Roush Racing Has Lost Their Edge

Other than Matt Kenseth, the quintet of drivers at Roush Racing has yet to display the same ascendancy that they displayed in 2005. They haven't even been close. At this time a year ago, Roush Racing had already racked up thirteen victories, fourteen for the entire season, compared to only five thus far in 2006, and Kenseth owns four of the five total victories.

Heading into the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, and Kenseth were conventional picks to win the championship, and Roush newcomer Jamie McMurray was projected to qualify for the Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship.

Kenseth has been the lone driver in the Roush Racing camp that has emerged as a legit championship contender, and even he has struggled since the Chase for the Championship began. Earlier in the season, it appeared as if Mark Martin was going to fluently qualify for the Chase for the Championship, but a summer swoon has lessened his security inside the top ten, however, he was able to marginally squeeze into the Chase. Martin has really struggled since the Chase began with only two top tens. Mark Martin's most defining moment of 2006 will likely be his announcement to leave Roush Racing and drive for MB2 Motorsports part-time in 2007.

Greg Biffle's season started off a little rickety, but his ability to lead laps and run towards the front gave the 16 team hope of a turnaround. Biffle compiled a string of seven consecutive top ten finishes, which included a win at Darlington in May, and climbed as high as 9th in the Nextel Cup standings, but his performances have tapered off since his fourth place finish at Infineon. Biffle, who finished 2nd in the Nextel Cup championship standings a year ago, missed out on an opportunity to chase the championship in 2006.

Last year's first-year phenomenon Carl Edwards was predicted by many to be the strongest of the Roush drivers in 2006, but instead, the dreadful sophomore slump has marred his season. He has yet to win that first race of 2006, after winning four in 2005. And Jamie McMurray, who was lured away from Chip Ganassi Racing, has arguably been the most disappointing driver in NASCAR this season.

After last year's supremacy, especially on the speedways, the tables were bound to turn. The revival of Richard Childress Racing, the rise of rookie sensation Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne's breakthrough season, as well as the Hendrick Motorsports drivers have been stiff competition for Roush Racing in 2006.

It happens to almost every successful driver and team- they win races and championships, but eventually, the competition catches up. When you are on top, unfortunately, the only other way to go is back down.

Roush Racing is still a premier organization in NASCAR, which is not likely to change any time soon. But there are at least six or seven powerful organizations in NASCAR, and everything cycles around. Just look at Penske Racing for example, Ryan Newman in particular. Just three years ago, Newman was winning races almost at will. Now, he finds himself winless in 2006, and eighteenth in the Nextel Cup standings.