MOTORSPORTS

DIGITAL CHANGE FOR SIX NASCAR RIDES. By LaRue Cook

TAKE A NUMBER

Illustration by Sean McCabe ESPN The Magazine March 7, 2011 48

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THE SWITCH When Pennzoil offered big dollars, Penske Racing gave its biggest name in return. Busch, after failing to make the Chase two of the past five seasons, thinks the move may pay off. THE FORECAST Talk about a fast start. In the red and yellow double deuce, Busch snared a season-opening win in the Bud Shootout. “We’ve definitely got a charged-up attitude this year,” he says. A welcome change, considering Busch began his career in the No. 97 for Roush, winning 14 races and the first title under the Chase system. His tenure in Rusty Wallace’s 2 car netted only eight wins. THE HISTORY Busch went from one legendary shadow to another. Bobby Allison won 10 races and a title in the 22, but it hasn’t sniffed the year-end Top 10 since Ward Burton did it in 2000.

THE SWITCH Advice to fans: Don’t spend much on new swag. Red Bull has leased Kahne and the No. 4 until his contract with Hendrick Motorsports begins in 2012, when he’ll take over the 5 car from Mark Martin. THE FORECAST After a winless 2010, Kahne is bank-ing on the No. 4’s holding the same magic his 9 car did when he drove it to ROY in 2004. “I still see people with their red No. 9 stuff on,” Kahne says. “That might not be mine anymore, but I still know those are my people.” THE HISTORY Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed destined, like Kahne, to keep his first number for the long haul. But when Junior left DEI he also had to leave the 8. Since then, he’s only landed one win. The upshot for Kahne: If the 4 doesn’t bring checkereds, he’ll be plus-one next year.

THE SWITCH Penske has faith its youngster can take over Busch’s ride in his second full season. That’s pressure. Plus, the 27-year-old has the task of ending his teammate’s 23-race dry spell for the Blue Deuce. THE FORECAST True, Keselowski is coming off an impressive Nationwide championship. But the kid is still wet behind the ears: He has one win in 53 Cup races. THE HISTORY Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt and Bobby Allison drove the No. 2 to victory lane. Wallace logged 37 of his 55 Cup wins in the car, while The Intimidator nabbed his first title in it in 1980. “People keep asking me if I feel more pressure running a number with all that history,” says Keselowski. “Nope. I already put a lot of pressure on myself anyway. What I feel is a lot of pride.”

THE SWITCH Menard welcomes his fifth Cup number with a move to Richard Childress Racing, where he’ll join 2010 Chase contenders Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. THE FORECAST Did we mention Menard has never won a race? Out of 147 starts, the 30-year-old is 0-for. Menard’s new teammates, on the other hand, have 39 Cup wins combined. Will success be contagious? THE HISTORY Burton can teach Menard about new math. Before Carl Edwards, JB was synonymous with the 99 thanks to four straight Top 5 finishes in the standings. Since taking over the No. 31 in 2005, though, he’s missed the Chase twice. Meanwhile, the 27 has been a back marker since Rusty Wallace drove it to a 1989 title.

THE SWITCH The Shutdown at Sonoma was a sign. Ambrose never won in the 47, and his engine gaffe at Infineon was the beginning of the end. Now he’ll pair with AJ Allmendinger on Richard Petty Motorsports’ revamped two-man team. THE FORECAST The No. 9 is best known as Bill Elliott’s handle for his ’88 title. That’s a history Kahne couldn’t live up to, and Ambrose won’t either if he doesn’t earn the win that’s eluded him in 83 career races. THE HISTORY Ryan Newman can relate to the anguish of futile streaks. “Numbers don’t change the effort you put in, but there’s a respect for your number,” says Newman, who ended a 78-race winless drought after his move from 12 to 39. “We were the first to win with the 39 in Cup, so I guess you could say it got the jinx off.”

THE SWITCH In 618 races, Labonte has sported 10 different digits, including four last season. He’ll stay put in the 47 after taking Ambrose’s spot as the lone driver for JTG Daugherty. THE FORECAST Labonte hasn’t won a race since 2003, but he’s trying for a return to his 2000 form, when he beat Dale Earnhardt in the 18 car for the Winston Cup. “This is going to sound silly,” says Labonte, “but the biggest challenge is signing autographs. It’s been six years, but I still find myself trying to scribble out an 18. Fans are like, ‘Um, hey man, that’s not your car anymore.’” THE HISTORY The 46-year-old doesn’t need perspective: He learned the ropes in the 22, then drove the 18 through a stretch of 21 wins. But history isn’t on his side. The No. 47 has won only two races since 1975.

The numbers 3, 24 and 43 are indelible to racing fans, but most stock car drivers don’t get too cozy with their digits. NASCAR owns and assigns numbers annually, so when a driver moves shops his number can’t always tag along. “It’s not the end of the world,” says Ryan Newman, who raced seven seasons in the 12 car before choosing the No. 39 at Stewart-Haas in ’09. “You still have to go out and race.” These six drivers are changing their numeric identities in 2011 and, they hope, their less-than-stellar results, too.

Kurt Busch Kasey Kahne Brad KeselowsKi Paul Menard Marcos aMBrose BoBBy laBonte

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