After upside-down '06, expect more of same next season

NASCAR honored its top 10 drivers during an elaborate postseason banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City last week.

The Nextel Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson, was of course the star of the show. He was joined by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and a host of others.

After winning the year's final race, look for Greg Biffle to be a contender in 2007. (Getty Images)

But the bigger story might have been who wasn't there when the top 10 were honored. In fact, one of the biggest stories of 2006 was not who made the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but who didn't.

Defending champion Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman were all former Chase contenders who missed the top 10 this year.

Most of them weren't invited to New York. Stewart was, but that's because he finished 11th in points and earned the dubious honor of walking on stage and accepting one the biggest consolation prizes in sports.

That is another one of NASCAR's odd quirks. It emphasizes the importance of making the Chase and the top 10, and then pays the driver who finishes 11th $1 million. That's like honoring the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, or the loser of the Super Bowl.

Oddly, Stewart was honored on stage despite one of the biggest disappointments of his career.

Stewart, Biffle, Edwards and the rest were all preseason favorites to make the Chase. Some were favorites to win the title. Stewart, Biffle and Edwards were three of the biggest after finishing in the top three a year ago.

That they all missed the Chase this season shows how competitive NASCAR is and how unpredictable its championship race has become in just three years.

Seven drivers who made the Chase last year missed it this season, six of them after surprisingly disappointing seasons (Rusty Wallace retired). That opened the door for seven new drivers to step up their performances and become championship contenders.

Veterans Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton made the Chase for the first time while Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. -- the biggest disappointments of 2005 -- returned after an off year. They were joined in the Chase by rising young stars Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch.

Stewart was arguably the biggest disappointment of the season. The two-time champion had never finished outside the 10 top in points and was coming off his second championship season.

After a slow start, Stewart kicked things into gear and was second in points by April. But he broke his shoulder in a crash at Charlotte in May, needed a relief driver at Dover and fell into a slump that knocked him out of the top 10.

He went into the 26th race of the season eighth in points, but was locked out of the championship hunt when he stumbled to an 18th-place finish at Richmond.

"It wasn't one night that got us in this situation. It took 26 nights to get here," Stewart said.

He rebounded in spectacular fashion, winning three of the final seven races, but the damage was done.

Biffle was another major disappointment. He won six races and finished second in points in 2005, but struggled through most of 2006 and wound up 13th in points.

Edwards was a first-year sensation in 2005, winning four races and finishing third in the Chase. This year he was winless and finished 12th.

Kurt Busch, the 2004 champion, never got on track after moving from Roush Racing to Penske Racing South, finishing 16th. Neither did teammate Newman, who stunk all year and wound up 18th.

All five should be strong candidates for comeback years in 2007. If Dodge teams can solve their problems with the Charger -- by switching to a new front nose, and possibly a new car (the Avenger) -- then Busch and Newman should be the chief benefactors.

Stewart and Biffle, meanwhile, may already be on the comeback trail. Stewart's strong finish will make him a preseason favorite again and a serious threat to win a third Cup title.

Biffle won the season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a sign Roush Racing might be turning things around. That could mean big things for both Biffle and Edwards in 2007.

There were seven new faces in the Chase this year, and several disappointments. Don't be surprised if the roles are reversed again next season.

Jeff Owens is executive editor of NASCAR Scene and a columnist for CBS SportsLine.com.