What you need to know about the 2006 NASCAR season.
by: various

The 2006 NASCAR season is closing in quickly and things aren't going to be the same as they were in 2005. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Season.

1) The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule
The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule looks quite a lot like the 2005 schedule did. The season begins in Daytona and ends in Homestead with no new race tracks, no tracks losing races and no dramatic race date changes.
More: The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule

2) Ford replaced the Taurus with the Fusion
One of the big changes in NASCAR for the 2006 season is the introduction of the Ford Fusion into NASCAR racing. Taurus has been in NASCAR since 1998 when it replaced the Thunderbird. Now the Fusion takes over as Ford's NASCAR race car. It will be interesting to see if the new car is up to speed through the first 5 races of 2006.

3) 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Contenders
Quick! Who drives the #18? The #26? Where did the #97 go? The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup field features seven very talented rookies who have shuffled the pack as to who will be where this year. Both of Tony Stewart's teammates are rookies and Casey Mears suddenly finds himself as the grizzled veteran at Ganassi Racing as both the #40 and #41 have rookie drivers.

4) Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray are with their new teams
Kurt Busch will be in the Miller Lite #2 for Penske Racing and Jamie McMurray will be driving the #26 Sharpie Ford for Jack Roush. These driver changes were originally announced as taking effect in 2007 but both drivers were able to get out of their contracts early. There is no car #97 in NEXTEL Cup racing this year.

5) Bobby Labonte is now in the famous #43
The legendary Petty Enterprises #43 Cheerios car will have a new driver in the seat for 2006 as Bobby Labonte has left Joe Gibbs Racing. Bobby brings a lot of talent to the seat and Petty Enterprises has been busy hiring exceptional talent to fill out the team. Expect the #43 to return to its winning ways in 2006.

6) Mark Martin is still in the #6 but no more Viagra
Mark had previously announced that 2005 would be his last full season in NEXTEL Cup and that he wanted to "downshift" and move to the Craftsman Truck series full time. When Jack Roush lost a driver to a crazy Silly Season Mark Martin agreed to delay his departure and stay for one more year. The #6 sports a new look this season as AAA replaces Viagra as the primary sponsor on the car.

7) Michael Waltrip now drives for Bill Davis
After the July announcement Michael Waltrip had plenty of time to put together his plans for 2006. Michael took sponsor NAPA with him over to Bill Davis Racing where he will now drive the #55 Dodge.

8) Terry Labonte is back for 7 more Races
Terry Labonte will be back in NEXTEL Cup racing for the first five races of 2006 plus the two road races. Terry will be driving the Texas Instruments DLP Products #96 for Hall of Fame Racing team owners Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. Terry is helping out his fellow Texans by trying to build up some car owner points using his experience to get the car qualified before turning over the seat to Tony Raines. Terry has said that this, for sure, will be the end of his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career.

9) Bill Elliott is back for the Daytona 500
Bill Elliott has announced that he will race in the Daytona 500 and the Budweiser Shootout in 2006. Elliott has not raced in the Daytona 500 since he retired from full-time competition in 2003. Elliott, the 1988 Cup Champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner, will be driving the #36 MB2 Motorsports Chevrolet that Boris Said ran nine races in during the 2005 season.

10) Toyota is NOT here yet.
Toyota has received a lot of press lately about their pending entry into NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series racing. It is important to note that they aren't joining the top series' ranks until next season.