Offseason capsules: Johnson & Martin
Yahoo! Sports is spending the offseason breaking down the Nextel Cup field as the season-opening Daytona 500 approaches.
We continue to count down through the standings to No. 1: 2005 Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart.
 | Jimmie Johnson  | |
2005 Recap
Johnson's season wasn't a career-best, but it was filled with several spectacular performances. Example: Johnson won the fall race at Lowe's after starting dead last. But his season came to a crashing halt at Homestead when a flat tire led to his demise during that final race. A popular preseason pick to be the champion, Johnson delivered an impressive number of top-five and top-10 performances. This team was a picture of consistency. But after Johnson was involved in the big wreck at the fall Talladega race – a wreck some say he caused – his team lost the points lead and found itself behind the eight-ball for the duration of the Chase.
2006 Outlook
What's next
Despite rumors of bickering between them, the tandem of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus has been one of the most successful pairings in recent years. Perhaps that is what makes this team so consistently strong. Expect the No. 48 to be back in the winner's circle on a regular basis again in '06, especially now that teammate and car owner Jeff Gordon's team has turned its fortunes around.
Best case scenario: Johnson has to again be at or near the top of everyone's list of preseason favorites for the title in '06. He's finished runner-up twice ('03, '04), and this ultra-competitive driver certainly won't settle for anything less than the championship this time around.
Likely scenario: Everyone else in the garage has stepped up their game and Johnson and Knaus will be faced with what may be the toughest and most competitive field in Nextel Cup history. The perfect laps and perfect pit stops this team is capable of – and running a Hendrick-prepared car – could make the difference.
Beware: Knaus is always touting the importance of team and teamwork. But can this potentially volatile team keep it together if the road gets a bit bumpy?
 | Mark Martin | |
2005 Recap
NASCAR's Yoda started the '05 season planning to retire from Cup competition at its conclusion. We all know how that eventually turned out. At times, the 46-year-old Martin raced harder than drivers half his age, while simultaneously schooling those same younger drivers in the art of stock car racing. His "aggressive conservative" style earned his team a second consecutive berth in the Chase. But the same inconsistency that plagued the team during the first 26 races season took its toll during those final 10.
2006 Outlook
What's next
Martin's Roush Racing team stays essentially intact for '06, giving him all the tools he'll need for another run at the Chase. Expect the No. 6 team to get off to a quick start with its new Ford Fusion.
Best case scenario: As the senior member of the Roush Racing Fab Five, and in his final full year of Cup competition (for now), Martin will get all the best equipment out of the Concord shop. Long time friend and team owner Jack Roush wants nothing more than for Martin to end his career with a Cup title.
Likely scenario: Martin will be driving a full Cup schedule as well as partial schedules in the Busch and Craftsman Truck series. That's a piece of cake for a young gun like Kyle Busch, but it could take its toll on Martin – especially if Martin has some bad luck and is forced to recover from injuries suffered in a wreck caused by an inexperienced driver in one of those other series' races.
Beware: Martin himself has expressed concern over having to split his time and energies between the three series and any activities surrounding his retirement from Cup racing. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?
