Not even Evernham could have predicted the impact the two would have on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge.

The communication was there between Baldwin the coach and Kahne the student. From the first practice session, the relationship clicked. When the season ended, the pair had registered 13 top-five finishes and claimed the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year title. Kahne finished 13th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Baldwin and Kahne are back again in 2005. The mission this time around is a trip to victory lane and a berth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Baldwin is confident both are in the cards for 2005.

Like so many NASCAR drivers and crew members, Baldwin's involvement in racing was inspired by his family. His father competed in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series for many years and the younger Baldwin was there learning the ropes. His career as crew chief began in 1997 with veteran car owner Junie Donlavey. He joined Bill Davis Racing at the end of the 1998 season and stayed with the team until the latter part of the 2002 season, serving as crew chief for Ward Burton. During that span, the Baldwin/Burton team won the prestigious Daytona 500 in 2002 and posted a pair of victories at Darlington, one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. After a season with the No. 7 Ultra Motorsports team and Jimmy Spencer, he moved to Evernham Motorsports for the 2004 season.

Baldwin was a team owner in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004. He fielded the No. 6 Dodge at selected events and served as the crew chief. Evernham Motorsports purchased the Busch Series team from Baldwin near the end of the season and will run the program in 2005.