Independents to return in 2005.

Many of 2004's independent Nextel Cup drivers and teams 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 Nextel Cup Championship with their independently owned teams even though, between them, they racked up 43 failures to qualify in 2004.

Shelmerdine and his self-run #72 outfit will attempt 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 ownership and the addition of a primary sponsor and ace crew chief.

Formerly SCORE Motorsports, Sadler has sold his controlling interest to the Peak Fitness company, who have renamed the team Peak Performance Motorsports. Sadler has retained an interest 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 the #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 primary sponsor while the #98 Mach 1 Motorsports outfit are also planning a full-time assault 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 Nextel 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.