2006 NASCAR Busch Series

file:CarlEdwardsAugust2007.jpg|thumb|Carl Edwards, pictured in 2007, finished second in the standings.
file:No. 88 NASCAR Navy Showcar.jpg|thumb|Chevy, 2007 car shown, won the manufacturer's championship.
The 2006 NASCAR Busch Series opened on February 18, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway, and concluded on November 18, 2006, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kevin Harvick, driving for his own team, Kevin Harvick, Inc., as well as for Richard Childress Racing, was declared champion.
This was the Final Season that Fox Sports/FX, TNT, and NBC covered the Busch Series. Starting in 2007, as part of a new TV contract with the television networks of The Walt Disney Company, ESPN2 televised the entire Busch season with select races on ABC.

Invasion of the "Busch Whackers"

There has been some controversy of the use of NEXTEL Cup teams with their drivers in Busch Series races, most notably at NEXTEL Cup tracks where there are Busch Series support races. This has been dubbed by Fox Sports announcer Mike Joy as "Busch Whacking", and many underfunded teams have failed to qualify for these races because of this. Out of the 35 races that were run in the 2006 Busch Series season, 33 of those races were won by NEXTEL Cup Series drivers. The only 2 non-NEXTEL Cup Series drivers that won Busch Series races in 2006 were David Gilliland at Kentucky and Paul Menard at Milwaukee. The 2006 season has been notable for those "double duty" drivers even traveling to sites where there are stand-alone races at Nashville Superspeedway, Kentucky Speedway, Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez and Milwaukee Mile just to name a few, even on the rare weeks where there are no NEXTEL Cup races. Kentucky was the big upset where one of the underfunded one-car teams took advantage and pulled off the big upset.
In the end, Kevin Harvick, who at the time drove for Richard Childress Racing in the Cup series, won the 2006 championship on October 13, the second of his career having previously won in 2001. After Harvick won the title, talk began about limiting the number of "Busch Whackers" in each race or capping the double-dippers appearances for the entire season or even having a "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" playoff system in place for the 2007 season since Harvick was so dominant during 2006 as NEXTEL Cup drivers won every race but two in the season. Ultimately, no changes were made until 2011, where NASCAR announced that Cup drivers could only run for points in one series. A limit over the number of races Cup drivers could run was not put into effect until over a decade later in 2017. The Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity Series did not have a playoffs until 2016, ten years later.

Races

Hershey's Kissables 300

The Hershey's Kissables 300 race was held on February 18, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway. J. J. Yeley won the pole.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Kertus Davis, Jay Sauter, Kevin Lepage, Chad Chaffin, Larry Hollenbeck, Chris Wimmer.

Stater Brothers 300

On February 25, 2006, the Busch Series took to California Speedway for this 300-mile race. Carl Edwards was the polesitter.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope, Chris Wimmer, David Gilliland.

Matt Kenseth suffered a 25-point penalty for an unapproved adjustment found in his car during opening day inspection.

Telcel-Motorola 200

This road-course race took place on March 5, 2006 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico. Boris Said won the pole.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Eduardo Goeters, Stan Silva Jr., and Chris Wimmer.

This was Hamlin's first career Busch Series victory.

Sam's Town 300

On March 11, 2006, the Busch Series raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Matt Kenseth started from the pole position.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Jorge Goeters, Kertus Davis, Chris Wimmer.

Spencer Clark made his only career Busch Series start in this race. He would pass away two months later.

Nicorette 300

The Nicorette 300 was held on March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch was the polesitter.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Jorge Goeters, Steadman Marlin, Chris Wimmer

Sharpie Mini 300

This race was held on March 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Qualifying was snowed out and the field was set by current owner points. As a result, Kevin Harvick started from pole. The race was also halted by snow and drivers, crews, and fans amused themselves by throwing snowballs and building a snowman. The race was restarted after a 90-minute delay and run full-distance.
Top Ten results

Failed to qualify: Caleb Holman, Brad Teague, Jerry Robertson, Shane Hall

O'Reilly 300

This race was held on April 8 at Texas Motor Speedway. Denny Hamlin won the pole, the first of his Busch series career. The race finished under a green-white-checker finish.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Kertus Davis, Jorge Goeters, Chris Wimmer

This was Kurt Busch's first career Busch Series victory, coming in his first Busch Series start. Busch was the last driver to accomplish this feat until Ty Gibbs in 2022.
Matt Kenseth suffered a 25-point penalty for an unapproved adjustment to his car found in post-race inspection.

Pepsi 300

This race was on held April 15 at Nashville Superspeedway. Denny Hamlin won his second pole in a row.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Jason White

Bashas' Supermarkets 200

This race was held April 21 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jason Leffler won the pole. The race finished under a green-white-checker finish as Kevin Harvick won his second race in a row.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Jay Sauter, Chris Cook, Jorge Goeters, and Marc Mitchell.

Aaron's 312

This race was held April 29 at Talladega Superspeedway. J. J. Yeley won the pole.
Top ten results

As there were the maximum of forty-three cars to race, there were no drivers or teams that failed to qualify.

Tony Stewart flipped during the race when Stewart was turned by Kenny Wallace.
Kevin Harvick, Burney Lamar, who finished 20th, and Tony Stewart, who finished 39th, all suffered 25 point penalties for unapproved adjustments to their cars.

Circuit City 250

This race was held May 5 and May 6 at Richmond International Raceway. Jason Leffler won the pole. The race start was delayed approximately 1 hour for rain, after 13 laps rain fell again and the race was stopped for approximately another 43 minutes. The race eventually finished after midnight local time, resulting in the race occurring over two days. Kevin Harvick won his third Busch race of the year.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Jason Keller, Jorge Goeters, Shane Hall, Kevin Conway, Joel Kauffman, Kertus Davis, A. J. Foyt IV

Diamond Hill Plywood 200

This race was held May 12 at Darlington Raceway. Denny Hamlin won from the pole.

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope, Morgan Shepherd, Shane Hall, Caleb Holman

Carquest Auto Parts 300

This race was held May 27 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Matt Kenseth won the pole.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Aaron Fike, David Gilliland, Stanton Barrett, Joel Kauffman, Eric McClure, Kevin Conway, Kertus Davis

Stonebridgeracing.com 200

This race was held June 3 at Dover International Speedway. Qualifying was rained out, and the field was set by the rulebook, with the top 30 teams taking the first fifteen rows. Because of that, Kevin Harvick was awarded the pole position.
Top ten results:

As there were the maximum of forty-three cars needed to race, no drivers or teams failed to qualify.

Federated Auto Parts 300

This race was held June 10 at Nashville Superspeedway. Todd Kluever won the pole.
top ten results

Failed to qualify: Jerry Robertson, John Hayden

Meijer 300

This race was held June 17 at Kentucky Speedway. Denny Hamlin won the pole. In a stunning upset, David Gilliland became the first winner in the 2006 season that was not on a team with a Nextel Cup driver. Jeff Fuller was involved in a severe crash where, trying to avoid the spinning car of Jason Leffler, Fuller hit the inside wall at full speed, and the car practically imploded on impact. Fuller suffered a broken wrist and thumb. Later in the race on lap 140, a fire alarm went off in the FX broadcasting booth, with lead broadcaster Phil Parsons jokingly stating there was "nothing to be alarmed about".
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: John Hayden, David Odell, Stan Boyd

Gilliland's victory came in his seventh career Busch Series start, with a prior best finish of 29th.
Gilliland's victory, along with Paul Menard's victory next week at Milwaukee, were the only races in 2006 to be won by non-full-time Cup Series drivers.

AT&T 250

This race was held June 24 at The Milwaukee Mile. Aric Almirola won the pole in the car normally driven by Denny Hamlin who actually drove the race in the car and started from the back. As a result, Paul Menard started the race from the pole position.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: none

This was Menard's first Busch Series victory.
Menard's victory was only one all season by a full-time Busch Series driver who wasn't also full-time in the Cup Series.
Kevin Harvick was involved in a late-race wreck and finished 19th, his lowest-finishing race result in 2006.
Only 41 cars started the race, instead of the usual 43.

Winn-Dixie 250

The Winn-Dixie 250 was held June 30 at Daytona International Speedway. J. J. Yeley won the pole.
Top ten results:

As there were the maximum of forty-three cars needed to race, no drivers or teams failed to qualify.

Kevin Harvick and Burney Lamar, who finished 22nd, suffered 50 point penalties for unapproved adjustments found on their cars during post-race inspection.
This was the final Busch Series race to be broadcast on FOX until 2015.

USG Durock 300

This race was held on July 8 at Chicagoland Speedway. Carl Edwards won the pole.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope, Justin Diercks, Carl Long

This was Mears' first career NASCAR victory, which he won using an alternate fuel strategy.

New England 200

The New England 200 was held July 15 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kyle Busch won the pole. Clint Bowyer dominated early in the race but Carl Edwards captured the victory.
Top ten results:

As there were the maximum of forty-three cars needed to race, no drivers or teams failed to qualify.

Aaron Fike was black-flagged on lap 60 for intentionally throwing his glove on the track to cause a caution.

Goody's 250

The Goody's 250 was held July 22 at Martinsville Speedway. Clint Bowyer won the pole.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Richard Landreth

This was the first Busch Series race held at Martinsville since October 1994.
Darrell Waltrip and Ricky Craven both made their final career NASCAR starts in this race. Waltrip finished 28th while Craven finished 39th. This was also Waltrip's first Busch Series start since 1995.

Busch Silver Celebration 250

The Busch Silver Celebration 250 was held July 29 at Gateway International Raceway. Denny Hamlin won the pole.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Brad Teague, Shane Hall, Kevin Hamlin

Tim Sauter, who finished 22nd, suffered a 50-point penalty for illegal shocks found on his car during post-race inspection.

Kroger 200

The Kroger 200 was held August 5 at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Denny Hamlin won his second pole in a row for the second time in 2006.
Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Todd Shafer

Zippo 200

This race was held August 12 at Watkins Glen International. Kurt Busch won the race from the pole. Kurt Busch and Robby Gordon cut off track several times to duel on the final lap.
Top ten results: 202.45 miles/83 laps due to green-white-checkered rule.

Failed to qualify: Stan Silva Jr., Eduardo Troconis, John Finger

Carfax 250

This race was held August 19 at Michigan International Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results: 128 laps/256 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.

Failed to qualify: Jerry Robertson, Dexter Bean

Earnhardt's victory came under controversy after he spun Carl Edwards out of the race lead with two laps to go.
Final Busch Series win for DEI.

Food City 250

This race was held August 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Carl Long, Caleb Holman, D. J. Kennington, Brad Keselowski

Ameriquest 300

This race was held September 2 at California Speedway. Clint Bowyer won the pole.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope

Brad Keselowski made his Busch Series debut in this race, driving the #23 Chevy for Keith Coleman Racing. Keselowski started 32nd, and finished 37th.

Emerson Radio 250

This race was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Burton won the pole.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Chris Cook, Hermie Sadler, Justin Diercks, Josh Krug, Shane Hall

Dover 200

This race was held September 23 at Dover International Speedway. Scott Riggs won the pole. Clint Bowyer held off Matt Kenseth in a green-white-checker finish.
Top ten results:

As there were the maximum of forty-three cars needed to race, no drivers or teams failed to qualify.

Yellow Transportation 300

The Yellow Transportation 300 was held September 30 at Kansas Speedway. Matt Kenseth won the pole.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Randy LaJoie, Steadman Marlin

With this victory, Harvick extended his points lead to 729 points over 2nd-place Carl Edwards, giving him a near four-race long lead in the championship, since the maximum amount of points that can be earned in a race is 190. Harvick could mathematically win the championship next week at Charlotte if he scores at least 32 more points than Edwards.

Dollar General 300

This race was held October 13 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards started from the pole. Kevin Harvick, despite failing to finish on the lead lap for the only time in the 2006 season, clinched the Busch Series Championship following a wreck involving second-place driver Carl Edwards and Casey Mears on lap 199 of a scheduled 200-lap race.
Top ten results: 203 laps/304.5 miles due to the green-white-checker rule

Failed to qualify: Tim Sauter, Kertus Davis, Robert Richardson Jr., Eric McClure, Derrike Cope

This would be Blaney's first and only career Busch Series victory.
Harvick locked-up the championship with four races remaining, making it the earliest championship victory in a season in NASCAR history.
Edwards crashing out allowed Harvick to extend his points lead to 775 points ahead of 2nd-place with four races left, enough to mathematically win the title since the maximum amount of points earned in four races is 760.

Sam's Town 250

This race was held October 28 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Johnny Sauter won the pole.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Ron Young, Stanton Barrett, Chris Wimmer, Shane Hall, Richard Landreth, Chuck Barnes Jr., Brett Rowe

Juan Pablo Montoya made his NASCAR debut in this race, starting 9th and finishing 11th.

O'Reilly Challenge

This race was held on November 4 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.Former series champion Randy LaJoie.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Justin Diercks, Robert Richardson Jr., Jerry Robertson, Derrike Cope, Jorge Goeters

Former series champion Randy LaJoie made his final career NASCAR start in this race, starting 43rd and finishing 41st.

Arizona.Travel 200

The Arizona.Travel 200 was held November 11 at Phoenix International Raceway. Matt Kenseth won the race from the pole.
Top ten results: 203 miles/203 laps due to green-white-checkered rule.

Failed to qualify: Mike Skinner, D. J. Kennington, Shane Hall, Josh Krug

2006 IndyCar champion Sam Hornish Jr. made his NASCAR debut in this race.
This was the last Busch Series race to air on NBC until 2015.

Ford 300

The Ford 300 was held November 18 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole.
Top ten results:

Failed to qualify: Robert Richardson Jr., Justin Diercks, D. J. Kennington, Kertus Davis, Kraig Kinser, Dawayne Bryan, Morgan Shepherd, Trevor Boys, Brett Rowe

This was the final Busch Series broadcast on TNT, as ESPN/ABC took over exclusive rights for the series from 2007-2014.

Final standings

Full Drivers' Championship

Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

	Driver	DAY	CAL	MXC	LVS	ATL	BRI	TEX	NSH	PHO	TAL	RCH	DAR	CLT	DOV	NSH	KEN	MIL	DAY	CHI	NHA	MAR	GTY	IRP	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH	DOV	KAN	CLT	MEM	TEX	PHO	HOM
1	Kevin Harvick	5	8	3	3*	11	2*	8	1	1	2	1	7	8	13	3	6	19	3	4	2	1*	5	1*	7	8	2	2	1*	3	1	9	1	1*	2	6	5648
2	Carl Edwards	39	3	8	5	24	5	43	5	3	10	6	8	1	2*	1*	36	21	5	2	1	6	1	10	27	23	8	12	9	26	6	27*	3	7	5	2	4824
3	Clint Bowyer	3	16	16	9	14	12	18	2	21	5	7	17	36	4	2	12	18	6	7	5*	2	2	40	16	12	23	13	37	1	5	7	2	17	4	11	4683
4	Denny Hamlin	14	10	1*	6	38	4	10	3*	39	30	10	1	29	7	4	3	2	30	14	3	3	3*	6	12	6	22	15	6	40	33	8	6	8	3	4	4667
5	J. J. Yeley	8	7	4	8	5	29	42	4	11	34	31	9	3	9	16	2	3	4	10	8	9	37	3	11	9	12	40	13	9	11	32	10	6	6	5	4487
6	Paul Menard	38	17	5	20	10	16	7	9	17	9	8	13	24	35	5	9	1*	37	39	4	12	35	9	18	25	10	4	4	37	10	13	23	27	37	3	4075
7	Kyle Busch	25	23	7	19	40	1	4	30	12	3	9	6	23	6	31	13*	24	16	42	16	20	8	21	37	14	7	11	12	7	3	12		32	10	41	3921
8	Johnny Sauter	35	13	6	15	12	10	14	27	36	8	11	34	11	21	14	32	9	21	17	6	5	18	42	19	35	11	31	15	24	35	6	4*	35	11	10	3794
9	Greg Biffle	31	1*		4	3	28	2		6	6	4	5	12	8	7	7		9	24	10	17		4	4	43	37	23	2	8	8	41		23	12	38	3789
10	Reed Sorenson	9	11	36	10	42	27	13	19	2	17	36	23	21	10	23	39		40	8	17	4	4	2	28	7	42	19	5	6	7	38	7	36	7	42	3670
11	Kenny Wallace	13	34	19	32	19	8	27	8	28	13	23	16	13	16	11	20	8	14	29	27	13	9	20	31	18	29	36	24	14	22	19	14	16	31	26	3626
12	John Andretti '	34	19	23	42	20	9	19	28	34	16	19	15	17	19	18	15	12	10	25	18	7	26	27	5	30	14	29	16	19	23	25	35	15	25	16	3562
13	Jason Leffler	6	22	17	11	6	32	17	35	22*	18	24	10	18	34	43	40	4	18	19	14	8	33	19	35	13	5	24	20	5	31	28	34	43	14	19	3554
14	Jon Wood	4	18	27	14	13	17	26	6	23	19	38	33	37	40	8	22	14	34	21	20	21	15	14	29	36	28	8	25	38	15	23	29	12	38	18	3381
15	Ashton Lewis	12	29	13	13	17	30	38	11	20	33	26	20	28	42	9	5	16	17	35	24	27	16	22	33	39	18	5	31	25	14	11	37	25	24	20	3376
16	Stacy Compton	27	24	43	33	27	14	22	20	26	26	37	14	30	12	19	24	6	20	20	25	15	17	12	30	41	16	18	34	20	34	3	24	22	22	17	3339
17	Todd Kluever '	7	12	32	21	18	34	21	32	42	27	22	32	9	18	17	17	23	25	18	13	30	13	24	38	37	39	27	36	13	37	18	16	10	18	9	3304
18	Matt Kenseth		6		2	4	3	5		7		3	2*	38*	26					5						4	1	7	3	2	2*	4		26	1*	1*	3221
19		18	31	26	25	25	11	32	14	14	38	20	38	22	24	10	23	7	41	31	29	22	24	6	25	20	26		14		18	5	9	30	32	35	3163
20	Regan Smith	26	28	25	22	21	38	34	13	27	37	21	19	10	39	35	16	22	15	28	35	14	23	11	23	31	19	28	26	17	19	37	21	20	29	31	3136
21	Jay Sauter	DNQ	41	24	34	29	23	40	18	DNQ	15	17	40	39	20	13	29	11	36	27	19	10	11	7	26	26	43	10	17	31	29	40	26	39	17	30	2879
22	Burney Lamar '	2	21	18	26	8	20	39	7	19	20	27	21	26	32	12	19	35	22	23		23	12	16	20	38	24	14	33	39			38				2710
23	David Green	37	20	35	29	36	25	16	29	9	24	12	24	14	17	21	21	17	23	22	22	31	7	28	15	32	21	26									2573
24	Mike Wallace									18	12	13	41	34	14		4	5	7		12	11	29	13			15	34	19	22	28	29	18	13	19	25	2479
25	Jamie McMurray	16	5	10	7	9		15		10	36		3	43					11	40	32				3		30	17	11	4		31			15		2297
26	Michael Waltrip	15	26	40	24	22	26	25	10	13	14	25		20	31				38	11	23				13	17				10		2			39		2126
27	Tim Sauter	19	25	30	41	31	21	37	36	24	21	39	37	27	28	24	28	27	24	33	26	19	22	33			34		35	28	25	DNQ	31				2109
28	Jeff Burton	30	4			1*		6				2		6	1					3	21			5		10	33		40		40	35		3			2040
29	Scott Wimmer		14					9				16	26	25	15			29	33		9		6			42	17	25	8	11		21		11	42	15	2002
30	Mark McFarland '	22	30	15	27	15	31	23	33	16	7	34	18	33	30	22	26	33			11	16	25	17													1975
31	Kasey Kahne	33			1	2		11				40*	11	16	22				35	30							4	1			16	43	8	24		8	1954
32	Stephen Leicht '				18			20			31		25				10	13	26		33		38		36	33	35	33		23	12	14	19	19	27	27	1790
33	Auggie Vidovich														29	33	34	15		32	28	25	21	34	21	28	32	43	27	27	20	33	15	38	33	32	1628
34	David Reutimann	29							34				22			6	8	10					14	36			9	20	39		13	20		14		12	1598
35	Ron Hornaday Jr.						7		17	35		14			5			20				24	20	23			3		41					5	9	36	1536
36	Steve Wallace						33		12			28			38	15	11	25				35	31	30		24				21	24		20	31	16	22	1528
37	Tony Stewart	1			12						39		29	42					12	9						11		6			4	16		2			1461
38	Casey Mears		40			16		3		8				4						1						2		16				26					1200
39	Kurt Busch							1*		4				2	3					6*					1*	21*											1160
40	Kertus Davis	DNQ	42		DNQ	35	40	DNQ	43	41	32	DNQ	42	DNQ	27			36	31	34	31	42	39			40	38	35	42	41	36	DNQ	QL	37	40	DNQ	1119
41	Jason Keller	11	15	22	16	23	15	28	16			DNQ												15									12				1116
42	Brian Vickers	32	9			7					4		12						2							16										13	1062
43	Aaron Fike	43	36	28	40	26	18	31	15	31	23	35	43	DNQ		42	31				30																1004
44	Mark Martin							24		5			4	32												5		3*						4			973
45	Mark Green	10	43		31	28	22	33	38	15	28	15	27				QL																QL				934
46	Mike Skinner														25	26								18		29	13		32			10		21	DNQ	24	874
47	Dave Blaney													15						13	15				40				7	16		1					854
48	Scott Riggs						6			37	11										7					19			10	12							850
49	Shane Huffman																						27				31		22	36	21	39	5	42	8	37	841
50	Martin Truex Jr.										1*			5					8	16					6					30*							835
51	Aric Almirola											32			11			QL				QL		38		27	20		18		30	15			13		833
52	Casey Atwood																	QL											23	29	17	17	17	18	23	21	814
53	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	17*																	1*	15						1										7	761
54	Bobby Labonte																			12						15					9	22		9	34	29	755
55	Tracy Hines '	20	33		38	41	13	30		43	25								29	41	34																752
56	David Gilliland '		DNQ		39			29		33		30		DNQ			1			26		36		29					30								733
57	Joel Kauffman '		27	34	43	32	42	35	23	30		DNQ	35	DNQ			27	31																			716
58	Boris Said			2										31		39	14					18			8												663
59	Ken Schrader	36			17	37	37			25	22																25			15							662
60	Ryan Newman		2			39						5	30												40		6*										659
61	Stanton Barrett								21			42		DNQ	22						41		42					32	28	32			DNQ		26		606
62	Mike Bliss						36	12	26	38			31									Wth	36					30			27						596
63	Elliott Sadler	28	32			30				32		18		19						38																	550
64	Robby Gordon													40											2	3		9									526
65	Kevin Lepage	DNQ			23		19		39				36						19	43							27										523
66	Jerry Robertson						DNQ			40		29				DNQ				36		32				DNQ		39	29		42		42	DNQ	41		477
67	Erin Crocker								37									28					19	26											30	28	474
68	Juan Pablo Montoya																																11	28	20	14	438
69	Carlos Contreras			11																		29			32			38					39			33	437
70	Shane Hall						DNQ		41			DNQ	DNQ			37	38		43		40	43	DNQ	37			36		DNQ	35			DNQ		DNQ		422
71	Ted Musgrave																							25					21		30	24		34			418
72	Brad Keselowski																										DNQ	37	38		26	34	41	29		39	414
73	Kevin Grubb															25	25					33	10						43								413
74	A. J. Foyt IV	42	38	21	37	33	35	41				DNQ																									400
75	P. J. Jones																		13					39	43			22							21		376
76	Paul Tracy	24		37	36						35								28									42									372
77	Steve Park				30							41	39		37								30	32													351
78	Chris Cook			20						DNQ						28	30								34				DNQ								316
79	Matt McCall						24		42						41	34						26															314
80	Justin Diercks											43				32	33			DNQ			28	31					DNQ		32		30	DNQ		DNQ	311
81	Cale Gale															20				37						34							25				309
82	Jorge Goeters '			14	DNQ	DNQ	41	DNQ	24	DNQ		DNQ																						DNQ		40	295
83	Derrike Cope		DNQ								40		DNQ		33			34		DNQ	36							DNQ		33		DNQ		DNQ			287
84	Jimmie Johnson													7														21				42					283
85	Steadman Marlin	41				DNQ			31		29					38			39												DNQ						281
86	Kevin Conway '				28	34	43					DNQ	28	DNQ																							253
87	Adrián Fernández			12																					17												239
88	Jason White								DNQ							36		30				34	41														229
89	Carl Long															41				DNQ	38	41	34	43			DNQ										224
90	Chad Chaffin	DNQ						36	22																									33			216
91	Michel Jourdain Jr.			38													18								39												214
92	David Ragan																											41		18		36					204
93	David Odell								25							30	DNQ						40														204
94	Ron Fellows			33																					9												202
95	Morgan Shepherd												DNQ	41	43	40	42				42			41												DNQ	194
96	Donnie Neuenberger	23	39								41								Wth											34							180
97	Max Papis																								14									40			164
98	Steve Grissom	21																									40										148
99	Marc Goossens			9																																	143
100	Brent Sherman																																		28	34	140
101	Randy LaJoie			41										35																	DNQ		QL	41			138
102	Joe Nemechek	40																																		23	137
103	Willie Allen																																28		35		137
104	Scott Pruett																								10												134
105	Timothy Peters																																13				124
106	Chris Wimmer	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	39	DNQ	40																					43			DNQ				123
107	Jeff Fuller															27	41																				122
108	Brad Coleman															27															41						116
109	Peyton Sellers																				37												33				116
110	Ron Young					Wth																40	32										DNQ				110
111	Todd Bodine		37												36																						107
112	Chris Horn																37	39		Wth											38						101
113	Brian Simo																								22												97
114	Jeff Green																									22											97
115	Justin Labonte																																22				97
116	Butch Leitzinger																								24												91
117	Sam Hornish Jr.																																		36	43	89
118	David Stremme																	26																			85
119	Matt Kobyluck																				39				42												83
120	Kevin Hamlin																		27			QL	DNQ										QL				82
121	D. J. Kennington																										DNQ						27		DNQ	DNQ	82
122	Darrell Waltrip																					28															79
123	Rogelio López			29																																	76
124	Ryan Moore									29																											76
125	Eric McClure													DNQ			43					Wth					41					DNQ					74
126	Brad Baker																															30					73
127	Patrick Goeters			31																																	70
128	Dwayne Leik																		32																		67
129	Dexter Bean																									DNQ							32				67
130	Caleb Holman						DNQ					33	DNQ									Wth					DNQ										64
131	Jeremy Mayfield		35																																		63
132	Spencer Clark				35																																58
133	Jamie Mosley																35																				58
134	Joey Miller																																36				55
135	Chase Pistone																					37															52
136	Randy MacDonald										43											38		35													49
137	Brad Teague						DNQ											38					DNQ														49
138	Jimmy Morales			39																																	46
139	Ricky Craven																					39															46
140	Kim Crosby																	38																			43
141	Shelby Howard																																40				43
142	James Hylton																	41																			40
143	Carlos Pardo			42																																	37
144	Justin Ashburn										42																										37
145	Jeff Spraker																		42																		37
146	Sean Caisse																													42							37
147	Scott Lynch					43																															34
148	Josh Richeson																						43														34
149	Jennifer Jo Cobb																														43						34
150	Tim Schendel																																43				34
151	Brian Keselowski																																		43		34
152	John Hayden															DNQ	DNQ	32
153	Jerick Johnson																	37
154	Joey McCarthy																				43
155	Larry Hollenbeck	DNQ
156	Eduardo Goeters			DNQ
157	Stan Silva Jr.			DNQ																					DNQ
158	Marc Mitchell									DNQ
159	Stan Boyd																DNQ
160	Richard Landreth																					DNQ											DNQ
161	Todd Shafer																							DNQ
162	Eduardo Troconis																								DNQ
163	John Finger																								DNQ
164	Josh Krug																												DNQ						DNQ
165	Hermie Sadler																												DNQ				QL
166	Robert Richardson Jr.																															DNQ		DNQ		DNQ
167	Chuck Barnes Jr.																																DNQ
168	Brett Rowe																																DNQ			DNQ
169	Kraig Kinser																																			DNQ
170	Dawayne Bryan																																			DNQ
171	Trevor Boys																																			DNQ
172	Hank Parker Jr.																	QL
173	Dennis Setzer																	QL				QL
174	Brandon Miller																																QL
175	Peter Shepherd III																																QL
	Driver	DAY	CAL	MXC	LVS	ATL	BRI	TEX	NSH	PHO	TAL	RCH	DAR	CLT	DOV	NSH	KEN	MIL	DAY	CHI	NHA	MAR	GTY	IRP	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH	DOV	KAN	CLT	MEM	TEX	PHO	HOM

Declaring for points in one series: Rules change for 2011

This was the fifth-to-last season where Cup Series drivers could run for points in another series. NASCAR implemented this change after Cup drivers were winning the Busch/Nationwide championships over the series regulars for 5 years straight. If the change had been implemented for the 2006 season, Menard would have been the champion. The rest of the top 10 in the standings would have been Johnny Sauter in 2nd, Kenny Wallace, John Andretti, Jason Leffler, Jon Wood, Ashton Lewis, Stacy Compton, Todd Kluever, and Danny O'Quinn Jr..

Rookies

A. J. Foyt IV – Released midseason from the #38 Great Clips team after team switched from Dodge to Chevrolet
Joel Kauffman – Fired midseason from the #12 SuperCuts Dodge
Todd Kluever – #06 3M Ford
Mark McFarland – Fired midseason from the #88 United States Navy Chevrolet
Burney Lamar – Fired midseason from the #77 Dollar General Chevrolet
Danny O’Quinn Jr. – #50 World Financial Group Ford
Chris Wimmer

Also, John Andretti was officially considered a Busch Series rookie of the year contender for 2006, even though he is a Winston/Nextel Cup veteran.
ROTY favorite Lamar was released early from his ride at KHI while leading the standings. Eventually, the ROTY came down to a fight between NEXTEL Cup veteran John Andretti and former USAR Pro Cup driver Danny O'Quinn Jr. Eventually, O'Quinn Jr., despite being pulled from his ride for two races in favor of David Ragan to prepare him for his full time Cup season in 2007, still managed to hold off Andretti to win the award by only a single point. Another preseason favorite and 2005 NCTS Rookie of the Year, Todd Kluever, struggled in his transition to the Busch Series. Another USAR driver, Mark McFarland, had an up and down year and was replaced by Shane Huffman. Joel Kauffman and Chris Wimmer made bids for ROTY, but were released from their rides. A. J. Foyt IV, in his transition to stock cars, was released due to a Dodge development deal.