BUSCH: Braun and Akins merge.

In their efforts to thwart the increasing onslaught of Nextel Cup Series drivers and teams that have come to dominate the Busch Series scene in recent years, two independent Busch teams have decided to join forces for the 2006 season.

Braun Racing, which ran the #32 team in 2005 and finished 13th in the owner standings, and Akins Motorsports, who run the #38 Great Clips team that finished 23rd last year, will combine forces under the Braun-Akins Racing banner.

The two teams had initially planned on a pair of single car efforts with Jason Leffler (Braun) and AJ Foyt IV (Akins) as the drivers, but those two will now be teammates.

While the merger should help both parties, it is indicative of the current health of many of the non-Nextel Cup affiliated or operated team in the Busch Series, who are slowly being pushed further down the pecking order.