The 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 58th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 35th modern-era NASCAR Cup series season. It was started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on Monday, November 20, with the Ford 400 at Homestead–Miami Speedway. The Chase for the Nextel Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17, at New Hampshire International Speedway. This was the last full-time season with the Gen 4 car.
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing, was the defending series champion, but lost out in defending his championship this year, having finished outside of the top 10 in the points standings after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. He did, however, claim a $1 million (US) bonus as the best finisher outside the Chase for the Nextel Cup drivers, winning three of the ten Chase races. By the end of the season Chevrolet had captured 23 victories, and 270 points to win the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship over Ford.
The 2006 season was the first for Ford's all-new Fusion, which replaced the Taurus both in NASCAR and in showrooms. Also, a new version of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, called the Monte Carlo Super Sport (SS for short) debuted on the circuit.
Teams and drivers Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew Chief Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 1 Martin Truex Jr. (R) Kevin Manion 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Eury Jr.Furniture Row Racing78 Kenny Wallace Joe Garone Jimmy Spencer Travis Kvapil Max Papis MB2 Motorsports 01 Joe Nemechek Ryan Pemberton 14 Sterling Marlin Doug Randolph Haas CNC Racing 66 Jeff Green Harold HollyHall of Fame Racing96 Terry Labonte Phillipe LopezTony Raines Hendrick Motorsports 5 Kyle Busch Alan Gustafson 24 Jeff Gordon Steve Letarte 25 Brian Vickers Lance McGrew 48 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Joe Gibbs Racing 11 Denny Hamlin (R) Mike Ford 18 J. J. Yeley (R) Steve Addington 20 Tony Stewart Greg ZipadelliMorgan-McClure Motorsports4 Scott Wimmer Chris Carrier P. J. Jones Todd Bodine Ward Burton PPI Motorsports32 Travis Kvapil James InceGary Putnam Ron Fellows Richard Childress Racing 07 Clint Bowyer (R) Gil Martin 29 Kevin Harvick Todd Berrier 31 Jeff Burton Scott Miller Robby Gordon Motorsports 7 Robby Gordon Greg Erwin DodgeBAM Racing49 Brent Sherman (R) Ron OttoJimmy Spencer Mike Wallace Kevin Lepage Chris Cook Mike Bliss Bill Davis Racing 22 Dave Blaney Kevin Hamlin Chip Ganassi Racingwith Felix Sabates40 David Stremme (R) Jeff Vandermoss Scott Pruett 41 Reed Sorenson (R) Jimmy Elledge 42 Casey Mears Donnie Wingo Evernham Motorsports 9 Kasey Kahne Kenny Francis 10 Scott Riggs Rodney Childers19 Jeremy Mayfield Chris Andrews Bill Elliott Elliott Sadler Penske Racing South 2 Kurt Busch Roy McCauley 12 Ryan NewmanMatt Borland Petty Enterprises 43 Bobby Labonte Todd Parrott Greg Steadman Paul Andrews 45 Kyle Petty Paul Andrews Billy Wilburn Waltrip-Jasper Racing 55 Michael Waltrip Derrick Finley Ford Robert Yates Racing38 Elliott Sadler Tommy Baldwin Jr. David Gilliland 88 Dale Jarrett Slugger Labbe Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Pat Tryson 16 Greg Biffle Doug Richert 17 Matt Kenseth Robbie Reiser 26 Jamie McMurray Jimmy Fennig/Wally Brown 99 Carl Edwards Bob Osborne Wood Brothers/JTG Racing 21 Ken Schrader David Hyder ChevroletDodgeFord Peak Fitness Racing Front Row Motorsports Randy LaJoie Wayne Hatfield Chad Chaffin (R) Chad Blount Carl Long Greg Sacks Mike Skinner Johnny Miller Joey McCarthy Brian Simo Kertus Davis Kevin Lepage 61 Kevin Lepage Greg Conner Mike Steurer Craig Osbourne Chad Chaffin (R) Brian Simo Chad Blount Ted Christopher Derrike Cope Stanton Barrett
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew ChiefRoundsChevroletAndy Belmont Racing 59 Andy Belmont Billy Owen Braun Racing 71 Jason Leffler Todd LohseCJM Racing72 Kertus DavisDoug George Brent Sherman David GillilandDale Quarterley Mike Skinner Brandon Whitt Competitive Edge Motorsports 51 Mike Garvey Barry Haefele Cupp Motorsports 46 Carl Long Stan Hover Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 15 Paul Menard Dan Stillman Front Row Motorsports 92 Chad Chaffin (R)Teddy Brown Randy LaJoie Chad Blount Johnny Miller Haas CNC Racing 70 Johnny Sauter Bootie Barker Hendrick Motorsports 44 Terry Labonte Peter SospenzoKirk Shelmerdine Racing 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Phil Harris Tom Hubert Ted ChristopherMike Skinner MB2 Motorsports 36 Bill Elliott Frank Stoddard Michael Waltrip Racing 00 Bill Elliott Larry Carter Morgan-McClure Motorsports 04 Eric McClure Danny Gill Richard Childress Racing 33 Scott Wimmer Pat Smith Stanton Barrett Racing 95 Stanton Barrett Shawn ParkerDodge Arnold Motorsports 50 Larry Foyt Buddy Sisco Bill Davis Racing23 Mike SkinnerRicky Viers Bill Lester Bobby Hamilton Racing 04 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Brandon Ash Racing 02 Brandon Ash Ed Ash Chip Ganassi Racing30 Juan Pablo Montoya Dan Kolanda Steve Boyer Rick Ware RacingStanton Barrett 52 Dan Kolanda Larry Gunselman Steve Portenga Donnie Neuenberger McGlynn Racing 74 Derrike Cope Dom Turse R&J Racing37 Chad Blount Mark Tutor Mike Skinner Carl Long David MurryBill ElliottVictory Motorsports Faith Motorsports89 Morgan ShepherdDoug George Kertus Davis Team Red Bull 83 Bill ElliottRicky Viers 84 A. J. AllmendingerFord Brent Sherman Racing 04 Brent Sherman Brewco Motorsports 95 Casey Atwood Shawn Parker Hover Motorsports 80 Carl Long Stan Hover No Fear Racing60 Boris Said Frank Stoddard David RaganRobert Yates Racing90Stephen LeichtRaymond Fox Jr.Marc Goossens Roush Racing06 Todd KlueverFrank Stoddard David Ragan Sacks Motorsports 13 Greg Sacks ChevroletFord MBA Racing 00 Hermie Sadler Micah Horton ChevroletDodgeFord Phoenix Racing09 Mike Wallace Marc Reno Jeremy Mayfield
Driver changes for 2006 Several new drivers were in their first stint as regulars on the Nextel Cup circuit in 2006. After winning back-to-back Busch Series championships in 2004 and 2005, Martin Truex Jr. drove the No. 1 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI). Vacated by Michael Waltrip, their No. 15 car was driven by rookie Paul Menard and ran a part-time schedule of only seven races.
Waltrip left DEI to drive Bill Davis Racing's new No. 55 car, but ownership was transferred to the newly merged (with the old No. 77 team) Waltrip-Jasper Racing to ensure that Waltrip would compete in the first five races. Despite the change, the No. 55 still received most of its equipment and crew from BDR. On January 23 in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the annual Media Tour, NASCAR announced that the Toyota Camry would be added to the series in 2007, meaning that Toyota would become the first non-American car manufacturer to run in the premier series since Jaguar in the mid-1950s. Waltrip-Jasper Racing and BDR became two of the first Toyota teams, although they raced Dodges. They did so without Dodge's support because BDR had raced Toyotas in the Craftsman Truck Series. The team hired Dave Blaney to take the wheel of the No. 22 Dodge. A third Toyota team, carrying the No. 83, was owned by Red Bull Energy Drink, with Brian Vickers as the driver. It was believed that they would also buy the No. 7 Jim Smith-owned team driven by Robby Gordon. 1988 series champion Bill Elliott attempted three races for Red Bull in a Dodge, as the 2006 Camry was not approved for racing. He didn't make any starts in the ride, nor did former Champ Car driver A. J. Allmendinger. With Blaney's departure, the No. 07 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing was driven by Clint Bowyer.
2004 Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch replaced a retired Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 Dodge for Penske Racing. 2003 Rookie of the Year Jamie McMurray replaced Busch to drive Roush Racing's No. 26 (formerly 97) Ford. In addition, Mark Martin continued his "Salute to You" tour for their No. 6 car.
With the egressing of both McMurray and Sterling Marlin from Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Casey Mears became the senior driver and moved to No. 42 Dodge and Reed Sorenson took over his ride in the No. 41. David Stremme replaced Marlin in the No. 40 car. Sold to resort magnate Bob Ginn during the season and formerly numbered 10, Marlin drove the No. 14 car for MB2 Motorsports and Scott Riggs took the No. 10 car to Evernham Motorsports just as they switched from Chevy to Dodge. Jeremy Mayfield and Elliott Sadler were released from Evernham Motorsports and Robert Yates Racing. Sadler drove Evernham's No. 19, and David Gilliland replaced him in RYR No. 38 car; that change took effect for the GFS Marketplace 400.
Jeff Green replaced Mike Bliss in the No. 66 (formerly No. 0) car, which left Petty Enterprises' No. 43 Dodge open for former Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte to step in. His new teammate/team owner Kyle Petty brought sponsorships from Wells Fargo, NTB, and Schwan's to the No. 45 car, with Schwan's moving from the No. 49. Competitive Edge Motorsports ceased operations, and Marathon Petroleum Company sponsored Kyle Petty. J. J. Yeley took over for Labonte in JGR's No. 18 Chevrolet. Denny Hamlin, after scoring three Top 10 finishes at the end of the previous season, raced full-time in their newly entered No. 11 car, and he claimed rookie of the year honors, two checkered flags (both at Pocono Raceway, the first rookie to sweep both races in a single season) and third in the Championship standings.
Hall of Fame Racing started operations in 2006. Two-time Cup series champion Terry Labonte drove their No. 96 car for the first five races utilizing the past champions provisional rule, and Tony Raines took over at Martinsville. Labonte wound down his career "Texas Style" in the No. 44 Hendrick Motorsports second car following the Dickies 500 race in November in his home state at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished 34th.
Brent Sherman took over for Ken Schrader in the No. 49 Dodge for BAM Racing, only to be replaced by Kevin Lepage, who started the season in the No. 61 (formerly No. 66) car for Peak Fitness Racing. Bliss replaced Sherman in the No. 49 as well. Front Row Motorsports hired Chad Chaffin to run for Rookie of the Year and Randy LaJoie (who was replaced by Chad Blount) to run full-time in their No. 34/92 car as well as buying Peak Fitness Racing's No. 61, suspending the 92's operations. Schrader replaced Ricky Rudd in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford. Starting this season, Wood Brothers made a partnership with JTG Racing (a Busch Series and Truck Series at the time) to field the No. 21 entry and the team was renamed to Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.
Scott Wimmer took Mike Wallace's place in Morgan-McClure Motorsports's No. 4 Chevrolet but departed when 2002 Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton took over for him late in the season after sitting on the sidelines. Travis Kvapil moved from the Jasper team to Chevrolet for PPI Motorsports. Furniture Row Racing announced it would run full-time, with Kenny Wallace driving their No. 78 Chevrolet.
Schedule