don't know who all is running but i'm going with wishful thinking again

CASEY ATWOOD!!!!!!!!!!! since he Finally has a ride :becky:

Last I heard... he didn't have a ride for next year. Who's he driving for?

Atwood Waiting on Decision by Brewco: UPDATE: Casey Atwood is waiting for word from Brewco Motorsports about his racing future. Atwood ran some Busch Series races for his former team at the end of this season and hopes for a full-time ride next year. Team owner Clarence Brewer said he will evaluate the situation — including what sponsorships are available — and make a decision about Atwood "as soon as possible."(Tennessean.com)(11-22-2006)
UPDATE: No decision has been reached by Brewco Motorsports about the future of Nashville's Casey Atwood with the Busch Series team. Team owner Clarence Brewer said he is exploring all options and is not sure when a decision will be made.(Tennessean.com)(11-29-2006)


Alex

Since most of the Cup guys are staying away from the full Busch schedule, except for a couple, I'm going to go with one of the Cup guys who is going to do it.

Carl Edwards

I picked Harvick last year to win it all, so don't let me down Carl.

I also think that Dave Blaney will be tough (another Cup driver running all the races). It will be interesting to see who wins the manufacturers championship with a lot of Cup guys running limited races with rookies or other drivers filling out the rest. J.J. Yeley and Johnny Sauter should also be in the top five in points, most likely ahead of Blaney.

Alex

well i thought if that fell through gibbs had a car for him or somebody had a car

Joe Gibbs has a pretty sweet lineup for the Busch series as it is (all part-time):

Denny Hamlin
J.J. Yeley (supposedly - may run #1)
Aric Almirola
Brad Coleman

That aside - Carl Edwards will spank them IF the rain holds off! Look for Marcos Ambrose to spank em in the rookie battle. Speaking of which - someone give Danny O'Quinn a ride or a sponsor! The 2006 ROTY is currently job hunting! - Scott

O'Quinn isn't racing for roush??

Roush gave him the green light to shop around apparently. They don't have sponsorship for him as it stands, but I think (hope) that if sponsorship would materialize for him he would be back in the 50 at least full time. He is leaps and bounds better than Kluever, in my opinion. - Scott

Roush is too good for itself. They have so many talented drivers and not enough seats for them all. They could have three full-time Busch drivers (Ragan is NOT ready for Cup). So, instead of having a ride for O'Quinn, Roush has cars lined up for Kenseth, Biffle, McMurray, and Edwards. Yes, I know that Biffle and McMurray are running for Brewco, but I guarantee that Roush made that happen. I hope O'Quinn lands a decent ride. He's earned it.

Alex

I fully agree Alex. Those drivers have all learned how to run these tracks - give someone else a shot. We will see a sudden drop in Cup driver talent in years to come if things continue as they are - the line between have and have nots will widen. Look at Busch ROTY so far:

Marcos Ambrose
David Ragan (I think)
Matt Crafton (maybe - looks like he is 22 bound)
Brad Keselowski

All these guys are part-timers:
Kraig Kinser
Richard Johns
Brad Coleman
Timothy Peters

Aric Almirola is running part-time for Gibbs in the Busch Series as well. He'll be something special. He already has two top three qualifying efforts in Hamlin's No. 20 last year, including the pole at Milwaukee. He's also run well in the No. 19, especially at Dover.

Alex

The problem with Almirola is Gibbs ran him TOO much this year. He has nine starts charged against him and therefore is ineligible for ROTY. I think the only one of the part-timers that would challenge him would be Timothy Peters (maybe). Almirola I think is an immense talent - his Busch runs have been pretty phenomenal! His Truck effort wasn't that stellar - but a lot of that could be team. The Spears team has been good in the past with David Starr, but elsewise it hasn't been too hot - wehter it be with Billy Bigley or Marty Houston - both decent drivers in their own respect - but neither did well in that truck. - Scott

I never kept track of how many starts Almirola had, didn't know he was over the limit. He wouldn't have run enough races in 07 to make a difference in the ROY.

There have been others who have no-so-great Truck Series career and turned into great Busch and Cup talents. Kevin Harvick comes to mind. He was so-so in Trucks and then emerged. Changing from Spears to RCR will certainly change that too. I don't think that Gibbs even has a Truck team anymore, so he's running with another team (like Hamlin in 2004... he ran for EJP Racing). We'll see. But, 2007 could be a struggle for teh Busch Series financially because there may not be much hype for the championship. Atleast this year you had some big names going for the championship even though Harvick ran away with it.

Alex

I think the Gibbs truck team died when Coy moved to Busch a few years back. Kevin Harvick is a great example of Truck rags to Cup/Busch riches! Did he run the 75 for awhile? I was thinking he did - but I could only remember the 98 Porter Cable truck. Whatever happened to Team EJP (#03 right?)? They had some great runs with Denny, not too mention Tom Carey Jr. before that.

It seemed like everyone complained about how Harvick ran off with the championship - but I think a lot more people tuned in to watch Busch this year to see how bad Kevin could spank them! But I know what you are saying - you got Carl, Blaney, Reutimann, and Ragan doing the double as of now - and Carl is the only one I see even remotely dominant - I think the other guys will run good/win some races - but no 800 point runaway. If anything - we may see a resurgence of the Busch drivers. Less full time Cup oppressors equals better representation for the Buschketeers in the Busch Top 10 in points. More prize money for them = the potential for better runs due to improved equipment. Problem is - as you mentioned - lack of hype. - Scott

Did he (Kevin harvick) run the 75 for awhile? I was thinking he did - but I could only remember the 98 Porter Cable truck.

Kevin ran the #75 Spears truck starting in '96. He only ran 4 truck races (he also ran in the Southwest Tour series in '96) but he did have a 6th place start with an 11th place finish at Mesa Marin. :becky:

EJP pretty much closed up shop after Hamlin. I talked to one of the top guys there in January 2005 and they said that they had hoped to get a program going with Gibbs again, but it never happened. I think they sold off their equipment. It's kind of sad. They had been in the Truck Series in some form for a while. They weren't a top-tier team, but they were pretty solid and could put competitive equipment on the track. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be a Denny Hamlin fan today.

Alex

ld also like to see Lamar get a full time ride also. I think he still has something to offer given the chance.

Mike

Lamar and O'Quinn both deserve rides IMO...

But on to the actual topic...

I think Edwards will run away with the Title, just like Harvick did this year (just not by as many points).

It'd be nice to actually see a BUSCH guy win a BUSCH Championship. Call me crazy, I know. Why would that make any SENSE?

I would love to see JJ Yeley win the championship next year! :becky:


ld also like to see Lamar get a full time ride also. I think he still has something to offer given the chance.

Mike

So do I! I hated that he was taken out of the car.




Ashley=)

got another question

matt crafton isn't going to race for KHI??

got another question

matt crafton isn't going to race for KHI??

Crafton raced for Harvick for a couple years in the Truck Series, but that was a couple years ago, right? He's rumored to take over for Kenny Wallace in the No. 22 car at PPC Racing.

Alex

Crafton ran the 06 Truck series for Thorsports. His teammate was Kerry Earnhardt. Crafton ran for Thorsport, then went to KHI, then back to Thorsport. Hornaday drove the KHI truck this season and will probably do so next. Thorsports future is unknown for now - Crafton is rumored to be Busch bound (though I think he stated he wanted to run Trucks for Thorsport) and Kerry Earnhardt is rumored to be out and Willie Allen in rumored to be in the second Thorsport truck.

Oh an BTW - Burney Lamar got hosed this season. He had some great runs as did alot of Busch drivers that no one paid any notice to. Burney should be in a Busch car or a Craftsman Truck at the least. He'll be lucky to snag either though I feel.

KHI will have at least two development drivers in Busch this coming season - Cale Gale and Kertus Davis - both great snags. I hope to see him give Sean Caisse another shot as well.

- Scott

HAMLIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YELEY in the top 5!!!!!

Hamlin's only running about 25 races though. No way and can get the championship if he's skipping 10 races. I know he's good, but he's not THAT good lol.

Alex