'06 Cup driver previews

Tony Stewart

Don't expect anything fancy from Tony Stewart as he tries to defend his Nextel Cup title. It will be business as usual, although a Daytona 500 win would start things off just right.
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Greg Biffle

Greg Biffle doesn't what to think about that lug nut in Texas anymore -- the one that may have cost him a Cup title. He's just wanting -- and waiting -- to get back there.
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Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards literally went from racing for a sponsor in 2005 to racing for a Cup title. But he knows he needs to improve upon his road-course and short-track performances.
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Mark Martin

Mark Martin wasn't supposed to be driving full time in the Nextel Cup Series this season, but when his plans changed he found himself back in the No. 6 Ford.
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Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson is hoping 2006 will be the season he can finally lift the Nextel Cup as champion, especially after finishing in the top five in points each of the past four years.
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Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman's engineering background will come in handy in 2006 as he plans to take advantage of a new relationship with Penske Racing South teammate Kurt Busch.
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Matt Kenseth

If there's one thing that former Cup champ Matt Kenseth learned from his 2005 season, it's to pay more attention early on to getting the new Fusion to handle correctly.
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Jeremy Mayfield

Jeremy Mayfield is the Rodney Dangerfield of NASCAR: two consecutive Chase appearances yet no respect. This year, Mayfield says he's ready to prove his detractors wrong.
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Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch's season of discontent is a thing of the past, and he's seeing life in a whole new light as he begins his first year driving Penske Racing's famed No. 2 Dodge.
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Jamie McMurray

Jamie McMurray begins Cup life anew in 2006, backed by the powerful Roush Racing stable. With it comes a brand new car number and hopes of making his first Chase.
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Jeff Gordon

For Jeff Gordon, 2006 couldn't come fast enough. After missing the Chase in '05, Gordon and new crew chief Steve Letarte are cautiously optimistic about this season.
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Casey Mears

After four top-10 finishes in the final seven races of 2005, Casey Mears is confident that first Nextel Cup victory will come in the No. 42 Dodge -- this season.
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Elliott Sadler

Elliott Sadler knows the potential is there at Robert Yates Racing to make the Chase. First on his list -- snap a winless streak that included the entire 2005 season.
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Kevin Harvick

Improvements at Richard Childress Racing have Kevin Harvick whistling a happy tune heading into the 2006 season. His team began this year on the right foot by testing at Daytona.
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Dale Jarrett

How much could Dale Jarrett benefit from a new Fusion and a new Slugger? A return to past performance would be nice, as the former champion looks to make his first Chase.
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Joe Nemechek

Joe Nemechek is in his second year with MB2 Motorsports and determined to improve upon his 2005 season, when he was 16th in points and tied his career high with nine top-10s.
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Brian Vickers

Brian Vickers says he won't be giving the rest of the drivers in the Nextel Cup Series a three-month head start this year. In fact, he can't wait for the Daytona 500 to get here.
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Jeff Burton

When he came to RCR, Jeff Burton knew his first season would be a challenge. Now that changes have been made within the organization, Burton expects to be in the hunt this season.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in the midst of a bad season when he approached Tony Eury Jr. about a possible return to the No. 8. He agreed, and things are looking up in '06.
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Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch isn't concerned about going through a "sophomore jinx." After all, the reigning Nextel Cup Series rookie of the year says he went through it a year early.
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