HAMPTON, Ga. -- Pieces are beginning to fall into place on who will race where next season, but several questions remain.

Although Wood Brothers Racing officials wouldn't comment, several reports citing unnamed sources state that Ken Schrader will replace Ricky Rudd next season. Rudd, whose three-year contract ends after this season, has refused to say if he'll retire. He has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Jamie McMurray's ride at Chip Ganassi Racing.

That would allow McMurray to move to Roush Racing and replace Kurt Busch, who could leave for Penske Racing South and replace the retiring Rusty Wallace. Another possible candidate to replace McMurray is former champion Bobby Labonte.

Busch said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway that he's awaiting word from lawyers on where he'll race next season. Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, recently said he believes there's a 50-50 chance McMurray will join Roush Racing next year, allowing Busch to leave. Smith was not as confident of such a move a few weeks ago.

Earlier this week, MB2 Motorsports announced Sterling Marlin will replace Scott Riggs. He'll join a third Evernham Motorsports team next year. Also, Bill Davis Racing announced Scott Wimmer will not return next year.

On the pole

Ryan Newman won his sixth straight pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday night with a lap of 193.928 mph. It is a series-high seventh pole of the season for Newman, who is third in the points.

Carl Edwards, who won at this track in the spring, starts second after a lap of 193.420 mph. Elliott Sadler (193.373 mph), Mark Martin (192.520) and Dave Blaney (192.173) completed the top five.

Points leader Tony Stewart will start 10th. Jimmie Johnson, who is second in the points, starts 12th. Greg Biffle, fourth in the points, starts 16th.

Contract status

In its lawsuit against Bill Davis Racing, DaimlerChrysler recently filed paperwork that includes its contract with the team. DaimlerChrysler was to have paid Bill Davis Racing $18.425 million during the six-year contract that was signed Feb. 14, 2000. The contract was based on a two-car operation.

DaimlerChrysler has sued Bill Davis Racing in U.S. District Court in Michigan over the team's construction of Toyota trucks in 2003. DaimlerChrysler terminated its contract with the team in May 2003. A judge ruled that the team's work on the Toyota trucks did not violate the contract. Still unresolved is that Dodge contends Bill Davis Racing gave Toyota confidential information. That's scheduled to go to trial in December.

The contract states DaimlerChrysler was to have paid Bill Davis Racing $12.25 million in associate sponsorship fees during the entire contract.

The car manufacturer paid Bill Davis Racing $2.3 million in 2001, increased the fee to $2.45 million in 2002 and to $2.5 million in 2003 and after.

The remaining money DaimlerChrysler paid was in costs to convert the team's cars and engines from Pontiacs to Dodges. DaimlerChrysler paid $1.2 million for the engine conversion in 2000.

Testing

Goodyear has a tire test scheduled Wednesday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., with a team from Evernham Motorsports.

Goodyear officials want to do a test to collect data before work is done on the track to understand why so many teams had tire problems there a couple of weeks ago.

Pit stops

The IROC series will not return to Richmond next season. The series tentatively is scheduled to race next year at Daytona, Texas, Atlanta and Michigan or California. ... Crew chief Richard Labbe told car owner Ray Evernham he didn't want to remain Jeremy Mayfield's crew chief after this season, citing lack of chemistry. Evernham's alternatives didn't suit Labbe, so he's no longer with the team and is looking at several opportunities. ... A pair of new TV commercials for Goody's featuring Richard and Kyle Petty and Stewart were filmed in Greensboro, N.C., earlier this month.