Dale Jarrett: "Obviously we're all going to enjoy some time off during the next few weeks, but I can promise you we're already thinking and working on what we need to get back to Victory Lane in 2005 and to be a championship contender." Credit: Autostock

In Review: Dale Jarrett

This is the sixth of our driver reviews for 2004. This month, NASCAR.COM will review the top 20 drivers.

Friday: Kevin Harvick

In 2004, Dale Jarrett broke his 11-year streak of winning at least one Nextel Cup race each year, but that hasn't stopped the driver of Robert Yates Racing's No. 88 Ford from eagerly anticipating the 2005 season.

Crew chief Mike Ford and Dale Jarrett had an average finish of 16.4 this season. Credit: Autostock

"That is disappointing," Jarrett said of the streak's end. "The fact that we didn't get to Victory Lane wasn't from a lack of effort though. The guys have worked hard this year."

From a career worst 26th-place finish in the points in 2003, Jarrett and new crew chief Mike Ford made progress and ended up 15th in points in 2004. And for a while, the team had a realistic shot at a top-10 in the run-up to the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

"When we got to Homestead last year and the checkered flag waved on that race I think we were all just relieved the year was over," Jarrett said of a tumultuous 2003. "This year, we are ending the year with something to build on and look forward to as we go into the off-season and continue getting ready for 2005."

Despite dropping off at the end of the season in a race with Jamie McMurray for 11th in the standings -- and its million-dollar bonus -- Jarrett was still pleased.

"We've made a lot of progress as a team in 2004," Jarrett said. "It really makes me optimistic about where we're headed and I believe we will be a championship contender in 2005.

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"The fact that we have finished the season 15th in the points after finishing 26th last year says a lot about that effort. We're talking about a difference in 11 positions; and when you take into consideration the way the competition is, that says a lot."

Jarrett and Yates Racing proved they would be competitive right out of the box at Daytona, when Jarrett won the Budweiser Shootout special event for pole winners for the third time and teammate Elliott Sadler won his Gatorade 125 qualifying race.

But the biggest stumbling block for Jarrett and Ford was getting a more effective race chassis. It was immediately noticeable when accomplished that goal in early summer.

In the season's first seven races, the team was 20th in the standings, with only two top-10 finishes. The next seven races had only one 10th-place finish, but Jarrett's average improved and he rose to 17th in the points at Pocono in June.

But with Yates' in-house chassis in full effect, Jarrett never fell below 15th in the standings for the final 22 races of the season, and accrued six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

Highlights were third-place finishes at Michigan (twice) and Chicago and a runner-up finish in the Brickyard 400.

VIDEO Speedweeks 2004 Jarrett celebrates his third Bud Shootout victory Brickyard 400 Yates teammates on their 2-3 finish at the Brickyard •   More Jarrett videos

"The in-house cars have just given me a better feel for the racecar and what it is doing," Jarrett said. "I felt like I was able to give better information to Mike (Ford) and the guys that helped them when it came to adjusting on the car in the race."

Yates' general manager, Eddie D'Hondt said he was not disappointed with his teams' 2004 season, but plans to improve in 2005 are already in play.

"At the beginning of the season we laid out a plan for both teams and I feel pretty good with what we accomplished with both groups of people," D'Hondt said. "Obviously we really wanted to get (Dale) back to Victory Lane.

"We came close, but missed out on a couple opportunities. We feel that we're heading in the right direction."

Possibly the best aid for the team's future hopes is a 19-race NASCAR Busch Series program in 2005 engineered by veteran crew chief Rick Ren.

"We're committed to doing whatever will make us successful," Jarrett said. "I think there are places and things I can still learn. This will be my 28th year racing and I'm still learning.

"I think if you sit back and think you have nothing to gain, then you're going to find yourself behind."

Jarrett, who celebrated his 48th birthday at the end of last month, said he'd enjoy some brief down time this winter.

"We feel like we made a lot of progress this year," Jarrett said. "We have been able to get some laps on the 2005 cars here at the end of the season and have already started planning for next year.

Credit: Autostock

"We know where our program is working well and we have learned where we still need some help. Obviously we're all going to enjoy some time off during the next few weeks but I can promise you we're already thinking and working on what we need to get back to Victory Lane in 2005 and to be a championship contender."

Before the break, Jarrett attended the Nextel Cup Series awards ceremony, even though he wouldn't get special recognition. However, highlighting a season of accomplishment for Robert Yates Racing, Sadler acknowledged what Jarrett meant to him, personally, and to their race team.

Jarrett said the respect was mutual.

"I am really proud of Elliott and what he and his team accomplished this year," Jarrett said. "I wanted to be (at the banquet) and show support of that, and (wife) Kelley and I enjoy visiting New York, especially at Christmas time."

Jarrett, along with Ford Motor Company, continued to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 2005, with the driver citing numerous tales of people stopping him to tell him stories of cancer miracles in their lives.

"There's not a better feeling," Jarrett said. "I don't think that the feeling of getting out of the car in Victory Lane is any better than knowing that you've done a little something to help others and that you're making a difference."