For the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season Jamie McMurray will leave Roush Fenway Racing Earnhardt and rejoin Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
With the start of Speedweeks a mere four weeks away, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams already are hard at work for 2010, building race cars, working in new people and getting ready for the grueling 36-race season.
And as is the custom every year at this time, there are plenty of old faces in new places — drivers, crew chiefs and team members who’ve switched teams in the offseason in hopes of coming up with a winning combination in the year ahead.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the major moves for 2010, by car number:
No. 1 — After four somewhat disappointing seasons at Roush Fenway Racing, Jamie McMurray is reunited with former boss Chip Ganassi at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Kevin “Bono” Manion, who was crew chief for Martin Truex Jr., will remain with the No. 1 this season.
No. 2 — Steve Addington, who led Kyle Busch to 12 Sprint Cup victories in 2008-09, jumps out of the frying pan and into the fire as the new crew chief for Kurt Busch at Penske Racing. The elder Busch brother was fourth in points last year, his best season since winning the title in 2004 and best among non-Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
No. 6 — After suffering through a hugely disappointing sophomore season, David Ragan will have a new crew chief on the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Veteran Donnie Wingo moves over from the now-shuttered No. 26 Roush entry, which McMurray drove last year.
No. 07 — With Jack Daniel’s gone, the fate of this Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet remains uncertain beyond the Daytona 500, as do the plans of driver Casey Mears.
No. 7 — Robby Gordon has said he may have to cut back to a part-time schedule after losing Jim Beam as a sponsor.
No. 9 — Another year, another ownership realignment for the former Evernham Motorsports/Gillett Evernham Motorsports squad, which keeps the Richard Petty Motorsports name after merging with Yates Racing. But the biggest change for driver Kasey Kahne is a move back to Ford Motor Co., with whom he had a contentious split in 2003.
No. 12 — The Penske Racing squad adds Brad Keselowski as the driver of the No. 12 Dodge and crew chief Jay Guy, who moves over from Furniture Row Racing. Former crew chief Roy McCauley remained with the Penske organization in a management capacity. Keselowski so far has proven to be fast, colorful and controversial. He should be interesting to watch this season.
No. 18 — Dave Rogers replaced Steve Addington as Kyle Busch’s crew chief with three races to go last season, and will try to guide the mercurial Busch back into the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2010.
