2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 58th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 35th modern-era Cup series season.
This was the final season in which the WC-03 body was used.
==Teams and drivers==
===Complete schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	98 	Jeremy Mayfield 	 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	1 	Martin Truex Jr. (R)	Kevin Manion 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Tony Eury Jr. 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	14 	Sterling Marlin 	Doug Randolph 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	17 	Michael Waltrip 	Derrick Finley 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Kenny Wallace 	Joe Garone 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Jimmy Spencer 	Joe Garone 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Travis Kvapil 	Joe Garone 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Max Papis 	Joe Garone 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Haas CNC Racing 	166	Jeff Green 	Harold Holly 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hall of Fame Racing 	96 	Terry Labonte 	Phillipe Lopez 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hall of Fame Racing 	96 	Tony Raines 	Phillipe Lopez 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Kyle Busch 	Alan Gustafson 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick 	Steve Letarte 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Casey Atwood 	Lance McGrew 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brian Vickers 	Peter Sospenzo 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Denny Hamlin (R) 	Mike Ford 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Dale Jarrett 	Steve Addington 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	MB2 Motorsports 	01 	Joe Nemechek 	Ryan Pemberton 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Scott Wimmer 	Chris Carrier 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	P. J. Jones 	Chris Carrier 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Todd Bodine 	Chris Carrier 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Jerry Nadeau 	James Ince 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	07 	Clint Bowyer 	Gil Martin 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Kevin Harvick 	Todd Berrier 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	30 	Dave Blaney 	Scott Miller 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	31 	Jeff Burton 	Scott Miller 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	107	Robby Gordon 	Greg Erwin 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	Chris Andrews 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Brent Sherman (R) 	Ron Otto 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Jimmy Spencer 	Ron Otto 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Mike Wallace 	Ron Otto 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Kevin Lepage 	Ron Otto 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Chris Cook 	Ron Otto 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Mike Bliss 	Ron Otto 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Jeff Gordon 	Tommy Baldwin Jr. 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Bobby Labonte 	 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Ward Burton 	Kevin Hamlin 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates	40 	David Stremme (R) 	Jeff Vandermoss 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates	40 	Scott Pruett 	Jeff Vandermoss 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates	41 	Reed Sorenson (R) 	Jimmy Elledge 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates	42 	Kenny Irwin Jr. 	Donnie Wingo 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Kasey Kahne 	Kenny Francis 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	10 	Scott Riggs 	Rodney Childers 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Scott Searle 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	McDuffie Racing 	170	Crissy Hillsworth 	 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Brendan Gaughan (R) 	 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	84 	Shawna Robinson 	 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske Racing South 	2 	Kurt Busch 	Roy McCauley 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske Racing South 	12 	Tim Richmond 	 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske Racing South 	39 	Ryan Newman 	Matt Borland 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske Racing South 	77 	Blaise Alexander 	 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	John Andretti 	Todd Parrott 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Kyle Petty 	 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	Paul Andrews 	2006 Charger
2004 Stratus
Ford 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	 	 	
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	28 	Clifford Allison 	 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	38 	Elliott Sadler 	 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	38 	David Gilliland 	 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	88 	Ernie Irvan 	Slugger Labbe 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	Mark Martin 	Pat Tryson 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Greg Biffle 	Doug Richert 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Matt Kenseth 	Robbie Reiser 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	26 	Jamie McMurray 	Jimmy Fennig/Wally Brown	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	99 	Carl Edwards 	Bob Osborne 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	15 	Tim Steele 	 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	90 	Davey Allison 	 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Wood Brothers/JTG Racing 	21 	Ken Schrader 	David Hyder 	2006 Fusion
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2006 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Willy T. Ribbs 	 	2006 Grand Prix
=== Limited schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Braun Racing 	71 	Jason Leffler 	Todd Lohse 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	CJM Racing 	72 	Kertus Davis 	Doug George 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	CJM Racing 	72 	Brent Sherman 	Doug George 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	CJM Racing 	72 	David Gilliland 	Doug George 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	CJM Racing 	72 	David Quarterley 	Doug George 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	CJM Racing 	72 	Mike Skinner 	Doug George 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	CJM Racing 	72 	Brandon Whitt 	Doug George 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Competitive Edge Motorsports	51 	Mike Garvey 	Barry Haefele 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Cupp Motorsports 	46 	Carl Long 	Stan Hover 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Chad Chaffin (R) 	Teddy Brown 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Randy LaJoie 	Teddy Brown 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Chad Blount 	Teddy Brown 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Johnny Miller 	Teddy Brown 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Haas CNC Racing 	170	Johnny Sauter 	Bootie Barker 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	144	Terry Labonte 	Peter Sospenzo 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	27 	Kirk Shelmerdine 	Phil Harris 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	27 	Tom Hubert 	Phil Harris 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	27 	Ted Christopher 	Phil Harris 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	27 	Mike Skinner 	Phil Harris 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	MB2 Motorsports 	36 	Bill Elliott 	Frank Stoddard 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	MBA Motorsports 	00 	Hermie Sadler 	Micah Horton
Larry Carter	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	00 	Bill Elliott 	Micah Horton
Larry Carter	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	04 	Eric McClure 	Danny Gill 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	33 	Scott Wimmer 	Pat Smith 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Stanton Barrett Racing 	95 	Stanton Barrett 	Shawn Parker 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	150	Larry Foyt 	Buddy Sisco 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	123	Mike Skinner 	Ricky Viers 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	123	Bill Lester 	Ricky Viers 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Bobby Hamilton Racing 	04 	Bobby Hamilton Jr.	 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	Brandon Ash Racing 	102	Brandon Ash 	Ed Ash 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	130	Juan Pablo Montoya	Dan Kolanda 3
Steve Boyer 1	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Rick Ware Racing 	130	Stanton Barrett 	Dan Kolanda 3
Steve Boyer 1	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Stanton Barrett 	Dan Kolanda 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Larry Gunselman 	Dan Kolanda 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Steve Portenga 	Dan Kolanda 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Donnie Neuenberger	Dan Kolanda 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	McGlynn Racing 	74 	Derrike Cope 	Dom Turse 	2005 Charger
2004 Stratus
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Chad Blount 	Mark Tutor 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Mike Skinner 	Mark Tutor 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Carl Long 	Mark Tutor 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	David Murry 	Mark Tutor 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Bill Elliott 	Mark Tutor 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Shepherd Racing Ventures 	89 	Morgan Shepherd 	Doug George 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	Shepherd Racing Ventures 	89 	Kertus David 	Doug George 	2005 Charger
Dodge 	Red Bull Racing 	183	Bill Elliott 	Ricky Viers 	2006 Charger
Dodge 	Red Bull Racing 	184	A.J. Allmendinger 	Ricky Viers 	2006 Charger
Ford 	Andy Belmont Racing 	59 	Andy Belmont 	Billy Owen 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Brent Sherman Racing 	04 	Brent Sherman 	 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Carl Long 	Stan Hover 	2005 Taurus
Ford 	MBA Racing 	00 	Hermie Sadler 	Micah Horton 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	No Fear Racing 	160	Boris Said 	Frank Stoddard 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	No Fear Racing 	160	David Ragan 	Frank Stoddard 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	90 	Stephen Leicht 	Raymond Fox Jr.	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	90 	Marc Goossens 	Raymond Fox Jr.	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	06 	Todd Kluever 	Frank Stoddard 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	06 	David Ragan 	Frank Stoddard 	2006 Fusion
Ford 	Sacks Motorsports 	13 	Greg Sacks 	 	2005 Taurus
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Mike Wallace 	Marc Reno 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
2006 Charger
2006 Fusion
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Jeremy Mayfield 	Marc Reno 	2006 Monte Carlo SS
2006 Charger
2006 Fusion
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Dodge/Save Mart 350 	Infineon Raceway, Sonoma 	January 29 	FX
 	Budweiser Shootout 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12 	CBS
 	Gatorade Duel 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 16 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 19 	CBS
3 	Subway 400 	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham 	February 26 	Fox
4 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 5 	Fox
5 	UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 12 	Fox
6 	Golden Corral 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 20 	Fox
FX
7 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	March 26 	Fox
8 	DirecTV 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Hampton 	April 2 	Fox
9 	Texas 400 	Texas World Speedway, College Station 	April 9 	Fox
10 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	April 16 	FX
11 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	April 22 	Fox
12 	Aaron's 499 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	May 1 	Fox
13 	Crown Royal 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	May 6 	FX
14 	Auto Club 500 	California Speedway, Fontana 	May 13 	Fox
 	Nextel Open 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 20 	FX
 	Nextel All-Star Challenge 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 20 	FX
15 	Coca-Cola 600 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 28 	CBS
16 	Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	June 4 	FX
17 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 11 	CBS
18 	Dodge Charger 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 18 	CBS
19 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 25 	CBS
20 	Pepsi 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 1 	CBS
21 	USG Sheetrock 400 	Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero 	July 9 	CBS
22 	Lenox Industrial Tools 301 	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon 	July 16 	CBS
23 	Pennsylvania 500 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	July 23 	CBS
24 	Music city USA 420 	Music City Motorplex, Nashville 	July 30 	CBS
25 	Allstate 400 at the Brickyard 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	August 3 	NBC
26 	AMD at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 13 	NBC
27 	GFS Marketplace 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 20 	TBS
28 	Sharpie 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 26 	TBS
29 	Mountain Dew Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 3 	NBC
30 	Chevy Rock & Roll 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 9 	TBS
31 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 17	TBS
32 	Dover 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	September 24	TBS
33 	Banquet 400 Presented by ConAgra Foods 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 1 	NBC
34 	UAW-Ford 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 8 	NBC
35 	Bank of America 500 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 14 	NBC
36 	Subway 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	October 22 	NBC
37 	Bass Pro Shops 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	October 29 	NBC
38 	ACDelco 400 	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham 	November 5 	NBC
39 	Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 12 	NBC
40 	Ford 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Hampton 	November 19 	NBC
41 	iPod 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 26 	NBC
42 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	December 3 	TBS
43 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	October 10 	NBC
==Technical changes==
The next major round of model changes took place in 2006. The Ford Taurus, which had been run since 1998, was pulled from NASCAR competition after being discontinued, and was replaced by the brand-new Ford Fusion (a few underfunded teams continued using the Taurus).
Chevrolet upgraded the Monte Carlo to the Monte Carlo SS, marking the first time the "SS" moniker had been used in NASCAR since 1989.
Dodge made attempts to fix the problematic Charger nose. While the changes helped, especially on the superspeedways, Pacific Coast Racing still refused to run the model on the intermediates and instead continued using the 2004 Stratus. Penske and Petty also used the Stratus at certain intermediates such as California and Texas World, before Dodge threatened to pull factory support from them; this caused Roger Penske to accuse Dodge of playing favorites with PCR, and he threatened to go back to Ford. This, in turn, caused Dodge to go back to the drawing board to completely rework the Charger nose for 2007.
== Cars Used in 2006 ==
File:2006 chevrolet monte carlo ss.png|Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (NEW)
File:2006 ford fusion.png|Ford Fusion (NEW)
File:2004 ford fusion.png|2005 Ford Taurus (no factory support)
File:2006 dodge charger.png|Dodge Charger
File:2004 dodge stratus.png|2004 Dodge Stratus (used by Pacific Coast Racing at all intermediates, and by Penske Racing and Petty Enterprises at Californa and Texas World)
File:2006 pontiac grand prix.png|Pontiac Grand Prix (only used by Kennedy Racing; no factory support)