Many of 2004's independent Nextel Cup drivers and team✱s are already gearing up for a return to the grids in 2005, their enthusiasm unbarred despite a year that, for many, included far more lows than highs.

Kirk Shelmerdine, Hermie Sadler, Kevin Lepage and Mach 1 Motorsports are all preparing for a full, 36-race assault on the 2005 Next𓄧el Cup Championship with their independently owned teams even though, between them, they racked up 43 failures𝕴 to qualify in 2004.

Shelmerdine and his self-run #72 outfit will attem🅺pt a full schedule for the second year in succession, despite not having secured any primary sponsorship at the close of the 2004 calendar year.

Sadler's #02 team looks set for it's best season yet after a raft of changes that included dropping the Busch Series #02 operation, a change of own𒅌ership and 🌳the addition of a primary sponsor and ace crew chief.

Formerly SCORE Motorsports, Sadler has sold his c🔯ontrolling interest to the Peak Fitness company, who have renamed the team Peak Performance Motorsports. Sadler has retained an inte💙rest in the team, which he owned in partnership with former NBA star Bryant Smith, and will be the team's full time driver in 2005.

With Peak Fitness also providing primary sponsorship, the new team has also been able to hire the highly touted James Ince as the #02 crew chief. Ince, who oversaw the rise of theღ #10 MBV Motorsport Valvoline team from the ranks of the unsponsored independent to Victory Lane, will make his full-time return to the pit box after an absence of more than a year.

John Carter's #37 RJ Motorsports team and driver Kevin Lepage are also pushing ahead with plans to run the full schedule despite the lack of a 𓆏primary sponsor while the #98 Mach 1 Motorsports outfit are also planning a full-time assaul🌄t despite the departure of co-owner and part-time driver Larry Gunselman.

Although the above quartet have the bonus of a year's experience on the Nexte🃏l Cup tour, the addition of new teams from Joe Gibbs Racing, ppc Racing and Robby Gordon and potential changes to the current provisional system will make the fight for the 43 available starting 🎉positions even tougher next year.