Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images |
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| 2005 Season |
| Final Points Standing | 10th
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| After First 26 Races | 5th
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| Earnings | $7,667,861
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| Starts | 34
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| Poles | 0
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| Wins | 3
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| Top 5 | 9
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| 6-10 | 9
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| Laps Led | 958
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| Lead Lap Finishes | 23
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| Bonus Points | 110
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| Races Led | 17 |
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| 2005 Performance |
| Below is the ranking of the team on each type of track along with the driver's best finish. |
| Track Type | Ranking |
| Flat Tracks | 9th
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| Best Finish | 1st, Phoenix, Pocono
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| Intermediate Tracks | 15th
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| Best Finish | 2nd, Lowe's, New Hampshire
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| Plate Tracks | 5th
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| Best Finish | 2nd, Daytona
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| Road Courses | 17th
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| Best Finish | 3rd, Infineon
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| Short Tracks | 8th
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| Best Finish | 1st, Richmond |
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2006 Spin
There is simply not enough space on this page to list the unanswered questions concerning this team in 2006. Following a turbulent year that saw him fighting for an early release from his contract with Jack Roush and the now-infamous run-in with sheriff's deputies outside of Phoenix International Raceway, Kurt Busch must prove that Roger Penske made the right choice in selecting him to fill the Miller Lite Dodge vacated by a retiring Rusty Wallace.
Busch and crew chief Roy McCauley will be the perfect case study in chemistry. The Busch marriage with Jimmy Fennig in the Roush years proved to be a winning combination. Sentiment is that Fennig may have been the true mastermind behind Busch's '04 championship season. That question will surely be answered over the course of the year.
Busch has all the talent in the world, as his '04 title can attest, and he will no doubt have his moments in '06. He has historically run well at most of the stops on the circuit and is a first-rate short tracker, which should mesh well with this team.
Still, whether warranted or not, questions surrounding his character remain. If he is able to work within the organization and with new teammate Ryan Newman, this could be a potent pairing. If not, Busch's temper tantrums could unglue the entire project.
Look for a win possibly two from this team, and enjoy the show.
2006 Recap
Despite all the negative press, Kurt Busch had a fine season in 2005. He came out of the gate strong with three straight top 3 runs and appeared to be ready to make a fitting title defense.
Busch won at Phoenix and remained in the top 10 in points, save for one week. The feel-good title defense was about to take a turn, though. Just days following the Brickyard 400, Busch shocked the racing community by announcing he had signed to drive the No. 2 Dodge for Roger Penske and was seeking an early release from his contract with Roush.
On lap three of the first Chase event at New Hampshire, Busch was clipped by Scott Riggs, sending his car and, as it turned out, his Chase hopes to the garage.
The unfortunate run-in with sheriff's deputies at Phoenix International Raceway resulted in a suspension for the final two races and a 10th-place finish in the standings.
• The Good: The three dominating wins at Phoenix, Pocono and Richmond are as good as it gets. He led the most laps in each event as well.
• The Bad: Busch showed his immaturity at Darlington, when he was held on pit road and told to kill the engine. Instead, he revved the motor in protest and cursed at NASCAR officials.
• The Ugly: The Phoenix incident was as ugly as any we've seen. The police report says it all. Note to drivers: When it appears you are being written a traffic citation, never say, Don't you know who I am?
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