Lee Spencer reports on Fox Sports Net’s Around the Track that the #97 Roush Tea, with new driver Jamie McMurray is expected to switch to the #28 in 2006. Around the Track runs on Fox Sports South [TV] at 10:30pm/et on Sunday’s.(10-30-2005)
UPDATE: hearing the new number could be #26, which Roush Racing used years ago with Johnny Benson and the Cheerios car.(11-12-2005)
UPDATE 2: Roush Racing has decided to bring back the #26, replacing the #97, when Jamie McMurray steps into the car next season starting at Daytona. The sponsors of Kurt Busch’s old ride – Sharpie, IRWIN and Crown Royal – will transfer over to the new number along with new paint schemes [an owners points]. Although Busch won the championship with the #97 in 2004, the move is a smart one from a marketing point of view. With the recent troubles for Busch, the rebranding will help build a new base for McMurray and the sponsors. The last time Roush ran the #26 was during the 1998-1999 seasons with driver Johnny Benson. Benson, who ran the Cheerios sponsored car at the time, posted 12 top-10 finishes in 48 races behind the wheel of the car. The #26 has seen multiple drivers and owners over the years, most recently with Todd Bodine and Haas-Carter Motorsports in 2002.(RacingOne image there)(11-16-2005)
