2003 NASCAR Storylines

By Chad Austin, SI.com

Ten things to follow during the 2003 Winston Cup season:

1. The common template

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Dodge Intrepid, Ford Taurus and Pontiac Grand Prix may look nearly identical in 2003, but they will retain a few distinctive features. That's why NASCAR prefers to call its new initiative to create a more even playing field among the four manufacturers "aero matching" instead of the "common template."

The new rule mandates that each manufacturer's car body must rest in the same locations on the chassis. The change is designed to reduce accusations that certain manufacturers enjoy competitive advantages over others, eliminating NASCAR's need to make equipment-related rules changes throughout the season.

Will the change cut down on such driver and manufacturer claims? Probably not. Will the change significantly reduce rules changes during the season? Hopefully so.

2. Jeff and Brooke

Although Jeff Gordon is a preseason favorite to win his fifth Winston Cup title, it's his personal life that seems to dominate the news.

In an effort to determine Gordon's net worth in their divorce case, lawyers for his wife, Brooke, are seeking financial records from other race teams that would disclose driver salaries, race earnings and merchandising sales. Of course, such financial information is closely guarded because each team works out separate agreements with each driver, and teams will fight to keep their money matters secret.

Gordon said his personal troubles didn't distract him on the track last season. Though he didn't win a race until the Bristol night race, Gordon was consistent enough throughout the season to contend for the Winston Cup title. If he challenges for the championship again this season, Gordon will once have to again separate his personal issues from his professional ones.

3. Driver changes

Anyone tired of hearing about Ricky Rudd and Elliott Sadler?

Following their highly publicized soap operas last season, Rudd and Sadler will once again be a topic of discussion after switching teams for 2003. The veteran Rudd is expected to revive the Wood Brothers team, while the youthful Sadler looks to live up to his promise and potential with Robert Yates Racing.

After being fired by owner Chip Ganassi in November, Jimmy Spencer landed with Ultra Motorsports, taking over the seat occupied by Casey Atwood. Rookie Casey Mears takes over Spencer's old ride with Ganassi, while Atwood's future remains up in the air.

Veteran Ken Schrader lost his ride with MB2 Motorsports when sponsor M&Ms signed on with Sadler and Yates. Schrader now looks to add stability to the BAM Racing operation, which employed six different drivers in just 17 races last season. Jerry Nadeau will take Schrader's place at MB2, driving a U.S. Army-sponsored Pontiac.

4. Manufacturer moves

Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte both delivered Winston Cup titles for Joe Gibbs behind the wheel of Pontiacs. For Stewart to defend his title and Labonte to return to his championship form of 2000, they'll both have to adjust to new cars as part of Joe Gibbs Racing's switch from Pontiacs to Chevrolets for '03.

Perhaps more intriguing than Gibbs' switch is Penske Racing South's switch from Ford to a Dodge program that is still trying to find its niche. Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace piloted their Fords to sixth and seventh, respectively, in the 2002 points standings.

Although Sterling Marlin led the points race for two-thirds of last season before being sidelined with a neck injury, no Dodge driver has finished higher than 10th overall since the manufacturer returned to Winston Cup racing three years ago. Dodge officials aren't pleased with their track record so far, but Newman and Wallace could generate the results they want.

Other drivers in new makes include PPI Motorsports' Ricky Craven moving from Ford to Pontiac and Morgan-McClure Motorsports' Mike Skinner going from Chevy to Pontiac.

5. New faces you'll see

Jamie McMurray went from an unknown to a household name in 2002 after winning in just his second Winston Cup start as a late-season substitute for Marlin. McMurray has his own ride with Chip Ganassi for 2003 and is the early favorite for rookie of the year honors.

Two rookies have impressive racing pedigrees. McMurray's Ganassi teammate Casey Mears is the nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and the son of off-road racer Roger Mears. Larry Foyt is the youngest son of A.J. Foyt, a four-time Indy winner.

Other rookies bring success in other NASCAR circuits to their initial Cup campaigns. The 2002 Busch Series champ, Greg Biffle, will drive a fifth entry for Jack Roush. Tony Raines, 1999 Busch Rookie of the Year, will drive for BACE Motorsports. Three-time Truck Series champ Jack Sprague will drive for Haas CNC Racing.

6. Some faces you won't see

When Rick Mast fell ill last spring, he didn't know that it would end his driving career. The 15-year Winston Cup veteran eventually was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning in November and announced his retirement two months later. Mast's revelation has prompted NASCAR to study the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning and look for ways to prevent it.

Bobby Hamilton is another veteran who won't run on the Winston Cup circuit this season, but he isn't ruling out a return. After leaving Andy Petree Racing at the end of 2002, Hamilton didn't secure another Cup ride for 2003. So he'll spend this season driving for the Truck series team he helped found in the late 1990s. Hamilton still has aspirations to return to Winston Cup as a driver or, perhaps, as an owner.

Casey Atwood was once considered a future star. Ray Evernham entered an agreement with Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith to keep Atwood in a Winston Cup seat last season. But when Evernham and Smith dissolved their partnership in November, Atwood was left without a ride and his future was left in limbo.

7. Financial woes

Despite the sport's growing popularity, NASCAR isn't without problems. Winston Cup teams can't operate without money, and money can't be generated without sponsors. Lack of funding has forced teams to fold, suspend operations or run limited schedules.

Some say sponsor and money troubles could eventually result in NASCAR staging a Winston Cup race with fewer than the usual 43 entries. That may not happen this season, but the financial strain on single-car teams makes it increasingly difficult for them to stay in business and compete with larger, multi-car operations.

8. Minority involvement

NASCAR has stepped up efforts to diversify its sport in recent years, especially in the Winston Cup series. Now NASCAR has its first black owner. Sam Belnavis, who was to operate BH Motorsports this season before it disbanded in early January, will now spearhead BelCar Motorsports in a partnership with Travis Carter.

Belnavis' new team is certainly a step in the right direction in NASCAR's diversification efforts, but what the governing body would really like to see is more black drivers behind the wheel.

9. Schedule changes

NASCAR's announcement that it will revamp the 2004 Winston Cup schedule in an effort to expand stock car racing into new geographic areas has some track owners worried about losing dates and others excited about gaining them.

Darlington Raceway in South Carolina and North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham were singled out as historic tracks that could lose a date. Though officials didn't specifically mention Martinsville Speedway in Virginia as another, the possibility no doubt contributed to the track owners' recent decision to spend $2.5 million to expand and renovate the facility.

Other track owners may follow Martinsville's proactive lead in an effort to keep their existing race dates. Such expansions will make it even more difficult for NASCAR to come up with a plan that pleases everyone.

10. Garage access

In an ongoing effort to limit garage overcrowding and keep competitors and spectators safe, NASCAR has revamped its access policy. Only team personnel and full-time media are now allowed in the garage while cars are on the track, although NASCAR stopped short of allowing drivers to sign autographs only in designated garage areas near their team haulers.

NASCAR has always prided itself in allowing fans access to its stars and no doubt wants to keep that connection, but safety is the first priority. The new policy should help keep overcrowding down when there is the most danger to spectators, but NASCAR says the new policy remains a work in progress and could be tweaked as the season goes on. If drivers and teams still complain that it's tough to do their jobs because of spectators, more changes could be forthcoming.

 

Related information

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video