2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series

58th season of NASCAR stock car racing

The 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 58th season of professional Stock car racing in the United States and the 35th modern era NASCAR Cup series season. It was started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on Monday, November 20, with the Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway. The Chase for the Nextel Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17, at New Hampshire International Speedway. This was the last full time season with the Gen 4 car. Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing, was the defending series champion, but lost out in defending his championship this year, having finished outside of the top 10 in the points standings after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. He did, however, claim a $1 million (US) bonus as the best finisher outside the Chase for the Nextel Cup drivers, winning three of the ten Chase races. By the end of the season Chevrolet had captured 23 victories, and 270 points to win the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship over Ford. The 2006 season was the first for Ford's all new Fusion, which replaced the Taurus both in NASCAR and in showrooms. Also, a new version of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, called the Monte Carlo Super Sport (SS for short) debuted on the circuit. Additionally, 2006 was the first Cup Series season since 1979 without Rusty Wallace and 1974 without Ricky Rudd, although Rudd made one appearance in relief and would return for one final year in 2007 before retiring. It was also the last season before Toyota joins the NASCAR Cup Series as a manufacturer.

ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew Chief Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 1 Martin Truex Jr. (R) Kevin Manion 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Eury Jr. Furniture Row Racing78 Kenny Wallace Joe Garone Jimmy Spencer Travis Kvapil Max Papis MB2 MotorsportsGinn Racing 01 Joe Nemechek Ryan Pemberton 14 Sterling Marlin Doug Randolph Haas CNC Racing 66 Jeff Green Harold HollyHall of Fame Racing96 Terry Labonte Phillipe LopezTony Raines Hendrick Motorsports 5 Kyle Busch Alan Gustafson 24 Jeff Gordon Steve Letarte 25 Brian Vickers Lance McGrew 48 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Joe Gibbs Racing 11 Denny Hamlin (R) Mike Ford 18 J. J. Yeley (R) Steve Addington 20 Tony Stewart Greg ZipadelliMorgan McClure Motorsports4 Scott Wimmer Chris Carrier P. J. Jones Todd Bodine Ward Burton PPI Motorsports32 Travis Kvapil James Ince Ron Fellows Richard Childress Racing 07 Clint Bowyer (R) Gil Martin 29 Kevin Harvick Todd Berrier 31 Jeff Burton Scott Miller Robby Gordon Motorsports 7 Robby Gordon Greg Erwin DodgeBAM Racing49 Brent Sherman (R) Ron OttoJimmy Spencer Mike Wallace Kevin Lepage Chris Cook Mike Bliss Bill Davis Racing 22 Dave Blaney Kevin Hamlin Chip Ganassi Racingwith Felix Sabates40 David Stremme (R) Jeff Vandermoss Scott Pruett 41 Reed Sorenson (R) Jimmy Elledge 42 Casey Mears Donnie Wingo Evernham Motorsports 9 Kasey Kahne Kenny Francis 10 Scott Riggs Rodney Childers19 Jeremy Mayfield Chris Andrews Bill Elliott Elliott Sadler Penske Racing South 2 Kurt Busch Roy McCauley 12 Ryan NewmanMatt Borland Petty Enterprises 43 Bobby Labonte Todd Parrott Greg Steadman Paul Andrews 45 Kyle Petty Paul Andrews Billy Wilburn Waltrip Jasper Racing 55 Michael Waltrip Derrick Finley Ford Robert Yates Racing38 Elliott Sadler Tommy Baldwin Jr. David Gilliland 88 Dale Jarrett Slugger Labbe Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Pat Tryson 16 Greg Biffle Doug Richert 17 Matt Kenseth Robbie Reiser 26 Jamie McMurray Jimmy Fennig/Wally Brown 99 Carl Edwards Bob Osborne Wood Brothers/JTG Racing 21 Ken Schrader David Hyder ChevroletDodgeFord Peak Fitness Racing Front Row Motorsports Randy LaJoie Wayne Hatfield Chad Chaffin (R) Chad Blount Carl Long Greg Sacks Mike Skinner Johnny Miller Joey McCarthy Brian Simo Kertus Davis Kevin Lepage 61 Kevin Lepage Greg Conner Mike Steurer Craig Osbourne Chad Chaffin (R) Brian Simo Chad Blount Ted Christopher Derrike Cope Stanton Barrett

ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew ChiefRoundsChevroletAndy Belmont Racing 59 Andy Belmont Billy Owen Braun Racing 71 Jason Leffler Todd LohseCJM Racing72 Kertus DavisDoug George Brent Sherman David GillilandDale Quarterley Mike Skinner Brandon Whitt Competitive Edge Motorsports 51 Mike Garvey Barry Haefele Cupp Motorsports 46 Carl Long Stan Hover Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 15 Paul Menard Dan Stillman Front Row Motorsports 92 Chad Chaffin (R)Teddy Brown Randy LaJoie Chad Blount Johnny Miller Haas CNC Racing 70 Johnny Sauter Bootie Barker Hendrick Motorsports 44 Terry Labonte Peter SospenzoKirk Shelmerdine Racing 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Phil Harris Tom Hubert Ted ChristopherMike Skinner MB2 Motorsports 36 Bill Elliott Frank Stoddard Michael Waltrip Racing 00 Bill Elliott Larry Carter Morgan McClure Motorsports 04 Eric McClure Danny Gill Richard Childress Racing 33 Scott Wimmer Pat Smith Stanton Barrett Racing 95 Stanton Barrett Shawn ParkerDodge Arnold Motorsports 50 Larry Foyt Buddy Sisco Bill Davis Racing23 Mike SkinnerRicky Viers Bill Lester Bobby Hamilton Racing 04 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Brandon Ash Racing 02 Brandon Ash Ed Ash Chip Ganassi Racing30 Juan Pablo Montoya Dan Kolanda Steve Boyer Rick Ware RacingStanton Barrett 52 Dan Kolanda Larry Gunselman Steve Portenga Donnie Neuenberger McGlynn Racing 74 Derrike Cope Dom Turse R&J Racing37 Chad Blount Mark Tutor Mike Skinner Carl Long David MurryBill ElliottShepherd Racing Ventures89 Morgan ShepherdDoug George Kertus Davis Team Red Bull 83 Bill ElliottRicky Viers 84 A. J. AllmendingerFord Brent Sherman Racing 04 Brent Sherman Hover Motorsports 80 Carl Long Stan Hover No Fear Racing60 Boris Said Frank Stoddard David RaganRobert Yates Racing90Stephen LeichtRaymond Fox Jr. Marc Goossens Roush Racing06 Todd KlueverFrank Stoddard David Ragan Sacks Motorsports 13 Greg Sacks ChevroletFord MBA Racing 00 Hermie Sadler Micah Horton ChevroletDodgeFord Phoenix Racing09 Mike Wallace Marc Reno Jeremy Mayfield

Several new drivers were in their first stint as regulars on the Nextel Cup circuit in 2006. After winning back to back Busch Series championships in 2004 and 2005, Martin Truex Jr. drove the No. 1 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI). Vacated by Michael Waltrip, their No. 15 car was driven by rookie Paul Menard and ran a part time schedule of only seven races. Waltrip left DEI to drive Bill Davis Racing's new No. 55 car, but ownership was transferred to the newly merged (with the old No. 77 team) Waltrip Jasper Racing to ensure that Waltrip would compete in the first five races. Despite the change, the No. 55 still received most of its equipment and crew from BDR. On January 23 in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the annual Media Tour, NASCAR announced that the Toyota Camry would be added to the series in 2007, meaning that Toyota would become the first non American car manufacturer to run in the premier series since Jaguar in the mid 1950s. Waltrip Jasper Racing and BDR became two of the first Toyota teams, although they raced Dodges. They did so without Dodge's support because BDR had raced Toyotas in the Craftsman Truck Series. The team hired Dave Blaney to take the wheel of the No. 22 Dodge. A third Toyota team, carrying the No. 83, was owned by Red Bull Energy Drink, with Brian Vickers as the driver. It was believed that they would also buy the No. 7 Jim Smith owned team driven by Robby Gordon. 1988 series champion Bill Elliott attempted three races for Red Bull in a Dodge, as the 2006 Camry was not approved for racing. He didn't make any starts in the ride, nor did former Champ Car driver A. J. Allmendinger. With Blaney's departure, the No. 07 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing was driven by Clint Bowyer. 2004 Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch replaced a retired Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 Dodge for Penske Racing. 2003 Rookie of the Year Jamie McMurray replaced Busch to drive Roush Racing's No.26 (formerly 97) Ford. In addition, Mark Martin continued his "Salute to You" tour for their No.6 car. With the egressing of both McMurray and Sterling Marlin from Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Casey Mears became the senior driver and moved to No. 42 Dodge and Reed Sorenson took over his ride in the No. 41. David Stremme replaced Marlin in the No. 40 car. Sold to resort magnate Bob Ginn during the season and formerly numbered 10, Marlin drove the No. 14 car for MB2 Motorsports and Scott Riggs took the No. 10 car to Evernham Motorsports just as they switched from Chevy to Dodge. Jeremy Mayfield and Elliott Sadler were released from Evernham Motorsports and Robert Yates Racing. Sadler drove Evernham's No. 19, and David Gilliland replaced him in RYR No. 38 car; that change took effect for the GFS Marketplace 400. Jeff Green replaced Mike Bliss in the No. 66 (formerly No. 0) car, which left Petty Enterprises' No. 43 Dodge open for former Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte to step in. His new teammate/team owner Kyle Petty brought sponsorships from Wells Fargo, NTB, and Schwan's to the No. 45 car, with Schwan's moving from the No. 49. Competitive Edge Motorsports ceased operations, and Marathon Petroleum Company sponsored Kyle Petty. J. J. Yeley took over for Labonte in JGR No. 18 Chevrolet. Denny Hamlin, after scoring three Top 10 finishes at the end of the previous season, raced full time in their newly entered No. 11 car, and he claimed rookie of the year honors, two checkered flags (both at Pocono Raceway, the first rookie to sweep both races in a single season) and third in the Championship standings. Hall of Fame Racing started operations in 2006. Two time Cup series champion Terry Labonte drove their No. 96 car for the first five races utilizing the past champions provisional rule, and Tony Raines took over at Martinsville. Labonte wound down his career "Texas Style" in the No. 44 Hendrick Motorsports second car following the Dickies 500 race in November in his home state at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished 34th. Brent Sherman took over for Ken Schrader in the No. 49 Dodge for BAM Racing, only to be replaced by Kevin Lepage, who started the season in the No. 61 (formerly No. 66) car for Peak Fitness Racing. Bliss replaced Sherman in the No. 49 as well. Front Row Motorsports hired Chad Chaffin to run for Rookie of the Year and Randy LaJoie (who was replaced by Chad Blount) to run full time in their No. 34/92 car as well as buying Peak Fitness Racing's No. 61, suspending the 92's operations. Schrader replaced Ricky Rudd in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford. Starting this season, Wood Brothers made a partnership with JTG Racing (a Busch Series and Truck Series at that time) to field the No. 21 entry and the team was renamed to Wood Brothers/JTG Racing. Scott Wimmer took Mike Wallace's place in Morgan McClure Motorsports's No. 4 Chevrolet but departed when 2002 Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton took over for him late in the season after sitting on the sidelines. Travis Kvapil moved from the Jasper team to Chevrolet for PPI Motorsports. Furniture Row Racing announced it would run full time with Kenny Wallace driving their No. 78 Chevrolet.

No. Race Title Track DateBudweiser ShootoutDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 12Gatorade DuelFebruary 161Daytona 500February 192Auto Club 500California Speedway, FontanaFebruary 263UAW DaimlerChrysler 400Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NevadaMarch 124Golden Corral 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 205Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolMarch 266DirecTV 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 27Samsung/Radio Shack 500Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthApril 98Subway Fresh 500Phoenix International Raceway, PhoenixApril 229Aaron's 499Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaMay 110Crown Royal 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMay 611Dodge Charger 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMay 13Nextel OpenLowe's Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 20Nextel All Star Challenge12Coca Cola 600May 2813Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of AmericaDover International Speedway, DoverJune 414Pocono 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJune 11153M Performance 400 presented by Post It Picture PaperMichigan International Speedway, BrooklynJune 1816Dodge/Save Mart 350Infineon Raceway, SonomaJune 2517Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 118USG Sheetrock 400Chicagoland Speedway, JolietJuly 919Lenox Industrial Tools 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 1620Pennsylvania 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJuly 2321Allstate 400 at the BrickyardIndianapolis Motor Speedway, SpeedwayAugust 622AMD at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1323GFS Marketplace 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 2024Sharpie 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2625Sony HD 500California Speedway, FontanaSeptember 326Chevy Rock & Roll 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 9 Chase for the Nextel Cup27Sylvania 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonSeptember 1728Dover 400Dover International Speedway, DoverSeptember 2429Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra FoodsKansas Speedway, Kansas CityOctober 130UAW Ford 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaOctober 831Bank of America 500Lowe's Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 1432Subway 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayOctober 2233Bass Pro Shops 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonOctober 2934Dickies 500Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthNovember 535Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by PennzoilPhoenix International Raceway, PhoenixNovember 1236Ford 400Homestead Miami Speedway, HomesteadNovember 19

No. RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBudweiser ShootoutKen SchraderKen SchraderDenny HamlinChevroletGatorade Duel 1Jeff BurtonElliott SadlerElliott SadlerFordGatorade Duel 2Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet1Daytona 500Jeff BurtonDale Earnhardt Jr. Jimmie JohnsonChevrolet2Auto Club 500Kurt BuschGreg BiffleMatt KensethFord3UAW Daimler Chrysler 400Greg BiffleMatt KensethJimmie JohnsonChevrolet4Golden Corral 500Kasey KahneGreg BiffleKasey KahneDodge5Food City 500Tony StewartTony StewartKurt BuschDodge6DirecTV 500Jimmie JohnsonTony StewartTony StewartChevrolet7Samsung/Radio Shack 500Kasey KahneTony StewartKasey KahneDodge8Subway Fresh 500Kyle BuschGreg BiffleKevin HarvickChevrolet9Aaron's 499Elliott SadlerJeff GordonJimmie JohnsonChevrolet10Crown Royal 400Greg BiffleKevin HarvickDale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet11Dodge Charger 500Kasey KahneGreg BiffleGreg BiffleFordNextel OpenScott RiggsScott RiggsScott RiggsDodgeNextel All Star ChallengeKasey KahneJimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonChevrolet12Coca Cola 600Scott RiggsKasey KahneKasey KahneDodge13Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of AmericaRyan NewmanJamie McMurrayMatt KensethFord14Pocono 500Denny HamlinDenny HamlinDenny HamlinChevrolet153M Performance 400 presented by Post It Picture PaperKasey KahneJeff GordonKasey KahneDodge16Dodge/Save Mart 350Kurt BuschJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet17Pepsi 400Boris SaidTony StewartTony StewartChevrolet18USG Sheetrock 400Jeff BurtonMatt KensethJeff GordonChevrolet19Lenox Industrial Tools 300Ryan NewmanKyle BuschKyle BuschChevrolet20Pennsylvania 500Denny HamlinDenny HamlinDenny HamlinChevrolet21Allstate 400 at the BrickyardJeff BurtonJeff BurtonJimmie JohnsonChevrolet22AMD at the GlenKurt BuschKurt BuschKevin HarvickChevrolet23GFS Marketplace 400Jeff BurtonMatt KensethMatt KensethFord24Sharpie 500Kurt BuschJeff BurtonMatt KensethFord25Sony HD 500Kurt BuschKasey KahneKasey KahneDodge26Chevy Rock & Roll 400Denny HamlinKyle BuschKevin HarvickChevrolet27Sylvania 300Kevin HarvickKevin HarvickKevin HarvickChevrolet28Dover 400Jeff GordonMatt KensethJeff BurtonChevrolet29Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra FoodsKasey KahneJimmie JohnsonTony StewartChevrolet30UAW Ford 500David GillilandDale Earnhardt Jr. Brian VickersChevrolet31Bank of America 500Scott RiggsKasey KahneKasey KahneDodge32Subway 500Kurt BuschJimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonChevrolet33Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500Matt KensethTony StewartTony StewartChevrolet34Dickies 500Brian VickersTony StewartTony StewartChevrolet35Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by PennzoilJeff GordonKevin HarvickKevin HarvickChevrolet36Ford 400Kasey KahneKasey KahneGreg BiffleFord
NOTE: An asterisk (*) in each Top Ten finish denotes a rookie driver.

This non points race, which involved the previous season's pole winners and past Shootout winners, was held February 12, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway after a postponement of one day due to rain, and in a major upset, rookie Denny Hamlin won the event. Even though he was classified as a rookie, Hamlin had qualified by winning the pole position for the Checker Auto Parts 500 held November 13, 2005 in Phoenix. Hamlin drove in only 7 Nextel Cup races in 2005.

Jeff Burton won the pole for the race with a speed of over 189 mph, and would start alongside Jeff Gordon in an all Chevy front row. Gordon would win the second Gatorade Duel (his third career victory in a Daytona qualifying race) after Elliott Sadler won in race 1, which was delayed by showers.

The weather dawned cloudy and cold for the 48th running of the "Great American Race", when Jeff Burton led the field to the green at 2:45 pm, which at the time was the latest scheduled start in the history of the race (the reason for this was that NBC chose it as its lead in program to the primetime portion of its day's coverage of the Winter Olympic Games from Turin). There were several lead changes in the early part of the race going, with a race record of 32. The first caution flew on lap 18 when Martin Truex Jr. hit the wall. During this caution, Burton was passed by Elliott Sadler for the lead a lap later. The race restarted on lap 20 and 4 laps later, Jeff Gordon took the led away from Sadler. Carl Edwards, a popular "dark horse candidate" for the Nextel Cup championship, had his day end early, as he was involved in a five car pileup on lap 80 that collected Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty, Jeff Green, J. J. Yeley and Joe Nemechek. This was the biggest crash of the day, since the "Big One" never occurred. This would also bring out the third caution flag. Because of this, Edwards finished 43rd. Tony Stewart was a "magnet for controversy", tangling with Jeff Gordon on lap 48 and Matt Kenseth on lap 106. The first incident (which left debris on the track) brought out the second caution, which ended when the race restarted four laps later, and the second one would bring out the fifth caution. Stewart was penalized for aggressive driving after the incident with Kenseth, in which he blocked the No.17 car into the grass, causing it to spin and hit the wall in turn 3. Kenseth took matters into his own hands and was black flagged for hitting Stewart's car in retaliation on pit road. The three drivers involved in these two incidents would repair their cars and get back into contention. Kenseth at first failed to answer the black flag, which resulted in NASCAR no longer continuing to score the 17 car for 1 lap. Kenseth would make up the lost lap and catch up to lead lap traffic. Jimmie Johnson had one of the strongest cars all day. He took the lead with 10 laps to go just as the ninth caution flag came out for an crash involving Gordon, Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray, and Sterling Marlin. This set up a 10 lap battle for the win. The race was extended into "overtime" when McMurray and Burton collided on lap 197, bringing out yet the 10th caution. The green white checkered finish ended when Casey Mears and Ryan Newman battled for second, leaving Johnson to take the victory. The race ended under caution when Greg Biffle crashed in turn 4, just before Johnson crossed the line. The 48th running of the Daytona 500 was the first win for the No. 48 car on a restrictor plate track. This was also Johnson's 19th career win and his first during his streak of five consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships from 2006 to 2010. One surprise of this race was Kirk Shelmerdine, who finished 20th. He had barely qualified for the Daytona 500 and his independently owned No. 27 was fielded with a car that had a borrowed engine and donated tires, as well as a team with a volunteer pit crew. Top Ten Results: (Race distance extended to 203 laps/507.5 miles due to green white checkered rule.) No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
No. 42 Casey Mears
No. 12 Ryan Newman
No. 38 Elliott Sadler
No. 20 Tony Stewart
No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
No. 25 Brian Vickers
No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No. 21 Ken Schrader
No. 88 Dale Jarrett

Failed to qualify: Scott Riggs (No. 10), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Scott Wimmer (No. 4), Mike Skinner (No. 23), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Larry Gunselman (No. 52), Chad Blount (No. 37), Larry Foyt (No. 50), Andy Belmont (No. 59), Randy LaJoie (No. 64), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Chad Chaffin (No. 92), Carl Long (No. 80), Paul Menard (No. 15), Stanton Barrett (No. 95)

Clint Bowyer scored a top 10 finish in his first full time Nextel Cup race. As of 2022, this was the final Daytona 500 televised by NBC. The NASCAR TV deal for 2001 through 2006 allowed for FOX and NBC to rotate the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400 every year. FOX would broadcast the Daytona 500 on odd numbered years, and NBC would broadcast the race on even numbered years. FOX would televise every Daytona 500 after the new broadcast rights deal went into effect in 2007. As of 2023, 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. has made every start at this point.

Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Chevrolet (Richard Childress Racing)
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Chevrolet (Joe Gibbs Racing) winner of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award
David Stremme, No. 40 Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)
Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Chevrolet (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.)
Brent Sherman, released from No. 49 Dodge (BAM Racing)
Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)
J. J. Yeley, No. 18 Chevrolet (Joe Gibbs Racing)

The battle for ROTY was not expected to be fierce, as many predicted that two time Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. would handily win the award, and possibly be a Chase contender. However, this was not to be as Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin shocked the NASCAR world the previous year by winning his first career pole at Phoenix while driving a part time schedule. Hamlin again got everyone's attention by not only having won the Bud Shootout in his first attempt, but became the first rookie to sweep a racetrack (Pocono Raceway) since Jimmie Johnson accomplished that same feat at Dover. As Hamlin ran away with ROTY, his other competitors had up and down years. Although Clint Bowyer scored a surprising Top 10 finish at Daytona, he was not a factor. Hamlin's teammate, J. J. Yeley struggled mightily. Ganassi rookie Reed Sorenson had an up and down year, scoring his first top five at Michigan but was plagued by bad breaks. David Stremme was constantly fighting to stay within the top 35 in owners points throughout the year, and Brent Sherman was released from his ride with BAM Racing 1/3 into the year. So Denny Hamlin won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award.

Until March 6, 2006, NASCAR was without a recognized Hall of Fame. Charlotte, North Carolina, where most NASCAR teams are based near, was chosen as the location over six other candidates, which included Atlanta, Georgia; Talladega, Alabama; Kansas City, Kansas; Detroit, Michigan; Richmond, Virginia and Daytona Beach, Florida. The NASCAR Hall of Fame opened in 2010.

The 2006 season marked the final year of television contracts with Fox / FX / Speed and NBC / TNT. NBC aired the Daytona 500 to officially start the season on February 19, with Fox/FX picking up coverage the following week in California up to the Pepsi 400 July 1. For 2007, Fox and TNT began new eight year contracts while ESPN / ABC joined in, taking over for NBC.