Wood still looking at Cup

Until this weekend, Jon Wood was the heir apparent to Mark Martin in Roush Racing's famed #6 Ford. Jamie McMurray will take over one of NASCAR's most visible rides – although possibly not until 2007. Wood can turn his attention back to the Busch Series, where, as a rookie, he's 15th in the points driving the #47 Ford for mid-level ST Motorsports. “When I first got the job in this [No. 47] race car this year, that was all that I had,'' he said. “As the weeks went on and more talk about me going to whichever Cup car next year progressed, it didn't really distract me, but it was more than I needed at the time.'' Wood is under contract with Roush, for whom he drove in the Craftsman Truck Series from 2001 to 2004. That does not mean he will go to the next level with Roush. It is far more likely now that Wood, a third-generation racer in the Wood Brothers family, will wind up driving their #21 Ford. Ricky Rudd, 48 and winless in his three seasons as the Wood Brothers' lone driver, is nearing the end of his career. Whether he retires at the end of this year or goes one more, Wood is his likely replacement. “There's a strong possibility that if things work out, I could be in the 21,'' Wood said. “That would be a really big deal because the Wood Brothers family and the racing team have both put a tremendous amount of effort into getting me where I am right now, so that would be cool to pay them back.'' Tampa Tribune [Editor's Note: He's also rumored to be talking to the Penske team]