Posted on December 22, 2005

By Jeremy Dunn

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10.  Scott Riggs/Evernham Motorsports (#10 Valvoline Dodge)

Former ride: MBV Motorsports (#10 Valvoline Chevrolet, 2 years)

Early in 2005, Scott Riggs showcased his potential by finishing in the top ten in three of the first five events. He would win the pole at Martinsville. It looked as if Riggs was going to embark on a breakthrough year. The team ran into some bad luck and their performance level dropped. Around mid-season, Valvoline revealed their intentions to head over to Evernham Motorsports, which set the stage for Riggs’ departure from MB2 Motorsports. Riggs and Valvoline will continue their relationship in 2006 under the Evernham Motorsports umbrella.

9.  Sterling Marlin/MB2 Motorsports (#14 Waste Management Chevrolet)

Former ride: Chip Ganassi Racing (#40 Coors Light Dodge, 8 years)

It was really cool to see Sterling Marlin get a quality ride with his late father’s former number #14 on the door. Marlin was dumped by Chip Ganassi around mid-season to make way for David Stremme.  If that wasn't insulting enough, Ganassi had the audacity to offer Marlin a Busch Series ride for 2006. Instead of settling, Marlin was able to land a decent ride with MB2 Motorsports. Marlin will drive the same cars that Scott Riggs drove in 2005. He’ll be teamed up with fellow veteran Joe Nemechek. If Marlin and his team click, this will be a step up from being third on the totem pole at Chip Ganassi Racing.

8.   Ricky Rudd/Retirement (or break)

Former ride:  Wood Brothers Racing (#21 Motorcraft Ford, 3 years)

It would have been nice to see Ricky Rudd get the farewell he deserved. Rudd’s career is considered a success despite never winning that elusive championship. Rudd’s career win total reached 23, which is one more than two-time champion Terry Labonte. For six years, Rudd was burdened as a driver/owner. There’s no telling how many more wins Rudd could have accumulated if he would have stayed at Hendrick Motorsports instead of venturing off on his own back in 1994. For a while it looked as if Rudd may resume his career at Chip Ganassi Racing or Penske Racing. Instead, he decided to quietly ride off into the sunset.

7.  Reed Sorenson/Chip Ganassi Racing (#41 Target Dodge)

Former ride:  Chip Ganassi Racing Busch Series entry (#41 Discount Tire Dodge, 1 year)

I was rather surprised that Chip Ganassi decided to move the 19-year-old Reed Sorenson to the Cup level after just one full season in the Busch Series, especially after the lack of immediate success with Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray (not counting his win in 2002 while driving for Sterling’s championship caliber team). Sorenson is talented, but one more year in the Busch series may strengthen his development. The one thing he has going for him is that the #41 team was one of the hottest teams during the latter stages of the 2005 season.

6.   Ken Schrader/Wood Brothers Racing (#21 Little Debbie Ford)

Former ride:  BAM Racing (#49 Schwan's Home Service Dodge, 3 years)

I don’t think the Wood Brothers hiring of Ken Schrader will spark a trend of hiring 50-year-old drivers, but it was refreshing to see a long-time veteran land a quality ride. This may be the second most popular silly season move behind the Labonte/Petty convergence. The Wood Brothers performance has improved since Michael ‘Fatback’ McSwain was hired late in 2004.  So instead of ending his career with a lower-tier team, Schrader will get his best chance in a long while to break his 15-year winless streak.

5.   Michael Waltrip/Bill Davis Racing (#55 NAPA Dodge)

Former ride:  Dale Earnhardt Inc. (#15 NAPA Chevrolet, 5 years)

Before the season began, it was apparent that Michael Waltrip would not return to DEI in 2006. It was just a matter of whom he would drive for and if his sponsor NAPA would trail him out he door. Waltrip and NAPA will join forces with the Toyota bound Bill Davis Racing. Instead of looming in the shadows of Dale Earnhardt Jr at DEI, Waltrip will be the top gun at Bill Davis Racing and possibly Toyota in 2007.

4.   Casey Mears/Chip Ganassi Racing (#42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge)

Former ride:  Chip Ganassi Racing (#41 Target Dodge, 3 years)

Casey Mears came out smelling like a rose after the dust settled. Mears was never able to breakthrough and was initially thrown into the fourth Chip Ganassi entry. The fourth team was the R&D team and would not qualify for the races on owner points, which in turn puts more pressure on Mears.  He ended the year by nearly winning two of the final three races. If it weren’t for two mysterious debris cautions at Texas and Homestead, Mears may have become the fourth first time winner in 2005. What made his late season surge appear even more impressive was the fact that he was the only Dodge driver consistently amongst the leaders. Apparently the #41 team found something in the Dodge Charger that Ryan Newman, Rusty Wallace, or Jeremy Mayfield's respected teams couldn’t. Mears impressed his team owner as well as the top dogs at Chevron Texaco, and will now pilot Chip Ganassi’s flagship team.

3.   Jamie McMurray/Roush Racing (#26 Sharpie/Irwin/Crown Royal Ford) formerly #97

Former ride:  Chip Ganassi Racing (#42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge, 3 years)

This move wasn’t as surprising as the Kurt Busch to Penske move, but it came at an inopportune time for Chip Ganassi. Despite going winless since 2002, McMurray was Ganassi’s top driver. He was given top-notch equipment and every chance to be successful, but ever since the middle of 2004, whispers of McMurray’s departure were heard. At first McMurray was destined to replace Mark Martin in the #6, but all of that changed when the Kurt Busch deal ensued. After months of uncertainty, McMurray was finally released from his contractual obligations to Chip Ganassi in 2006 and free to head over to Roush Racing. But the face of contractual obligations may have been altered with McMurray and Busch demanding and receiving early releases.

2.   Kurt Busch/Penske Racing (#2 Miller Lite Dodge)

Former ride:  Roush Racing (#97 Sharpie/Irwin Ford, 5 years)

I try to keep an ear out for the latest rumors during silly season, but I never saw this one coming. Not once do I remember Kurt Busch’s name mentioned during silly season. It was the best-kept secret in the garage. At first, questions arose as to why Busch would leave a team that had just won the title the previous year. Since Busch’s rookie year in 2001, only Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart had won more races. But after a few months went by, it became clearer as to why Busch decided to jump ship, and money wasn’t the only motive. Obviously, Busch and Jack Roush had issues that were not made public. So when the opportunity presented itself, Busch walked. He was unable to resist the appeal of driving the car with one of the most recognized numbers in auto racing as well as a high-profile sponsor such as Miller Lite. Now Busch will share a garage with Ryan Newman. If the two fellow Gilette Young Guns can co-exist, this could be a deadly duo.

1.   Bobby Labonte/Petty Enterprises (#43 Cheerios Dodge)

Former ride:  Joe Gibbs Racing (#18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet, 11 years)

Nobody had a more productive silly season than Petty Enterprises. Just a year ago, it seemed as if Petty Enterprises’ future was ill fated. The team needed a good shot in the arm, but lack of results seemed to turn away high profile personnel. That was until Robbie Loomis, who was the crew chief for Jeff Gordon from 2000 to 2005, decided to return home to Petty Enterprises, where he spent the early part of his career. Weeks later, the rumors that had the 2000 champion Bobby Labonte leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and heading over to Petty became an actuality. The championship compilation continued as Todd Parrott, former crew chief for the 1999 champ Dale Jarrett, came aboard. The trio of champions will turn Petty Enterprises around, but it will not happen over overnight. Give them about a year and a half.

Honorable Mention:

Clint Bowyer/Richard Childress Racing (#07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)

David Stremme/Chip Ganassi Racing (#40 Coors Light/Lonestar Dodge)

Dave Blaney/Bill Davis Racing (#22 Caterpillar Dodge)

Denny Hamlin/Joe Gibbs Racing (#11 Federal Express Chevrolet)

J.J. Yeley/Joe Gibbs Racing (#18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet)

Martin Truex Jr/DEI (#1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

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