3 days and Counting, Crew Chief's Prediction, Driver Information, and More

Hey Ya'll (Thats some Southern talk I picked up since movin' to this here state called Virginia)

As part of our NASCAR coverage I wanted to provide you with information on each of this year's drivers. At the end of the list you will find my prediction for who be this year's Nextel Cup Champion. By the way, if I am correct, Mister2, you and the OLD Doc have to buy me a pint of my favorite ice cream!!

Here is your own personal index by Model as compiled from NASCAR.com
(Number, Driver, Sponsor, Team, and Crew Chief [I like the sound of that last one])

Chevrolet:

• #07 Dave Blaney - Jack Daniel's - Richard Childress Racing - Philippe Lopez
• #0 Mike Bliss - NetZero& Best Buy - Haas CNC Racing - Bob Barker
• #31 Jeff Burton - Cingular Wireless - Richard Childress Racing - Kevin Hamlin
• #5 Kyle Busch (rookie) - Kellogg's - Hendrick Motorsports - Alan Gustafson
• #155 Derrike Cope - Year One - SWAT Racing - Dan Glauz
• #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Budweiser - Dale Earnhardt Incorporated - Pete Rondeau
• #24 Jeff Gordon - DuPont - Hendrick Motorsports - Robbie Loomis
• #7 Robby Gordon - Jim Beam - Robby Gordon Motorsports - Bob Temple
• #32 Bobby Hamilton Jr. - Tide - PPI Motorsports - Harold Holly
• #29 Kevin Harvick - GM Goodwrench - Richard Childress Racing - Todd Berrier
• #48 Jimmie Johnson - Lowe's Hardware - Hendrick Motorsports - Chad Knaus
• #34 Randy LaJoie - Mach One Inc. - Mach One Inc. - Mike Steurer
• #18 Bobby Labonte - Interstate Batteries - Joe Gibbs Racing - Steve Addington
• #44 Terry Labonte - Hendrick Motorsports - Hendrick Motorsports - Peter Sospenzo
• #11 Jason Leffler - FedEx Express - Joe Gibbs Racing - Dave Rogers
• #173 Eric McClure (rookie) - ARC Dehooker - Rabe Racing Enterprises - Tim Brewer
• #01 Joe Nemechek - The U.S. Army - MB2 Motorsports - Ryan Pemberton
• #10 Scott Riggs - Valvoline - MBV Motorsports - Doug Randolph
• #136 Boris Said - CENTRIX Financial - MB/Sutton Motorsports - Frank Stoddard
• #20 Tony Stewart - The Home Depot - Joe Gibbs Racing - Greg Zipadelli
• #25 Brian Vickers - GMAC - Hendrick Motorsports -Lance McGrew
• #4 Mike Wallace - Lucas Oil Products - Morgan-McClure Motorsports - Chris Carrier
• #15 Michael Waltrip - NAPA Auto Parts - Dale Earnhardt Incorporated - Tony Eury Jr.

Dodge:

• #43 Jeff Green - General Mills/Cheerios - Petty Enterprises - Greg Steadman
• #9 Kasey Kahne - Dodge Dealers & The UAW - Evernham Motorsports - Tommy Baldwin Jr.
• #77 Travis Kvapil (rookie) - Kodak & Jasper Engines - Penske/Jasper Racing - Shane Wilson
• #37 Kevin Lepage - Carter's Royal Dispos-all - RJ Motorsports - Billy Poindexter
• #40 Sterling Marlin - Coors Light - Chip Ganassi Racing - Steve Boyer
• #19 Jeremy Mayfield - Dodge Dealers & The UAW - Evernham Motorsports - Slugger Labbe
• #42 Jamie McMurray - Texaco-Havoline - Chip Ganassi Racing - Donnie Wingo
• #41 Casey Mears - Target - Chip Ganassi Racing - Jimmy Elledge
• #12 Ryan Newman - ALLTEL - Penske Racing - Matt Borland
• #45 Kyle Petty - Georgia-Pacific/Brawny - Petty Enterprises - Paul Andrews
• #13 Greg Sacks - Daytona Speed - Daytona Speed, Inc. - Paul Sacks
• #49 Ken Schrader - Schwan's Home Service - BAM Racing - David Hyder
• #89 Morgan Shepherd - Victory in Jesus & Red Line Oil - Victory in Jesus Racing - John Latchford
• #50 Jimmy Spencer - Arnold Development Companies - Arnold Motorsports - Unknown
• #2 Rusty Wallace - Miller Lite - Penske Racing - Larry Carter
• #22 Scott Wimmer - Caterpillar - Bill Davis Racing - Derrick Finley
  

Ford:

• #14 John Andretti - VB/APlus at Sunoco ppc Racing - David Charpentier
• #16 Greg Biffle - The National Guard - Roush Racing - Doug Richert
• #97 Kurt Busch - Sharpie & Irwin Industrial Tools - Roush Racing - Jimmy Fennig
• #99 Carl Edwards - Office Depot - Roush Racing - Bob Osborne
• #88 Dale Jarrett - UPS - Robert Yates Racing - Mike Ford
• #17 Matt Kenseth - DeWalt Power Tools - Roush Racing - Robbie Reiser
• #6 Mark Martin - Viagra - Roush Racing - Pat Tryson
• #21 Ricky Rudd - Motorcraft - Wood Brothers Racing - Michael McSwain
• #38 Elliott Sadler - M&M's - Robert Yates Racing - Todd Parrott
• #66 Hermie Sadler - Peak Fitness - Peak Performance Motorsports - James Ince
• #27 (or #172) Kirk Shelmerdine - Kirk Shelmerdine Racing - Kirk Shelmerdine Racing - Phil Harris

And Now for the Crew Chief's Pick for the 2005 Nextel Cup Champion.....Jimmie Johnson. I believe that after a slow start, Johnson will finish strong, win the cup, and a whole lot of money. If I'm wrong, well, racing is such an unpredictable sport. If I'm right, however, remember that you heard it here first.

One final thought: When I got the mail this afternoon, I saw a Jason-like (ala Friday the 13th) guy on the front cover of my latest racing magazine. Baffled and frankly a little bit frightened, I slowly began to read and (not to my suprise) saw the headline: JEFF GORDON. As I looked at the photo, I began to wonder what would happen if Freddy and or Jason saw this guy. Only one possible conclusion they would both scream in horror and run for thier lives!!!

Crew Chief (A totally impartial Tony Stewart fan)

P.S. I know that the Doc, Mister2, and Rocket Man are gonna get sick of my Tony Stewart ravings on of these days and set me up with the ultimate torture, a Face-to-Face interveiw with you know who.