery. The team has full funding and a talented driver, but the question is can the notoriously fickle Gordon handle the pressure?
Front Row Motorsports
Another new team formed in late 2004, owned by restaurant franchisee Bob Jenkins (of no relation to the ESPN announcer) Front Row Motorsports has a sponsor for Daytona but nothing further. Stanton Barrett will run for ROTY.
Declared ROTY Challengers
#5 Kyle Busch - Hendrick Motorsports
#73 Eric McClure - Raabe Racing?
#77 Travis Kvapil - Penske Racing
#92 Stanton Barrett - Front Row Motorsports
Schedule
Last year saw an exhilarating finish to the first ever Chase For The NEXTEL Cup, with Kurt Busch winning the title despite a wheel falling off mid race. This season is shaping up to be equally as exciting, so lets get down to the news.
The major announcement for 2005 is the implementation of a new "Top 35 rule." This basically guarantees any team in the top 35, starting from race 6 onwards, to start the race no matter their qualifying time. For the first 5 races of the season, the top 35 will be set by 2004 owners standings.
Another change is the introduction of a body for the Dodge teams, with the introduction of the Charger, with a unique anteater shape designed for extra downforce.
Finally North Carolina Speedway has been removed from the schedule, while California Speedway takes over the labor day date from Darlington.
Team Power Rankings
Roush Racing
Last year was a strong showing for 'The Cat in the Hats' race team, with them bringing home their second title in 2 years. This year they hope to improve on what was already a great season by putting all 5 cars into the Chase For The Nextel Cup, a bold goal, but one Jack Roush says the team is more than capable of.
The main change at the Roush camp involved Carl Edwards, who joined on late in 2004 replacing the outgoing Jeff Burton. The #99 team spent most of last season looking for funding, but with sponsorship from Ortho, Office Depot, Scotts, among others, that shouldn't be an issue this time around. Unfortunately Edwards will be ineligible for ROTY honors, as he ran too many races the year prior.
The rest of the team remains in order, with Reigning Champ Kurt Busch expected to go for title #2, while Biffle, Kenseth, and Martin fill out the rest of the core. Martin in particular has announced his retirement from the Cup series at the end of the year, hoping to go out with one last bang. Rumors are already swirling about who will replace Martin at Roush, but that is yet to be seen.
Hendrick Motorsports
2004 was a tale of two teams for HMS, with the #24 /#48 camp putting on a strong showing, both within 16 points of the title. 4 time hopes this year will be the year he adds title #5 to his resume, while Johnson is looking for his first.
On the other hand, the #5 and #25 teams struggled throughout the year, with Vickers and Labonte finishing 25th and 26th respectively. This year Hendrick has brought up Rookie phenom Kyle Busch up from the Busch series, the hotly debated Las Vegas native sporting the potential to surpass his already established older brother. Vickers stays put, hoping his sophomore season will see a marked improvement in performance. Terry Labonte will run a partial schedule in a 3rd car doing R&D work
Joe Gibbs Racing
Steady at the wheel was JGR in 2004, with Tony Stewart doing as Tony Stewart does, 2 wins and a 6th place points finish, a stat line he hope to improve upon, as he aims for title #2. His teammate on the other hand had one of his worst seasons in years, a mid season slump late into the summer spoiling his Chase hopes, and even more surprising, going win less for the first time since he joined Gibbs back in 1995. Labonte hopes 2004 was just a small lapse, and he can return to his winning ways this year.
But the 18 and 20 cars are joined this year by a new #11 car, debuted late last year, and now upgraded to full time status with Jason Leffler at the helm. Leffler hasn't attempted a full cup schedule since his rookie year with Ganassi back in 2001, but hopes a few extra years in the lower ranks will give him the edge needed to finally establish himself amongst the NEXTEL Cup ranks.
Evernham Motorsports
The team run by one of NASCAR's greatest crew chiefs continues to show marked improvement year on year. Jeremy Mayfield made the chase with last minute heroics at Richmond, while Kasey Kahne, who handily took ROTY honors, repeatedly came close to win after win, and hopes to finally break through this season. The new Dodge Charger body style promises improved downforce, and the team hopes to have both teams in Victory Lane for the first time, and if he can get them both in the Chase? Even Better. Bill Elliott will continue to do R&D work for the team in a select few starts, but not much is expected on that front.
Penske Racing
The Captain's 2004 fortunes were not exactly as hoped. While he did manage to get one car into the chase, inconsistant performance prevented the team from truly reaching what they could have. This is evident in Ryan Newman, who scored 9 poles in the #12 Alltel Dodge, but struggled to finish races, only running at the end of 27 of 36 events. If Newman wants to truly establish himself as a title threat, he needs to backup his Saturday speed with more consistency on Sunday.
Rusty Wallace meanwhile had a somewhat disappointing year, as despite a win, he only managed 16th in the year end tally. 2005 will mark his swansong in the Cup Series, and Rusty hopes to end his career on a triumphant high rather than a lowly whimper.
The #77 features it's second Rookie Driver in 2 years, as Brendan Gaughan was unceremoniously dropped at the end of 2004 for Travis Kvapil. The Wisconsinite has proved his worth in the Truck series, and that performance caught the eye of Roger Penske. The hope is Kvapil comes out the the gate better than his predecessor did, as the Captain is looking for results, and his sponsors do as well.
Robert Yates Racing
2004 was a pretty run of the mill year for Robert Yates' 2 car operation. While not at the heights they reached at the start of the decade, you still can't count them out either. Elliott Sadler took over the reigns as top dog in the organization, securing 2 wins, momentum he hopes to maintain coming into this season. Dale Jarrett meanwhile failed to find victory lane for the first time since 1992, though despite that he had a markedly improved season compared to his woeful 2003 campaign, and the veteran may still have tricks up his sleeves yet.
Dale Earnhardt Inc
A true tale of two teams, The son of the late Dale Earnhardt was well within the thick of the title hunt, and many say he would have had it if it were not for a penalty for cursing and a dreadful two weeks at Martinsvile and Atlanta. Michael Waltrip on the other hand regressed majorly, continuing to struggle to find speed on a weekly basis, and rumor has it he is on the hot seat if he fails to pick up the pace, it's Chase or Bust for the #15 crew. DEI has swapped the teams around, hoping to improve the parity amongst the organization but time will tell if the move will produce results.
Chip Ganassi Racing
Jamie McMurray was the standout of the season, being by far and away the best of the rest, and putting up stats that put even some Chasers to shame. Unfortunately it could be said to be too little to late, but on the other hand, the #42 crew has a lot of optimism coming into 2005. The rest of the team is a question mark though, as Sterling Marlin hasn't seemed the same since his accident late in 2002, with 9 DNF's and a disappointing 21st place finish in points. Casey Mears meanwhile improved substantially over his dismal 2003 Rookie Campaign, but that being said, performed roughly the same to Marlin. The team hopes he can find his footing and finally break out in 2005.
Richard Childress Racing
The 2004 season seemed like 2002 all over again, with the team overall struggling for speed, and not scoring a single win over the course of the year. Kevin Harvick was their best driver by far, with a respectable 14th place points finish, but with the promise the replacement for the late Dale Earnhardt has shown in the past, more is to be expected.
The 31 team has a new driver in Jeff Burton, who joined the #30 team midway through the season after a split from Roush, taking the seat that Johnny Sauter started the season in. For 2005, he takes up Robby Gordon's old post, the rides former driver starting his own team. Burton showed some decent form late last year, so a good season is definitely on the cards.
The #30 car meanwhile gets renumbered to #07, with Dave Blaney returning to the seat, having run the car between Sauter and Burton. Jack Daniels graces the hood of the rechristened ride, though overall performance is up in the air. Blaney isn't a bad driver, but this team has yet to see regular success, and many think the Buckeye Bullet is a stopgap rather than a permanent solution.
MB2 Motorsports
The Nelson Bowers owned effort continues to be a mid pack staple. Joe Nemechek brought the team it's second ever victory, along with 2 poles and a respectable 19th place points finish to show for it. Rookie teammate Scott Riggs didn't have as smooth of a time, even racking up a DNQ, but with a spot in the top 35 in owners points guaranteed, that shouldn't be an issue unless things go catastrophically wrong.
This year the goal is another win for Nemechek, while Riggs just hopes to improve his results. Road race ace Boris Said will be driving a 3rd car in select races, and is expected to be competitive on the Road Courses at least.
Wood Brothers Racing
2004 was standard fare at the Wood Brothers camp, with Ricky Rudd continuing to put in consistent, if not spectacular results. Though that being said, Rudd almost won at Kansas, being passed at the line by Joe Nemechek in a true battle of the underdogs. Rudd still has race winning potential even in his old age, but the question is on if the equipment can carry him there.
Bill Davis Racing
2005 is expected to be yet another dud year, and with little factory support, the expectations are measured for this team. Focus right now is clearly on the Truck series effort, while the cup team is currently treading water, waiting until Toyota hopefully comes up to the Cup series. Scott Wimmer is known to be a talented driver, but seems to have joined a team on a downward trajectory, with the hope of simply staying in the top 35.
Petty Enterprises
One of the sports legacy teams, Petty Enterprises 2004 was one to forget. Jeff Green only had a single top 10, and while Kyle Petty did improve over 2003, the jury is out if his heart is still in it. The team does have consistency on their side, and that might just be what the team needs to stay relevant.
Haas-CNC Racing
2004 saw a notable improvement in the teams second season, with the team showing pace at times, though the equipment quality was still suspect. They have a new driver this year in Mike Bliss, who has, similar to Leffler, been focused on the lower rungs since his Rookie year in 2000. The hope is high for the team to move up the ranks, as the definitely have the funding and manpower to do so.
BAM Racing
Owned by one of the only Female team owners in the sport, Beth Ann Morgenthau Racing, had a solid 2004 season, continuing to show slow but steady improvements year on year. With veteran Ken Schrader on for another year, and sponsorship staying course too, the team expects to stay in the top 35 and potentially crack the top 30
PPI Motorsports
Far from the highs of winning the 2003 Darlington race, the teams fortunes since have taken a nosedive. Ricky Craven was out midway through last season for Bobby Hamilton Jr., who showed some promise, but whether he is truly the right choice to turn the team around is uncertain.
Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Boy how the mighty have fallen. Once a team who was a regular threat on the plate tracks and more than capable of showing up everywhere else is a husk of it's former self. Last year saw a rotation of drivers as the team tried to find funding and results, and even worse for them, they and driver Mike Wallace will have to qualify for the seasons first 5 races, as they dont have a top 35 spot to rely on.
Mach 1 Motorsports
The team showed some flashes of performance in their limited 2004 campaign, but without a full time sponsor, the ceiling seems awfully limited. Randy Lajoie has been tapped to try and start the season off on the right foot.
R&J Racing
Another part time team from 2004 making the switch to a full time campaign in 2005, again no sponsor, though Kevin Lepage is a safe pair of hands, and shouldn't cause too much trouble.....
Peak Fitness Racing
What's essentially a rebranding of Hermie Sadlers part time operation under a new owner, Jeff Stec has placed his business on the hood of the car, but outside sponsorship is still on the table. Hermie Sadler should do respectable with what he has as he always does, but don't expect any heroics.
Robby Gordon Motorsports
Aside from the teams bombastic owner/driver, everything else about this organizations outlook for 2005 is a complete mystery. The team has full funding and a talented driver, but the question is can the notoriously fickle Gordon handle the pressure?
Front Row Motorsports
Another new team formed in late 2004, owned by restaurant franchisee Bob Jenkins (of no relation to the ESPN announcer) Front Row Motorsports has a sponsor for Daytona but nothing further. Stanton Barrett will run for ROTY.
Declared ROTY Challengers
#5 Kyle Busch - Hendrick Motorsports
#73 Eric McClure - Raabe Racing?
#77 Travis Kvapil - Penske Racing
#92 Stanton Barrett - Front Row Motorsports
Schedule
| EX1 | Saturday, Febuary 12th | Daytona International Speedway | Bud Shootout |
| EX2 | Thursday, Febuary 17th | Daytona International Speedway | Gatorade Duel #1 |
| EX3 | Thursday, Febuary 17th | Daytona International Speedway | Gatorade Duel #2 |
| 1 | Sunday, February 20th | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona 500 |
| 2 | Sunday, February 27th | Auto Club Speedway | Auto Club 500 |
| 3 | Sunday, March 13th | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | UAW-Daimler Chrysler… |
| 4 | Sunday, March 20th | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Golden Corral 500 |
| 5 | Sunday, April 3rd | Bristol Motor Speedway | Food City 500 |
| 6 | Sunday, April 10th | Martinsville Speedway | Advance Auto Parts 5… |
| 7 | Sunday, April 17th | Texas Motor Speedway | Samsung / Radio Shac… |
| 8 | Saturday, April 23rd | Phoenix Raceway | Subway Fresh 500 |
| 9 | Sunday, May 1st | Talladega Superspeedway | Aaron's 499 |
| 10 | Saturday, May 7th | Darlington Raceway | Dodge Charger 500 |
| 11 | Saturday, May 14th | Richmond Raceway | Chevy American Revol… |
| EX4 | Saturday, May 21st | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Nextel All-Star Open |
| EX5 | Saturday, May 21st | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Nextel All-Star Race |
| 12 | Sunday, May 29th | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Coca-Cola 600 |
| 13 | Sunday, June 5th | Dover International Speedway | MBNA RacePoints 400 |
| 14 | Sunday, June 12th | Pocono Raceway | Pocono 500 |
| 15 | Sunday, June 19th | Michigan International Speedwa… | Batman Begins 400 |
| 16 | Sunday, June 26th | Sonoma Raceway | Dodge / Save Mart 35… |
| 17 | Saturday, July 2nd | Daytona International Speedway | Pepsi 400 |
| 18 | Sunday, July 10th | Chicagoland Speedway | USG Sheetrock 400 |
| 19 | Sunday, July 17th | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | New England 300 |
| 20 | Sunday, July 24th | Pocono Raceway | Pennsylvania 500 |
| 21 | Sunday, August 7th | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Allstate 400 At The … |
| 22 | Sunday, August 14th | Watkins Glen International | Sirius Satellite Rad… |
| 23 | Sunday, August 21st | Michigan International Speedwa… | GFS Marketplace 400 |
| 24 | Saturday, August 27th | Bristol Motor Speedway | Sharpie 500 |
| 25 | Sunday, September 4th | Auto Club Speedway | Sony HD 500 |
| 26 | Saturday, September 10th | Richmond Raceway | Chevy Rock & Rol… |
| 27 | Sunday, September 18th | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Sylvania 300 |
| 28 | Sunday, September 25th | Dover International Speedway | MBNA NASCAR RacePoin… |
| 29 | Sunday, October 2nd | Talladega Superspeedway | UAW-Ford 500 |
| 30 | Sunday, October 9th | Kansas Speedway | Banquet 400 Presente… |
| 31 | Saturday, October 15th | Charlotte Motor Speedway | UAW-GM Quality 500 |
| 32 | Sunday, October 23rd | Martinsville Speedway | Subway 500 |
| 33 | Sunday, October 30th | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Bass Pro Shops MBNA … |
| 34 | Sunday, November 6th | Texas Motor Speedway | Dickies 500 |
| 35 | Sunday, November 13th | Phoenix Raceway | Checker Auto Parts 5… |
| 36 | Sunday, November 20th | Homestead Miami Speedway | Ford 400 |
Last edited:
