Joe Cavaretta / AP file

Jeff Gordon will rebound from an atypical season in 2005 to win his fifth Cup championship in 2006, predicts Allen Bestwick of NBCSports.com. 

Biggest off-the-track headline
The top story away from the track that will unfold throughout the 2006 season will be Toyota, and the brand’s pending entry into Nextel Cup competition. You will hear and read so much about Toyota that you won’t believe they’re not yet competing in NASCAR's top series.

It will start with the formal announcement. Next there will be the endless speculation during the spring months about which teams will jump ship and sign with Toyota for the 2007 Cup season, followed by the summer announcements and confirmation of which teams actually will make the switch.

A garage swirling with rumors about the Toyota race car and engine’s development will keep the stories flowing through the entire process. No question in my mind that Toyota will be the biggest off-track, headline-maker of the coming campaign.

A few key questions
How will Kurt Busch’s return to Phoenix -- site of his incident with police last fall -- play out in April?

Can Bobby Labonte, Todd Parrott, and Robbie Loomis bring glory back to the No. 43 car of Petty Enterprises?

Can the teams at Richard Childress Racing and Ray Evernham Racing elevate their performances up to the level of those teams at Roush Racing and Hendrick Motrosports?

Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. reclaim a place among the Cup series elite?

Somebody find me a plane ticket to Daytona as just thinking about all this has got me ready for the green flag!