NASCAR NEXTEL CUP | Driver profiles

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A look at the teams competing in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series this season:
A.J. FOYT RACING
No. 14 Dodge, LARRY FOYT -- A.J. Foyt, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner also fields an IRL team. ... His NASCAR team will have his 26-year-old son behind the wheel. ... Larry Foyt made a run for rookie of the year in 2003 but came up far short, qualifying for just 20 races with a best finish of 16th in the season-ending race at Homestead. He was 41st in the season points.
ARNOLD MOTORSPORTS
No. 50 Dodge, DERRIKE COPE -- Cope ran in only 18 of 36 Winston Cup races last season in his own car, failing to post a top 10 finish. ... Moves to Dodge owned by Donald Arnold and plans to run full Nextel Cup schedule, as well as Busch Series. ... Cope won the Daytona 500 in 1990.
BACE MOTORSPORTS
No. 74 Chevrolet, TONY RAINES -- A former Busch Series rookie of the year, the 39-year-old Raines plans to run his second full season in Cup. Qualified for all but one race as a rookie, with a best finish of sixth at Rockingham in November his only top 10. ... Finished 33rd in final standings.
BAM RACING
No. 49 Dodge, KEN SCHRADER -- Second season together. ... Schrader finished 36th in the points last season in a car fielded by Beth Ann Morgenthau, the only female car owner in Nextel Cup, and her husband, Tony. ... Schrader, 48, had two top 10 finishes in 2003, including an eighth-place run at Michigan. ... Considered a midfield racer still capable of occasional big race. ... Big burden lifted when team signed primary sponsor to multi-year contract on Feb. 2.
BILL DAVIS RACING
No. 22 Dodge, SCOTT WIMMER -- The 28-year-old driver will vie for rookie of the year honors in 2004, moving up from the Busch Series, where he accumulated five wins and finished third and ninth the last two years. ... Currently facing driving while impaired charge for Jan. 31 accident involving a team pickup truck. ... Wimmer ran a total of six Cup races last season, replacing Ward Burton at the end of the year and turning in a ninth-place finish at Rockingham for his only top 10. ... Davis, who is starting a Toyota Craftman Truck team, continues to use Dodges despite losing technical support from DaimlerChrysler midway through last season.
Car No. 23 Dodge, DAVE BLANEY -- Heading into Daytona the team has sponsorship only for the Bud Shootout and the Daytona 500. ... Blaney previously drove for Davis at the end of the 1999 season and through 2000 and 2001. ... Spent last two seasons with Jasper Motorsports. ... Finished 28th in standings in 2003 with one top five and four top 10s. ... Will also run a 10-race Busch schedule with Ted Marsh Racing.
BRETT BODINE RACING
No. 11 Ford, BRETT BODINE -- One of few owner-drivers left on circuit. ... Bodine drove in only six races last season and fielded car for brother Geoffrey in one other. ... Unclear how much sponsorship money he has or how many races he'll run. ... Plans to be at Daytona for season-opener.
CHIP GANASSI RACING
No. 40 Dodge, STERLING MARLIN -- Marlin is coming off a disappointing year in which he finished 18th in the points and failed to win a race, that after winning two races and vying for the championship in 2002. ... Came up with 11 top 10s last year but didn't finish eight times.
No. 41 Dodge, CASEY MEARS -- The 25-year-old second-year driver ready to start his second full year in Cup after finishing 35th in the 2003 season points. ... Had a best finish of 15th and failed to finish 10 races. ... His uncle is a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and his father is a former off-road racing star ... Expected to make big improvement.
No. 42 Dodge, JAMIE McMURRAY -- Beat out Greg Biffle and Mears for rookie of the year title in 2003 ... McMurray, 27, finished 13th in standings with five top-five placements, including a pair of thirds, and 13 top 10s. ...Set a NASCAR record by winning in his second career start in 2002.
DALE EARNHARDT INC. (DEI)
No. 1 Chevrolet, JOHN ANDRETTI -- Veteran driver has ride in DEI car only for the Daytona 500, looking for more work. ... Ran for four different teams last year, starting with Petty Enterprises, driving midseason for Haas CNC Racing, one race for Richard Childress Racing and finishing in the No. 1. ... Has two Cup wins, none since 1999. ... Nephew of former Indy-car great Mario Andretti.
No. 8 Chevrolet, DALE EARNHARDT JR. -- Coming of age at 29, Earnhardt is expected to be a serious title contender in 2004. ... Came on strong to finish career-best third in last year's points, winning at Talladega and Phoenix and posting 13 top fives and 21 top 10s. ... DEI has dominated races at Daytona and Talladega in recent years, but Earnhardt has yet to win the big one -- the Daytona 500, a race his father won in 1998 and in which he was killed in 2001.
No. 15 Chevrolet, MICHAEL WALTRIP -- The defending champion of the Daytona 500 and also won at Talladega ... Has yet to get to Victory Lane anywhere but NASCAR's two biggest tracks. ... Finished disappointing 15th in points after being in the top 10 most of the season.
EVERNHAM MOTORSPORTS
No. 9 Dodge, KASEY KAHNE -- The 23-year-old Kahne moves into the ride held the last three seasons by former Winston Cup champion Bill Elliott. ... Kahne, who finished the 2003 Busch Series with his first victory in 54 career starts, was seventh in the points. ... He will compete for rookie of the year honors with one of the strongest first-year classes in years.
No. 19 Dodge, JEREMY MAYFIELD -- Finished 19th in his second season with Evernham. ... Finished strong with three top 10s in last four races. ... The strength of former crew chief Ray Evernham's operation should be one of the best Dodge teams this year and shooting to finish in the Top 10 in points.
No. 91 Dodge, BILL ELLIOTT -- Longtime star and 1988 Winston Cup champion will drive a limited schedule in 2004, beginning with Saturday night's Bud Shootout and the Cup race March 7 at Las Vegas. ... Would like to drive between 10 and 15 events but currently has found sponsorship for only three or four races. ... Finished 2003 on a roll, getting his 44th career win at Rockingham and dominating finale at Homestead before a blown tire cost him another victory. ... Wound up ninth in the points.
HAAS CNC RACING
No. 0 Chevrolet, WARD BURTON -- Left Bill Davis Racing with four races remaining in 2003, moving to team owned by Gene Haas. ... Had driven for Davis since late in 1996 season. ... Burton has five Winston Cup wins, including the 2002 Daytona 500.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
No. 5 Chevrolet, TERRY LABONTE -- Two-time Winston Cup champion had a resurgent season, finishing 10th in the points and winning the Southern 500, his first win since spring 1999. ... With resources provided by Rick Hendrick, no reason 48-year-old Labonte can't post another top 10 finish. ... Making his 26th start in the Daytona 500 this year.
No. 24 Chevrolet, JEFF GORDON -- Coming off a rollercoaster year in which he looked like a championship contender until a brief midseason slump knocked him out of the running ... Four-time series champion won three races, finished fourth in points for second straight year..... Always a contender for the title and remains one of the few cars with a legitimate chance to win each week.
No. 25 Chevrolet, BRIAN VICKERS -- The youngest Busch Series champion ever, the 20-year-old phenom is considered the favorite in the 2004 rookie of the year chase. ... Takes over Hendrick car that has won races but has perennially been a disappointment in the points.
No. 48 Chevrolet, JIMMIE JOHNSON -- The 2002 rookie of the year had no sophomore slump, winning three races for the second straight year and finishing second in the points in 2003. ... Could be the man to beat for 2004 championship, along with Penske Racing South's Ryan Newman.
No. 84 Chevrolet, KYLE BUSCH -- The 18-year-old brother of Roush Racing star Kurt Busch is scheduled to spend his first full season in Busch Series, but will also run a limited number of races in Cup and ARCA. ... Younger Busch plans to make his Nextel Cup debut in the March 7 race in his hometown, Las Vegas. ... Hendrick plans to move younger Busch up to Cup in 2005.
JASPER PENSKE MOTORSPORTS
No. 77 Dodge, BRENDAN GAUGHAN -- Team owner Doug Bawal has new partnership with Penske Racing South and that's good news for Gaughan, who will get his chance to run for rookie of the year in a very competitive car. ... Las Vegas native won six races and finished fourth in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving for family team. ... Hard-charging driver could be biggest surprise in Nextel Cup.
JOE GIBBS RACING (JGR)
No. 18 Chevrolet, BOBBY LABONTE -- 2000 Winston Cup champion. ... Came back from disappointing 16th-place finish in 2002 to place eighth last season, winning twice and coming up with 17 top 10 finishes. ... Return to form credited at least partly to arrival last season of crew chief Michael "Fatback" McSwain. ... A likely contender, although JGR may miss calming presence of team owner Joe Gibbs, who is returning to coach the NFL's Washington Redskins.
No. 20 Chevrolet, TONY STEWART -- The 2002 Winston Cup champion learned to keep his hot temper under control and had a solid 2003. ... Had two wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s and finished seventh in points. ... Former Indy-car champion is a very versatile driver and always a championship threat. ... Has vowed to once again skip the Indianapolis 500 to concentrate on NASCAR.
MB2/MBV MOTORSPORTS
No. 01 Chevrolet, JOE NEMECHEK -- Journeyman racer moved from Hendrick Motorsports late in 2003 season to take over seat left vacant by injured Jerry Nadeau. ... Had a decent season in Hendrick's No. 25 Chevrolet, earning third career victory at Richmond and adding five more top 10s. ... "Front Row Joe" has shot at Top 25.
No. 10 Chevrolet, SCOTT RIGGS -- Oldest rookie of the year contender at 33. ... Former Motocross competitor was rookie of the year in Busch Series in 2002, led the points several times and won two races in 2003 before sixth-place finish. ... Takes over ride held by Johnny Benson for four seasons.
PENSKE RACING SOUTH
No. 2 Dodge, RUSTY WALLACE -- Wallace starts season riding a 98-race winless string, dating to April 2001 at California Speedway. ... Finished a disappointing 14th in the 2003 points, the first time since 1992 Wallace finished outside top 10. ... Always optimistic 1989 Winston Cup champion pinning hopes for getting back into top 10 on new crew chief Larry Carter and a turnaround in luck.
No. 12 Dodge, RYAN NEWMAN -- Followed rookie of the year season in 2002 with an up and down year in 2003. ... Won 11 poles and eight races and was voted driver of the year, but failed to finish seven times and wound up sixth in points. ... Needs to finish more races but goes into season as a championship favorite along with Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson.
PETTY ENTERPRISES
No. 43 Dodge, JEFF GREEN -- Green spent parts of his second full season in Winston Cup with Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. before moving into the Petty car with nine races remaining. ... Solid driver but team is not expected to be a contender. ... Green won the Daytona 500 pole for RCR last February.
No. 45 Dodge, KYLE PETTY -- Continues to drive and run the family owned Petty organization, a very difficult chore. ... Coming off season in which he started 33 races and failed to finish better than 11th. ... Wound up 37th in the points. ... Has eight career victories, but none since 1995.
PHOENIX RACING
No. 09 Dodge, JOHNNY BENSON -- Lost his seat in the No. 10 MB2 Motorsports car at the end of 2003 and didn't have anything lined up until January. ... Moves to the team owned by James Finch after four years in the same ride. ... Benson was Winston Cup rookie of the year in 1996 but has turned into a journeyman driver, with a best points finish of 11th in 2001 and only one win -- at Rockingham in November 2002. ... He was 24th in the points last year.
PPI MOTORSPORTS
No. 32 Pontiac, RICKY CRAVEN -- Continues as one of the best single-car teams. ... Considered expanding to two cars in 2004, but sponsorship did not materialize and stuck with Craven in its only entry. ... Craven started well, won at Darlington last spring, holding off Kurt Busch in a fender-bumping duel, and was 10th in points after 10 races. ... Production and luck fell off and Craven wound up 27th in the points. ... Could improve by five or 10 positions in 2004 as team continues to make gains with new crew chief Dave Charpentier and NASCAR veteran Mike Beam moving in to lead the team's competition department.
RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING (RCR)
No. 29 Chevrolet, KEVIN HARVICK -- Bounced back from sophomore slump to post 11 top fives and 18 top 10s and finish fifth in the points. ... Won once in 2003 and finished all 36 races. ... Former rookie of the year could be contender in 2004 if he can find a bit more consistency.
No. 30 Chevrolet, JOHNNY SAUTER -- The 25-year-old Sauter will team with veteran crew chief Kevin Hamlin as he competes for Nextel Cup rookie of the year. ... Son of NASCAR journeyman Jim Sauter combined with Harvick in 2003 to give Childress the owner's championship in the Busch Series. ... Due to a previous commitment with Brewco Racing, Sauter will also run the Busch Series full time in 2004.
No. 31 Chevrolet, ROBBY GORDON -- Finished 16th in the points and had four top-five finishes, including wins in both road races. ... Could be ready to break into the top 10 in the points. ... Also starting his own Busch Series team and will drive a limited Busch schedule.
ROBERT YATES RACING (RYR)
No. 38 Ford, ELLIOTT SADLER -- First season with Yates team was mediocre, finishing 22nd in the points and posting only two top-10 finishes in the second half of the season. ... Could benefit, along with teammate Dale Jarrett, from new engine-building alliance with Roush Racing and Ford's first new cylinder head in more than a decade. ... Only 28 as he goes into sixth full season, Sadler still has time to develop into a star.
No. 88 Ford, DALE JARRETT -- The 1999 Winston Cup champion. ... Coming off his worst season since becoming a Cup regular in 1989. ... At 47, Jarrett needs a bounceback year. ... Won at Rockingham in second race of 2003 and managed only six more top 10s the rest of the season, finishing a career-worst 26th in the points.
ROUSH RACING
No. 6 Ford, MARK MARTIN -- After finishing second in the points in 2002, Martin slipped to 17th last year. ... Had only 10 top 10s and failed to finish seven races. ... Has 33 career victories but hasn't won since May 2002 at Charlotte. ... He and his teammates should also be helped by new engine-building alliance with Robert Yates Racing and added horsepower from new Ford cylinder head.
No. 16 Ford, GREG BIFFLE -- Biffle was second to Jamie McMurray in rookie standings last season, finishing 20th in the season points. ... Was surprise winner of Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July and only rookie to win a race in 2003. ... Former Busch Series champion could be contender for top 10 finish in 2004.
No. 17 Ford, MATT KENSETH -- Had a career year in 2003, leading the standings for a record 33 consecutive races and running away with the last Winston Cup championship. ... The only knock against Kenseth last year was that he became the first driver since Benny Parsons in 1973 to win the title with only one race victory.
No. 97 Ford, KURT BUSCH -- Went into 2003 as the favorite to win the championship but wasn't able to live up to billing. ... Won four races and had 14 top 10s, but failed to finish eight races and wound up 11th in final standings. ... Also had a midseason run-in with Jimmy Spencer that ended with Spencer hitting him in the face following a race at Michigan in August.
No. 99, JEFF BURTON -- Never quite got it going in 2003, failing to win for the second straight season and posting only 11 top 10s. ... Finished 12th in the points for the second straight year. ... Seventeen-time winner goes into season without full sponsorship on his car and needs to get back on winning track or might be looking for new ride soon.
ULTRA MOTORSPORTS
No. 7 Dodge, JIMMY SPENCER -- Spencer starts the season without sponsorship and planning only a limited schedule of four or five races unless some money can be found. ... Coming off 29th-place finish in first season with team owner Jim Smith. ... Temper cost him plenty last year as feud with Kurt Busch boiled over at Michigan in August and Spencer hit Busch in the face in a post-racing altercation.
WOOD BROTHERS RACING
No. 21 Ford, RICKY RUDD -- One of the oldest teams in NASCAR, the Wood Brothers hope a move over the winter from their native Virginia to the heart of stock car racing in North Carolina will help struggling team become a contender. ... Failed to win and had only five top 10s in first season in No. 21 Taurus, finishing 23rd in the points after finishes of fifth, fourth and 10th in the three previous years with Robert Yates Racing. ... Engine-building alliance between Roush Racing and Robert Yates Racing should benefit No. 21, but not enough to get Rudd back among points leaders.
-- Associated Press