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Our experts pick 1997's highs and lows. Click below.

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Overrated   Dale Earnhardt   Far past his prime

Underrated   Jeff Gordon   Despite 10 wins, the Winston Million and the Winston Cup, boo-birds still believe Hendrick Motorsports made him; the opposite is true

Annoying   Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George   Refuses to bargain for a CART return to Indy, while pushing bullheadedly onward with his misbegotten Indy Racing League

Breakthrough   Jeff Burton   Winner of three Winston Cup races, he went from nobody to chief rival to Jeff Gordon among NASCAR's young lions

Uplifting   Alex Zanardi   The CART champion added pizzazz and enthusiasm to a series previously dominated by bland personalities

MVP   Ray Evernham   NASCAR's most intense and intelligent crew chief kept picking Jeff Gordon's team up every time it stumbled

 

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