A Ford official said Thursday that the manufacturer would like to add "a couple more cars'' to its Nextel Cup roster, although he wouldn't give a timetable.

A couple more teams could help Ford keep its young drivers, something Ford and its teams haven't been able to always do. Dale Jarrett's departure to Toyota after this season opens one ride, but several Ford drivers are signed through at least 2008. That could create limited opportunities for the nearly 10 drivers being groomed by Ford's Cup teams.

Ford, whose drivers have won two of the past three titles, has the fewest Cup teams competing with eight -- five with Roush Racing, two with Robert Yates Racing and one with the Wood Brothers. Toyota is scheduled to have six teams next year when it enters the Cup series.

Greg Specht, manager of racing operations for Ford, says the manufacturer has a goal of more teams.

"Ideally, we'd like to have 10-12,'' he said. "We're really looking at our current teams to see how can we expand and grow at a rate that is going to maintain quality.''

Specht wouldn't say if Ford would have additional teams for next season.

NASCAR's limit of four Cup teams eventually will force Roush Racing to drop a team or transfer it to a partner. The Wood Brothers could add a second team in the near future. Robert Yates Racing could add a third car next season, depending on sponsorship.

Yates' team is awaiting word from UPS if it will remain with the team, move with Jarrett to Toyota or go elsewhere. Should UPS leave, it will make it more difficult for Yates to add a third team next season because he would need to find two primary sponsors, one for Jarrett's old ride and another for a new ride.

More teams could help Ford keep its young drivers. Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch have left Ford in recent years for other opportunities. Ford sued to prevent Kahne from moving to Ray Evernham's Dodge team but lost in court.

Development drivers Joey Logano, a 15-year-old in Joe Gibbs Racing's development program, and Erin Crocker, who competes in the truck series for Evernham, also were once part of a Ford team or the manufacturer's development program.

"We're not happy when a driver leaves,'' Specht said. "At the end of the day if there isn't an available seat and their agreement with us expires, you kind of have to let nature take its course.''

The competition for drivers is likely to be more intense with Toyota's entrance next year. Teams have been trying to sign drivers to contract extensions that go through at least 2009. Richard Childress Racing recently signed Kevin Harvick to an extension through 2009. Hendrick Motorsports announced this week that it had extended points leader Jimmie Johnson's contract through the 2010 season. Roush Racing extended Kenseth's contract earlier this year to at least 2009.

With more drivers signing long-term contracts, teams look to sign younger drivers to longer contracts to groom them.

Ford has at least 10 developmental drivers between its program and those of its Cup teams. Only two are expected to move to Cup for 2007.

Roush Racing announced months ago that Todd Kluever would replace Mark Martin in Cup next season with Martin moving to the truck series.

Also expected to move to Cup full time next season is 24-year-old Jon Wood, a third-generation member of the Wood Brothers. He is 13th in the Busch series standings.

What happens with Ford's other young drivers has yet to be determined.

"That's the challenge we have to manage that situation and have the drivers ready when you need them and at the same time not hold anybody back,'' Specht said.