Two of the best rides available for the 2006 season are the #6 Roush Racing car being left by the retiring Mark Martin and the #2 Penske Racing ride that Rusty Wallace is retiring from. It is unusual that a top quality ride like this would become available, let alone two at the same time. Both Mark and Rusty are looking like honest Championship contenders as they are both currently in the top 5 in points.
The scramble to fill those prime seats has provided some unprecedented Silly Season fun as Jamie McMurray announced that he has signed to replace Mark Martin in the #6 car, but not until 2007. Similarly Kurt Busch announced that he has signed on to drive the #2 for the 2007 season.
These announcements leave their team owners in a lurch. There currently is a shortage of quality drivers at the NEXTEL Cup level so they'd both like to keep their drivers through the 2006 season, but would a major sponsor want to pour millions of dollars into a name that they know is leaving? Will the driver and team truly be able to pump 110 percent of their effort into a lame duck ride? It is a bad situation all around.
