Schrader to the No. 21

UPDATE Ken Schrader will be driving for the Wood brothers next season, replacing Ricky Rudd, sources close to the negotiations have confirmed. Neither the Wood brothers nor Schrader would discuss the situation. "It depends on what Ricky does," Schrader said. "We're waiting for Kenny or the Woods to make a comment, and then we'll comment," Tony Morgenthau, Schrader's current car owner, said. Rudd could now be key to the Chip Ganassi-Jack Roush-Roger Penske deadlock over drivers, if Rudd were willing to move to Ganassi's Texaco-sponsored team. Ganassi tried to hire Rudd a few years ago. Rudd spent several years as a Texaco-sponsored driver for Robert Yates. The future of Rudd's crew chief, Michael "Fatback" McSwain is up in the air too. McSwain said yesterday he doesn't know if he'll be back with the Wood brothers next season. Winston Salem Journal 10/28/05 Veteran Ken Schrader will move to the Wood Brothers' No. 21 Ford next season, replacing veteran Ricky Rudd, several sources confirmed Friday. Rudd's future remains unclear. He could retire from the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, or perhaps still drive on a one-year basis as a fill-in should the Jamie McMurray/Kurt Busch swap not work out, sources said.

Schrader, who has driven the No. 49 Dodge for BAM Racing the past two seasons, is expected to drive the No. 21 for one season, then turn the car over to Jon Wood, son of Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood.