The 2005 NASCAR Busch Series began with the Hershey's Take 5 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr. of Chance 2 Motorsports was crowned champion for the second consecutive year.
The year saw at least two significant changes:
List of teams which competed throughout 2005.
The Hershey's Take 5 300 was held on February 19 at Daytona International Speedway. Joe Nemechek was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: C. W. Smith (#67), Brent Sherman (#58), Larry Hollenbeck (#62), Tim Sauter (#56), Mark Green (#26), Kevin Conway (#03), Justin Ashburn (#16), Keith Murt (#79), Matt Kenseth (#17), Jeff Kendall (#70), Shane Hall (#52), Kim Crosby (#24)
With his victory in the race, Tony Stewart became the ninth driver in NASCAR history to win a race in all three of its top series, needing only a Busch Series victory to complete this milestone. He would also be the first of seven drivers to accomplish the feat in 2005 alone and the only one to do it having needed a Busch Series victory.
The Stater Brothers 300 was held on February 26 at California Speedway. Tony Stewart was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Eric Jones (#73), Kevin Conway (#03), Shane Hall (#52), John Hayden (#16), Kim Crosby (#24)
The inaugural Telcel Motorola 200 presented by Banamex was held on March 6 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez. This race was the first NASCAR race held in Mexico. Mexican Jorge Goeters won the pole in his debut.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Paul Wolfe (#6), Jimmy Morales* (#67), Todd Souza (#97), Kim Crosby (#24), Mark Montgomery (#16), Alfredo Tame Jr. (#92), Stan Silva Jr. (#65)
The Sam's Town 300 was held on March 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Michael Waltrip (#99), Ken Schrader (#67), Jerry Robertson (#78), Eric Jones (#73), John Hayden (#16), Jeff Fuller (#24), Shane Hall (#52), Damon Lusk (#85)
The Aaron's 312 was held on March 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: John Hayden (#16), Aaron Fike (#43), Stan Boyd (#52), Damon Lusk (#85), Blake Mallory (#24), Reed Sorenson (#41)*
The Pepsi 300 was held on March 26 at Nashville Superspeedway. Reed Sorenson was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: John Hayden (#16), Damon Lusk (#85), Shawna Robinson (#23), Brian Sockwell (#88), Blake Mallory (#24)
The Sharpie Professional 250 was held on April 4 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards was the polesitter. Shane Hmiel, who finished 12th suffered a 25-point penalty after camera's caught him making an indecent gesture.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Brad Teague (#52), Justin Ashburn (#16), John Hayden (#85), Tim Sauter (#56), Jay Sauter (#75), Eric McClure (#04)
The O'Reilly 300 was held on April 16 at Texas Motor Speedway. Shane Hmiel was the polesitter. 9th place Johnny Sauter was DQ'ed in post-race inspection for multiple infractions, including an engine with 300 horsepower (220 kW) more.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Aaron Fike (#43), Mark Green (#7), Kyle Busch (#57), Shawna Robinson (#23)
The Bashas' Supermarkets 200 was held on April 22 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kasey Kahne was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope* (#94), Ryan Hemphill (#4)
The Aaron's 312 was held on April 30 at Talladega Superspeedway. Paul Menard was the polesitter.
Because of a long rain delay, and a delay caused by cleaning debris from a crash, this race ended near darkness, but was 120 laps (of 117) because of the green-white-checker finish rule. It was the first time in Busch Series history a race had ended in prime-time network television, as the checkered flag waved at 8:20 p.m. EDT.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Greg Sacks (#7), Ryan Hemphill (#4), Geoff Bodine (#72), Donnie Neuenberger (#52)
The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 was held on May 6 at Darlington Raceway. Jimmie Johnson was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Eric McClure (#52)
The Funai 250 was held on May 13 at Richmond International Raceway. Kasey Kahne was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Kertus Davis (#0), Brent Sherman (#58), Eric McClure (#52), Jeff Fuller (#7), Geoff Bodine (#72)
The Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held on May 28 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Kasey Kahne was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Scott Riggs (#30), Jeff Fuller (#7), Todd Bodine (#43), Eric McClure (#52), Kevin Lepage (#72), Brian Sockwell (#88), Robert Pressley (#46)
The MBNA RacePoints 200 was held on June 4 at Dover International Speedway. Carl Edwards was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Matt Kenseth (#17)
The Federated Auto Parts 300 was held on June 12 at Nashville Superspeedway. Qualifying and the race were rained out when attempted on June 11, the order determined by owner points (not driver points).
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Justin Ashburn (#16), Eddie Beahr (#94), Johnny Borneman III (#83), Travis Kittleson (#68), Burney Lamar (#83), Brad Teague (#53)
The Meijer 300 was held on June 18 at Kentucky Speedway. Carl Edwards was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Kenny Hendrick (#03), Johnny Borneman III (#83), Damon Lusk (#85), Jerry Robertson (#78), Brad Teague (#52)
The SBC 250 was held on June 25 at The Milwaukee Mile. Johnny Sauter was the polesitter. Race shortened due to rain.[1]
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Chad Beahr (#94), Todd Shafer (#91)
The Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo was held on July 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Kevin Harvick was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Mark Green (#23), Jeff Fuller (#7), Donnie Neuenberger (#52), Derrike Cope (#28)
The USG Durock 300 was held on July 9 at Chicagoland Speedway. Ryan Newman was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Kertus Davis (#0), Michel Jourdain Jr. (#10), Tim Sauter (#56), Eric McClure (#52), Mark Green (#23), Kerry Earnhardt (#73), Kim Crosby (#26), Wade Day (#72), Chris Horn (#80), Jeff Fuller (#7)
The New England 200 was held on July 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kevin Harvick was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope (#28), Eric McClure (#52), Kim Crosby (#26)
The ITT Industries & Goulds Pumps Salute to the Troops 250 was held on July 23 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Clint Bowyer was the polesitter. It was the final NASCAR race to be held at Pikes Peak International Raceway before its closing at the end of the season.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Brad Teague (#24), Dale Quarterley (#72)*, Clint Vahsholtz (#90), Jennifer Jo Cobb (#73)
The Wallace Family Tribute 250 presented by Shop 'n Save was held on July 30 at Gateway International Raceway. Martin Truex Jr. was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Jimmy Spencer (#73), A. J. Fike (#43), John Hayden (#85), Kim Crosby (#26), Eric McClure (#52)
The Kroger 200 was held on August 6 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Reed Sorenson was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Wayne Edwards (#9), Brad Teague (#53), Kim Crosby (#26), Todd Shafer (#91), John Hayden (#85)
The Zippo 200 was held on August 13 at Watkins Glen International. Tony Stewart was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Stan Silva Jr. (#65), Todd Souza (#97), Mark Green (#23), Paul Bonacorsi (#72), Elliott Sadler (#08), Scott Turner (#52), Joe Fox (#0), Kerry Earnhardt (#73), Jeff Spraker (#63), Kim Crosby (#26)
The Domino's Pizza 250 was held on August 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Martin Truex Jr. was the polesitter. Jeremy Mayfield, who finished 23rd, was penalized 25 points for an unapproved adjustment found on his car during post-race inspection.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Kim Crosby (#26), Eric McClure (#52), Tim Sauter (#56), Jerry Robertson (#78), Jamie Mosley (#28), Brian Vickers (#57)
The Food City 250 was held on August 26 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman won his third straight Busch Series race. Kyle Busch was the polesitter.[2] Reed Sorenson, who finished 12th, suffered a 50-point penalty for a tire violation.[3]
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Ron Hornaday Jr. (#30), Jeff Fuller (#7), Eric McClure (#04), Kevin Lepage (#72), Ron Young (#71), Brent Sherman (#10), Brad Teague (#52), John Hayden (#85), Tim Sauter (#56), David Ragan (#16)
The Ameriquest 300 was held on September 3 at California Speedway. Clint Bowyer was the polesitter.
The race became the first in NASCAR's Busch Series to be televised live in its entirety in prime-time television, with the NBC broadcast beginning at 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#72), Derrike Cope (#28), Jeff Fuller (#7), Michael Waltrip (#99), Mark Green (#23), Kim Crosby (#26)
The Emerson Radio 250 was held on September 9 at Richmond International Raceway. Mark Martin was the polesitter. Martin Truex Jr., who finished 27th, suffered a 25-point penalty for making an inappropriate gesture.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Mark Green (#23), Kevin Lepage (#85), Tim Sauter (#56), Kertus Davis (#0), Brent Sherman (#10), Jason York (#72), Brian Sockwell (#88), Eddie Beahr (#94), Jerry Robertson (#78)
The Dover 200 was held on September 24 at Dover International Speedway. Ryan Newman was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Dale Quarterley (#71), Brent Sherman (#10), Derrike Cope (#94), Bryan Reffner (#67), Jerick Johnson (#76)
The United Way 300 was held on October 8 at Kansas Speedway. Martin Truex Jr. was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Jorge Goeters (#73), Kertus Davis (#0), Mark Green (#23), Michael Waltrip (#99), Jamie Mosley (#28), Tim Sauter (#56), Kevin Lepage (#72), Derrike Cope (#71), Kim Crosby (#26), Chris Horn (#80), Chad Blount (#70)
The Dollar General 300 was held on October 14 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Kertus Davis (#0), Michel Jourdain Jr. (#15), Michael Waltrip (#99), Steve Grissom (#49), Mark Green (#23), Johnny Benson (#67), Kim Crosby (#26)
The Sam's Town 250 was held on October 22 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Martin Truex Jr. was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Marc Mitchell (#86), Eric McClure (#04), Mark Green (#23), Travis Geisler (#72), Charlie Bradberry (#92), Kerry Earnhardt (#99), Brian Tyler (#80), Mike Harmon (#24), Justin Ashburn (#16), Brad Teague (#91)
The inaugural O'Reilly Challenge was held on November 5 at Texas Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Michael Waltrip (#99), Kevin Lepage (#72), Ron Hornaday Jr. (#30), Eric McClure (#0), Chad Blount (#70), Jeff Fuller (#7), Chris Wimmer (#23), Jorge Goeters (#73), Steve Grissom (#49), Brent Sherman (#10), Tracy Hines (#92)
The Arizona 200 was held on November 12 at Phoenix International Raceway. Carl Edwards was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Bobby Labonte (#19), Eric McClure (#04), Charlie Bradberry (#91)
The Ford 300 was held on November 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ryan Newman was the polesitter.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: Jerry Robertson (#78), Michael Waltrip (#99), Dave Blaney (#31), Jamie McMurray (#09), Kevin Lepage (#72), John Andretti (#10), Travis Kittleson (#68), Steve Grissom (#49), Chris Wimmer (#23), Marc Mitchell (#86)
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.
Carl Edwards won five times, nailed down four pole positions, had 21 top-ten finishes, earning him Busch Series Rookie of the Year honors while he simultaneously competed in the NEXTEL Cup Series that season. 19-year-old Reed Sorenson had two wins finished second in the running, only 158 points away from overtaking Edwards in the championship points, while for late-model racer Denny Hamlin finished fifth in points despite not winning a race. After that, the field was limited, as only Jon Wood, Brent Sherman, and Kertus Davis made full attempts at Rookie of the Year. Michel Jourdain Jr. started the year with ppc Racing, was released from the team, then came back to the organization with a different car, while Paul Wolfe, Ryan Hemphill, Boston Reid, and Blake Feese, only completed a partial season and were released from their driver development contracts. The field also featured Kim Crosby, the first woman contender for ROTY since Shawna Robinson, who only qualified for a mere handful of races with her Keith Coleman Racing team.