Offseason capsules: Truex, Stremme and Yeley
Yahoo! Sports is spending the offseason breaking down the Nextel Cup field as February's season-opening Daytona 500 approaches.
This week, we examine next year's rookie crop. In the coming weeks we'll go through the standings and count down to '05 Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart.
 | Martin Truex Jr.  | |
2005 Recap
The Chance 2 driver scored the second of his back-to-back Busch Series titles, becoming the first driver to accomplish that feat since his team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. did it in 1998-'99. The New Jersey native's Busch team had a slow start to the season but once it hit its stride there was no stopping it. A win at Talladega (Truex also won there in '04) in April kicked off a streak of 15 top-10 finishes in 17 races which helped the team overcome an up-and-down stretch run to the title.
2006 Outlook
What's next
With two Busch Series trophies on his mantle, Truex unquestionably is ready to make the move into racing full time on Sundays, as Truex will drive DEI's No. 1 Cup car in 2006. In the seven Cup races he entered in 2005, Truex showed strong potential despite only finishing three of those races. More importantly, he has shown respect for and gained the respect of those he'll be racing against in '06.
Best case scenario: Truex is the odds-on favorite to capture the 2006 Rookie of the Year title in Nextel Cup. Both he and DEI teammate Earnhardt Jr. potentially could be in the '06 Chase.
Likely scenario: Truex has shown that he can win with a DEI car on restrictor plate tracks. Talladega in April or Daytona in July could be where and when Truex scores his first Cup win. Multiple wins and a top-15 points finish are not out of the question in '06.
Beware: The only thing that could stop Truex from having a stellar year is continued turmoil at DEI.
 | David Stremme | |
2005 Recap
Stremme is an enigma. After two years ('03-'04) of racing in the Busch Series, he scored only one pole and had no victories. In 2005 he continued that trend with an average finish of 19.5. Yet somehow he has managed to keep his ride in the Busch Series as well as start four Cup races for Chip Ganassi.
2006 Outlook
What's next
Ganassi apparently sees something in Stremme that no one else does and has hired the 28-year-old Indiana native to replace Sterling Marlin in the No. 40 Dodge in Nextel Cup for '06. Ganassi's ability to spot good driving talent continues to be suspect. Until hiring Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon for his IndyCar team for '06, his last great driver hire was Juan Pablo Montoya in 1998.
Best case scenario: With the proper attention and guidance now that he's on the Cup side, the talent that won Stremme rookie of the year titles in both the ASA ('02) and Busch series ('03) will surface again and he'll set the world on fire.
Likely scenario: Whether or not it's his fault, Stremme's name often is heard during a race in connection with a wreck. Although some feel that he'll blossom in the Cup series, many more believe that he's in over his head and won't last a full season in the No. 40 car.
Beware: This is the make-it-or-break-it year for Ganassi's NASCAR organization. A lot is riding on the Chipster's ability to prove to his sponsors that he can be a real force in NASCAR racing, especially considering all the money they've poured into his race shop over the past five years. Stremme could be more of an albatross than a savior.
 | J.J. Yeley | |
2005 Recap
As the winner of the USAC Triple Crown in 2003 (Silver Crown, sprints and midgets), Yeley was touted in some circles as the next Tony Stewart, who also was a Triple Crown champion. But Yeley has yet to show that potential in NASCAR. His Joe Gibbs Racing Busch team started off very slowly before delivering a midseason string of top-10s (seven in 11 races). But after finishing the season with runs mostly at the back of the pack, Yeley missed finishing in the top 10 by 56 points.
2006 Outlook
What's next
Despite his four disastrous showings in Gibbs' No. 11 Cup car, Yeley has been tabbed as the successor to Bobby Labonte in the No. 18 car for '06. This may be a case of team owner J.D. Gibbs having to settle for what's available. It's a tough learning curve in Nextel Cup and Yeley will need to come to class prepared every weekend.
Best case scenario: Yeley didn't win all those tough open wheel races in '03 because he's a slouch. He's definitely talented. If he can shake off his bad Cup experiences so far, he could finish with a respectable top-20 in points.
Likely scenario: Unfortunately, Yeley will have to play third fiddle at Joe Gibbs Racing to teammate and newly-crowned Cup champion Tony Stewart as well as Denny Hamlin. That's a tough spot to fill.
Beware: Observers will argue that the current crop of young drivers who have cut their teeth driving late model stock cars seems to have a distinct advantage over those who came up in the open wheel ranks when it comes to driving a Cup car. Open wheel veteran Yeley may be one of those drivers at a disadvantage.
