2004 Nextel Cup Preview

25 UAW is out as the primary sponsor here, but when you are Rick Hendrick and have a gazillion car dealerships, companies like GMAC Financial Services are going to be happy to jump on board to support the latest young gun, Brian Vickers-which is exactly what is happening here in 2004. BGN standout Vickers and his stablemate Kyle Busch (taking over Vicker's BGN ride) have Hendrick Motorsports loaded up with talent for the time when Jeff Gordon retires and Jimmy Johnson becomes the vet of the bunch.

29 It took Kevin Harvick just a couple of weeks to win his first race as Dale Earnhardt's replacement and nearly two years to start acting like him. Harvick's take-no-prisoners style of racing has made him one of the bad boys of the series, a role that seems to fit this cocky Californian perfectly. While NASCAR may publicly call out guys like Harvick, Kurt Busch, and Jimmy Spencer on occasion, they secretly love the whole villain mantra because it sells tickets. Look for Harvick and long-time sponsor GM Goodwrench to keep those NASCAR turnstiles spinning in 2004.

30 In having the "we don't want to play nice twins" in Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon under his wing, team owner Richard Childress has to be looking for some balance in replacing the departed Steve Park. Mayfield was rumored to be the top candidate to take control of the mouse on the America On Line Chevy in 2004, but Johnny Benson's stock may be on the rise here after being shut out from the 10, and Mayfield's staying put in the 19.

31 The Day-Glo orange color of Robby Gordon's Cingular Wireless car is perfect for the other drivers on the circuit. You can see it coming from a long way off, so you have plenty of time to get out of the way. Look for this combo to drive around, over, and through the competition again in 2004.

32 Ricky Craven's last lap, wall and fender banging win over Kurt Busch at Darlington last spring will go down as one of NASCAR's greatest finishes ever. Unfortunately, that was of the few highlights for this team in 2003, and it is actively searching for funding for a second team car. No change of sponsorship on the 32 as Tide, along with Craven, re-upped through the '06 season in October. With Pontiac gone, they'll be fielding Chevys from now on.

38 About the only notoriety Elliott Sadler could claim for his first season at Robert Yates Racing is that he had some of the ugliest paint jobs and toughest crashes in the history of the sport. Yates' prodigal son, Todd Parrott, was rehired as Sadler's crewchief in August 2003 in hopes of turning things around. Meanwhile, Sadler and M&M's return this season, hopefully with a new graphic designer.

40 Sterling Marlin had flashes last season of the '02 form that had him leading the championship standings before an injury cut short his title run. Look for Marlin, with top resources from Coors Light and Ganassi Racing, to give his Dodge a better run in 2004 in what is said to be the last year for the Intrepid body style before a switch to an all new Charger or Daytona nameplate in 2005.

41 Casey Mears won't be as busy in 2004 after a full schedule of Cup, Busch, and ARCA events in an effort to gain experience in 2003. With Ganassi engineering and solid sponsorship from Target, Mears could be a surprise breakout driver in 2004.

42 Jamie McMurray completes the Chip Ganassi triumvirate of drivers after completing what was basically his rookie year in Cup in 2003 with a strong showing. McMurray, Marlin, and Mears give Ganassi one of the most interesting mixes of old and new drivers in the series, a combination that along with Ganassi's considerable resources, could provide plenty of wins in 2004.

43 It was painful to watch Richard Petty's famed No. 43 flail away aimlessly throughout the '03 NASCAR season. First John Andretti, later Christian Fittipaldi, and then Jeff Green took turns wadding up the Petty Blue Dodges. Cheerios returns for the '04 season, but you have to wonder why.

45 Whatever Kyle Petty is doing in his role of running Petty Enterprises, it isn't working. A provisional afterthought in most races, Petty and his No. 45 Dodge will return again in 2004, and again we can't imagine why. Kyle and the rest of this group need to get interested in competing again if there is going to be any change here.

48 Jimmy Johnson, a Chevrolet corporate spokesperson since the age of 15, will continue to be one of the winning standard bearers for the Bowtie Brigade in 2004. With bountiful resources from Hendrick Motorsports, sponsorship from Lowe's, and coaching from Jeff Gordon, this guy has all the right ingredients to be at the front table in New York come December 2004.