Ken Schrader will try to put the Wood Brothers back in Victory Lane in 2006. Credit: Autostock

Partnership has Wood Brothers aiming high

Joining with Busch Series owner puts six teams in one garage

HARRISBURG, N.C. -- The Nextel Cup Series is an uphill climb for everyone.

Some see a speed bump. Eddie Wood sees Everest.

For years that lofty peak has blocked the sun from shining on Wood Brothers Racing. But 2006 brings a new vantage point, a new focus. The apex is in sight.

Eddie Wood is happy about the team's new partnership. Credit: Autostock

"I'd say we're about halfway up that mountain," Wood said. "And climbing."

An offseason alliance with Busch Series owner and marketing wizard Tad Geschickter has injected renewed vigor into the veins of Wood Brothers Racing, all while maintaining its long-celebrated focus of family first, racing (a very close) second.

Geschickter had been approached about forging such alliances before but declined for lack of the tangible familial vibe. Then Wood called.

"The reason I took advantage of this opportunity was the type of people they are," Geschickter said.

With the union comes a new name (Wood Brothers/jtg Racing), a posh shop in Harrisburg, N.C., and six race teams.

Yes, six.

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The Wood Bros./jtg Racing shop will house the Nos. 21 and 47 Nextel Cup Series teams, the Nos. 47 and 59 Busch Series teams and the Nos. 20 and 21 Craftsman Truck Series teams.

Other than the No. 47 Nextel Cup Series program, all are full-time operations. Jon Wood will pilot the No. 47 Cup car in seven races during the season's second half, Eddie Wood said Wednesday.

"This was a necessity," Eddie Wood said of the union. "People that are successful own multiple teams.

"It's like Home Depot and Lowe's. If you want to go work on your house, go buy a new door or whatever, a lot of people just go to those places rather than the smaller places we went when I was younger. There's just not that many of them anymore. I view the racing thing the same way -- bigger's better."

Size -- and Geschickter's marketing influence -- certainly seems to have assisted in the sponsorship category.

Newly-acquired Little Debbie Snack Cakes will serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 21 Ford for 19 races. It will don the Motorcraft emblem in nine races and the Air Force colors in six others. Clorox will sponsor the No. 47 Cup entry.

"Tad helps with funding, and I can focus on racing," Wood said. "It enables us to see a light at the end of the tunnel, and we'll eventually win some races."

The No. 21 Ford hasn't gone to Victory Lane since April 2001, when Elliott Sadler made a set of Goodyears last 163 laps en route to his first career victory, and the first for Wood Brothers Racing since 1993.

Meanwhile Ken Schrader, who replaces retired iron man Ricky Rudd in the No. 21, hasn't won in 15 years.

Wood remains confident this year could change all that.

"We were competitive last year, just didn't win a race," he said. "That's what you want to do, especially at the Cup level -- just being in the hunt is huge. We're in the hunt. So if the stars line up on the right day, we could win a race."

And if not, no biggie. Nothing will change. They'll just keep climbing.

All Eddie Wood knows is racing. All Ken Schrader does is race.

"I've raced all my life. That's all I've ever known. It's what I do," Wood said. "People talk about racing being in people's blood. I'm not sure whether it's blood or genes or what, but it's just what I do. It's why I'm here."