Kevin Lepage becomes the fourth driver to climb inside the No. 49 Dodge this season. Credit: Autostock

No. 49 change has chain reaction for partnership

Lepage to replace Sherman at Darlington; Chaffin to 61, Blount to 34

Three drivers affiliated with the Front Row Motorsports / Peak Performance Motorsports partnership were involved in a three-car Nextel Cup driver swap Tuesday for the season's 11th event, Saturday night's Dodge Charger 500 at Darlington Raceway.

	Brent Sherman finished on the lead lap in just one race. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Brent Sherman in 2006 Race Site Start Finish 1. Daytona 29 21 2. Fontana 42 37 3. Las Vegas 41 34 4. Atlanta 40 36 5. Bristol 31 42 8. Phoenix 43 32 Kevin Lepage in 2006 Race Site Start Finish 1. Daytona 31 25 2. Fontana 37 35 3. Las Vegas 30 37 4. Atlanta 23 35 5. Bristol 39 31 7. Texas 35 32 9. Talladega 23 28 10. Richmond 40 42

The changes were nearly matched by two driver changes in the Busch Series, for Friday evening's Diamond Hill Plywood 200.

Kevin Lepage, who was originally entered in Peak Performance's No. 61 Ford, has been named to drive the No. 49 Dodge originally entered by BAM Racing for Brent Sherman.

Sherman, last among Nextel Cup rookies, has struggled through the first quarter of the season.

He started the first five events thanks to BAM's position from 2005 as a guaranteed starter. After five races he had fallen out of the top 35, and the team put veteran Jimmy Spencer in the car at Martinsville.

Spencer, however, failed to qualify. Sherman got back into the car for the next three events, but failed to qualify for two of them. At that point, BAM was 41st in owners' points, where it remains going into this weekend's race.

During a test session last week at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Sherman crashed BAM's car on the first day. Lepage replaced Sherman and tested the first evening and all of the second test day.

BUSCH CHANGES In the Busch Series, veteran Morgan Shepherd and youngster Kertus Davis, who collaborated at Richmond in an attempt to give Davis his first Nextel Cup start, in Shepherd's No. 89 Dodge, are involved in two driver swaps.  Davis has moved from his family owned No. 0 Chevrolet into the No. 34 Chevrolet that was entered by Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly for another veteran, Jason Keller.  Shepherd will take Davis' place in the No. 0.  -- Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM

Eddie Jones, BAM's team manager, was unavailable late Tuesday to comment on Sherman's long-term status.

Mike Wallace drove the No. 49 last weekend at Richmond and, after making the field in 43rd, ran the car into the top 25 before he finished 35th.

Serta, which had sponsored the car through the first nine races this season, was aligned with Sherman, a team spokesperson said, and thus will not be on the car for the second consecutive weekend.

After Lepage stepped out of owner Jeff Stec's No. 61, Peak's partners, Bob and Brad Jenkins' Front Row team, moved its two drivers to fill the void.

Chad Chaffin, who was entered in Front Row's No. 34 Chevrolet, is now the driver of the No. 61. Chad Blount, who had been driving Front Row's No. 92 Dodge, which was not entered this week, has replaced Chaffin in the 34.