Post by dalejrfan on Dec 5, 2005 23:33:57 GMT -5
No. 18: Jeff Burton
2005 Stats: 0 Bud Poles, 0 wins, 3 top-fives, 6 top-10s
The good: Burton had three top-fives, including a second-place finish at Bristol in Augist. He closed the 2005 season with four top-15 finishes in the final six races.
The bad: Despite Burton's string of consistency to finish the season, he led only seven laps the entire year and had an average finish of 19.56. He finished 18th in the standings for the second consecutive season.
No. 19: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2005 Stats: 0 Bud Poles, 1 win, 7 top-fives, 13 top-10s
The good: Earnhardt Jr. won at Chicagoland in July and by season's end, he and the reunited No. 8 came closer to discovering the magic that made them championship contenders in 2004.
The bad: After Junior and Michael Waltrip essentially swapped teams at the start of 2005, Tony Eury and Tony Eury Jr., members of Earnhardt's team since the Busch Series days, refused to communicate with new crew chief Pete Rondeau and the new No. 8 team, starting a downward spiral from which the team was never truly able to recover from.
No. 20: Kyle Busch
2005 Stats: 1 Bud Pole, 2 wins, 9 top-fives, 13 top-10s
The good: In his first year, Busch had nine top-five finishes, more than veterans Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman or Rusty Wallace. He claimed victories at California and Phoenix and was named rookie of the year.
The bad: To go with his nine top-fives, Busch had eight DNFs on the season. He was also criticized following his Phoenix win after voicing his support for brother Kurt, who was suspended for the season's final two races.
2005 Stats: 0 Bud Poles, 0 wins, 3 top-fives, 6 top-10s
The good: Burton had three top-fives, including a second-place finish at Bristol in Augist. He closed the 2005 season with four top-15 finishes in the final six races.
The bad: Despite Burton's string of consistency to finish the season, he led only seven laps the entire year and had an average finish of 19.56. He finished 18th in the standings for the second consecutive season.
No. 19: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2005 Stats: 0 Bud Poles, 1 win, 7 top-fives, 13 top-10s
The good: Earnhardt Jr. won at Chicagoland in July and by season's end, he and the reunited No. 8 came closer to discovering the magic that made them championship contenders in 2004.
The bad: After Junior and Michael Waltrip essentially swapped teams at the start of 2005, Tony Eury and Tony Eury Jr., members of Earnhardt's team since the Busch Series days, refused to communicate with new crew chief Pete Rondeau and the new No. 8 team, starting a downward spiral from which the team was never truly able to recover from.
No. 20: Kyle Busch
2005 Stats: 1 Bud Pole, 2 wins, 9 top-fives, 13 top-10s
The good: In his first year, Busch had nine top-five finishes, more than veterans Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman or Rusty Wallace. He claimed victories at California and Phoenix and was named rookie of the year.
The bad: To go with his nine top-fives, Busch had eight DNFs on the season. He was also criticized following his Phoenix win after voicing his support for brother Kurt, who was suspended for the season's final two races.