CONCORD, N.C. – Team owner Ray Evernham plans to have three full-time cars by 2006.

The former crew chief of Jeff Gordon already has two full-time cars on his team – Chase contender Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 19 Dodge and Rookie of the Year contender Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 Dodge. Veteran Bill Elliott has been running a part-time schedule in the No. 91 Dodge.

Elliott also will run only a partial schedule next year – 10 to 12 races. Whether that will be his last season in Cup racing still is undetermined. Elliott will be 50 at the end of the 2005 season.

Regardless, Evernham plans to have the No. 91 run a full schedule in 2006 and beyond.

“When you add that third car it certainly adds resources,” Evernham said.

“The one-car teams seem to have kind of gotten pushed out. Soon it will be the two-car teams because of the amount of resources and people that you can get and provide.”

It’s no coincidence that there are no single-car teams among the Chase contenders. Three of the drivers compete for the five-car team of Roush Racing: leader Kurt Busch, Mark Martin and defending champion Matt Kenseth.

Jimmie Johnson and Gordon drive for the four-car team of Hendrick Motorsports. Ryan Newman drives for the three-car team of Penske South Racing.

Elliott Sadler (Robert Yates Racing) Tony Stewart (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (DEI) all drive for primarily two-car teams.

“Getting that third car will just mean another stake in the ground and will hopefully make us a legitimate contender and guarantee some longevity in the sport,” Evernham said.

Team owner Harvick

Like many Nextel Cup drivers, Kevin Harvick also is a team owner looking for a championship in a lower series. Next season, veteran driver Ron Hornaday will return to the Craftsman Truck series and replace Matt Crafton in Harvick”s No. 6 Chevrolet.

Hornaday has been successful in the truck series with two championships and 26 victories, but struggled this season in the Busch Series driving for Richard Childress Racing.

When Richard Childress, Harvick”s owner in Nextel Cup, released Hornaday mid-season, Harvick was one of the first to know.

“Ron has helped me in my racing career,” said Harvick, who began his NASCAR career racing trucks.

“I slept on his couch for a long time. He’s responsible for my first truck series ride.”

Bad Sign?

Among the nine drivers who did not qualify for Saturday’s race was Kirk Shelmerdine in the No. 72 “Vote for Bush” Ford.