MARTIN TRUEX/DENNY HAMLIN: There will be no shortage of cheap rookie drivers available this year, don�t be surprised to see the likes of Reed Sorenson, David Stremme, and J.J. Yeley break through at some point. But the safest picks among rookie drivers are Truex and Hamlin. Truex finally joins the big leagues after winning two consecutive Busch Series championships while Hamlin locked down secure employment with Joe Gibbs Racing with several solid runs in the closing weeks of 2005. Truex should especially make an impact at Daytona as Dale Jr�s new draft partner. Also, early word is that the new Chevys are really hooked up, and may have an early advantage over the new Ford Fusions.

KYLE BUSCH: A two-time winner in the final 12 races of 2005, Kyle should have a better year at a salary of .96 than his brother will at 1.64. Kyle is by far the cheapest of the Chase caliber drivers in 2006.

DALE EARNHARDT JR: First off, I�m not sold that one off-year is an aberration. Junior�s line late last year was that �Even Elvis made bad movies�, and one of them was about a stock car driver called �Spin Out� which about summed up Junior�s 2005. Junior should do well in Daytona, but the real test will be how the #8 does in California, Las Vegas, and Atlanta the following weeks. If Junior struggles again I might be able to coin the old Norm Hitzges question on when a �slump� becomes the �rest of someone�s career�. With all that said, Junior�s salary (1.26) has gone down to the point that he should be a good value, especially if he once again becomes a top-ten driver.

JEFF GORDON: The other high profile driver who had an �off� season in 2005, Gordon showed signs of a rebound with a tremendous final month of the season. Despite the bad year, Gordon still had four wins and two second place finishes. At the very least, Gordon remains especially strong at Martinsville and the restrictor plate tracks.

KASEY KAHNE: He�s often a roll of the dice, but at .99 Kahne is worth the risk if you pick your spots. Tracks such as California, Michigan, Richmond and Darlington are among the good weeks to use the #9.

BRIAN VICKERS: He will still kill you with the occasional Lap 2 crash, but Vickers and Kyle Busch closed the gap on teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. At 1.09 there will be weeks when the #25 will be of good use, especially on the 1 � to 2 mile cookie-cutters.

#07 � Out: Dave Blaney/In: Clint Bowyer � After finishing in top-ten in the Busch Series this year, Bowyer moves up to the Cup Series. IMPACT: Expect slight improvement, if nothing else Bowyer will bring upside, and could become RCR�s best driver a couple years down the road.

#1 � In: Martin Truex Jr. � On the cusp of winning a second consecutive Busch Series title, Truex brings his act to the Cup Series full time in 2006. IMPACT: Look for Truex to headline a crowded �06 rookie class and to finish in the top 15 in points. A win or two is also not out of the question.

#2 � Out: Rusty Wallace/In: Kurt Busch � One of the biggest moves of the upcoming off-season, Busch will have big shoes to fill in the Miller car. IMPACT: Busch will go from being a Roush-ka-teer to a lone wolf, as Ryan Newman/Matt Borland doesn�t share information. However Busch should continue the #2 car�s tradition of excelling at short tracks.

#4 � Out: Mike Wallace/In: Scott Wimmer � Wimmer becomes the 15th driver for the Morgan-McClure car just since 2000. IMPACT: At least Wimmer still has a Cup gig, the bad news is Wimmer has all the job security of Bill Parcells' placekicker.

#6 � Still In: Mark Martin � With Kurt Busch leaving, Martin remains in the #6 for at least one more year. He might as well make it three until NASCAR forces Roush to contract to four teams.

#10 � New Team: Scott Riggs � Riggs becomes the third member of Evernham Motorsports, and will bring the #10 and his Valvoline sponsorship along with him. IMPACT: Riggs should fare better than he has at MB2, but will be a clear #3 behind Kasey Kahne/Jeremy Mayfield.

#11 � Out: Jason Leffler/In: Denny Hamlin � The only change to take effect in the closing weeks of 2005, Hamlin nailed down his employment in the FedEx car with three top-ten finishes over the last month. IMPACT: A tremendous improvement over the journeyman Leffler, Hamlin should at the very least be a top-20 driver.

#14 � Out: Scott Riggs/In: Sterling Marlin � Marlin joins MB2 Motorsports and will take the #14 in honor of father Coo Coo Marlin. IMPACT: Possible slight improvement from this season, as Riggs has been a massive disappointment since the first month.

#15 � Out: Michael Waltrip/In: Paul Menard � The #15 becomes the #3 developmental team at DEI, with Menard driving in seven races in �06 with an eye of becoming full-time in 2007. Paul�s sponsorship will come from his dad�s hardware store.

#18 � Out: Bobby LaBonte/In: J.J. Yeley � One of the Cup circuits longest marriages comes to an end as LaBonte leaves Joe Gibbs racing. IMPACT: This is quickly becoming Gibbs third-string team, Yeley has been shaky in his limited Cup appearances.

#21 � Out: Ricky Rudd/In: Ken Schrader � Schrader has been more than respectable driving for BAM racing the last two years, and now gets a legitimate Cup ride with the Wood Bros. IMPACT: The biggest question is whether Crew Chief Fatback McSwain stays, if he does Schrader will be very capable of doing as well (even at age 51) as Rudd has done this year, there�s even an outside chance of Schrader breaking his 16-year winless streak.

#22 � Out: Scott Wimmer/In: Dave Blaney � Bad break for Wimmer, who�s forced out the door at an organization that�s had it�s hands tied. IMPACT: No one could make this a top team right now, as Bill Davis has gotten no factory support ever since pissing off Dodge a couple of years back.

#26 (FORMERLY #97) � Out: Kurt Busch/In: Jamie McMurray � In three years behind the wheel of the #42, McMurray racked up plenty of top-five�s and top-ten�s, but did not get a Chase berth or win a race. Both accomplishments will be expected at Roush. IMPACT: Look for McMurray to win races and be a championship contender in 2006.

#32 - Out: Bobby Hamilton Jr./In Travis Kvapil � One of the more promosing prospects not long ago, Hamilton's stock has dropped at a Casey Atwood-like clip. IMPACT: When the #77 closed shop, Cal Wells jumped at the opportunity for what he feels is a better driver - look for the #32 to improve on short tracks if nothing else.

#40 � Out: Sterling Marlin/In: David Stremme � No one has been busy as Ganassi Racing, as all three teams will be changing drivers. IMPACT: The #40 has really fallen off since Sterling Marlin was a legitimate contender back in 2001-02. Stremme doesn�t have Cup experience, but will be getting spotter Mike Calinoff, who has been a key part to Matt Kenseth�s success in recent years.

#41 � Out: Casey Mears/In: Reed Sorenson � At age 19, Sorenson gets the #41 instead of the #40 because NASCAR doesn�t allow drivers under 21 to drive in cars sponsored by alcoholic beverages. IMPACT: I noted that because Sorenson has as much upside as anyone in the 2006 rookie class, so look for the #41 to move above the #40 in Ganassi�s pecking order. Sorenson will be the biggest threat to Martin Truex winning Rookie of the Year.

#42 � Out: Jamie McMurray/In: Casey Mears � Mears has come out smelling like a rose in recent days � originally slated to drive a new fourth entry for Ganassi, Mears was instead given the #42 when McMurray was granted his release to Roush. IMPACT: Getting an existing ride means Mears will have owners points to fall back on for the first five races of �06. Getting Ganassi�s �A� car is a help as well, there�s no reason why Mears shouldn�t be a top-15 driver next year.

#43 � Out: Jeff Green/In: Bobby LaBonte � Is LaBonte the driver he was five years ago?? No, but that being said this is one of Petty Enterprises bigger hires in a while. IMPACT: An even bigger hire was Petty grabbing ex-Jeff Gordon Crew Chief Robbie Loomis. The combination of LaBonte and Loomis should make the #43 relevant for the first time in quite a while.

#49 � Out: Ken Schrader/In: Brent Sherman � Who?? It might as well be Mike Sherman. Brent Sherman is a Busch Series driver with a career best finish of ninth. IMPACT: BAM Racing was a big loser in the game of musical drivers, I�m just wondering why they didn�t go with the likes of Scott Wimmer, who at least has Cup experience. It may be a challenge for the #49 to just stay in the top 35.

#55 � New Team: Michael Waltrip � This will be a second Bill Davis Racing team, with Waltrip coming on board in advance of BDR�s expected move from Dodge to Toyota in 2007. BDR�s #23 car is expected to also run in selected races next year, with Bill Lester projected as the driver. If and when Lester participates in a race, he will be the first African-American to drive in a Cup event since Willy T. Ribbs participated in three races in 1986. IMPACT: BDR and Waltrip could be a good combination in the four plate races. Other than that Mikie will do what he does best, wreck and blow a lot of engines.

#66 (FORMERLY #0) � Out: Mike Bliss/In: Jeff Green � Turns out that both of the old K-Mart #'s (#26 and #66) are coming back. New sponsor Best Buy opts for #66 as the chain was founded in 1966 when the store was known as 'The Sound of Music', other than that no one would be able to know that it's a different driver. IMPACT: No change, expect the #66 to remain somewhere between 25-30 in points.

#77 - Out: Travis Kvapil � No matter who has been in Penske's third string car, there hasn't been much of an impact - and a far cry from the #2 and the #12. IMPACT: Penske has decided to contract back to a two-car team for the 2006 season.

#96 � New Team: Terry LaBonte/Tony Raines � This is the Roger Staubach/Troy Aikman-owned team. The number 96 is derived by multiplying Staubach�s 12 by Aikman�s 8. Or they could had let Brett Favre in on the ownership and gotten Morgan McClure�s #4. LaBonte will start the first five races, with his champions provisional ensuring that the car will compete in those events. LaBonte will also drive the two road course races and drive in ten other events in a separate ride for Hendrick Motorsports. Terry has also announced that this will be his last year in Cup competition. IMPACT: LaBonte�s presence should go a long way in ensuring that the new team will be in the top 35 in points.