NASCAR year in review by The Charlotte Observer
David Poole selects Tony Stewart as best driver and Daytona 500 as best race with Sterling Marlin’s spacewalk moment. Ward Burton's rescue of Jack Roush is best moment. criticism of rookie awards for Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson. Bristol 2003 marks NASCAR’s 2000th top series race. Calls for aero push solution and more engineer cooperation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Larry Hicks
Jack Roush
Alabama
Roush
Ryan Newman
Jimmie Johnson
Bristol
Nascar
NASCAR star keeps building case for respect and winners
Jim Utter and Jim McLaurin deliver a top driver round up highlighting Sterling Marlin as underrated, Tony Stewart as best, and Jamie McMurray’s October win. The piece praises Michigan as best track and recalls Pocono wrecks, Daytona debris, and notable moments across circles in NASCAR.
Best driver Tony Stewart caps NASCAR season title
Tony Stewart opened the season with a last place Daytona 500 and six DNFs yet captured his first NASCAR title. Kurt Busch edged Jimmy Spencer at Bristol in the Food City 500. Ray Evernham reacted emotionally to Bill Elliott winning the Brickyard 400. Sterling Marlin was penalized for a red flag infraction costing the lead. Mark Martin’s 25-point penalty at Rockingham hurt his title bid. Buddy Baker is the era’s most missed TV personality. Fox and NBC/Turner are urged to carry his humor and story-telling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tony Stewart
Mark Martin
Martin
Ray Evernham
Bill Elliott
Sterling Marlin
Sterling
Kurt Busch
Elliott
Johnny Benson
Rockingham
Benson
Daytona
Jack Roush
Alabama
Roush
Bristol
Jimmy Spencer
Nascar
Buddy Baker
Fox
NBC
Turner
Poll Position Last Week Question on Best Driver Not to Win Cup
The poll asks which driver has been the best to never win a Winston Cup championship and reports 3066 votes. It notes readers weighed in last week with the question generating discussion about career achievement versus titles.
Johnson, Johnson Rookie Contender In Winston Cup Standings
The Winston Cup season ended with the leader bonus uncollected by the points leader in the final race. The season’s $310,000 pot will be divided among the top ten drivers, and Jimmie Johnson became the second rookie of the year candidate since 1972 to finish in the top five, joining Tony Stewart. Eight 2001 winners did not win in 2002, including Craven Burton Gordon Hamilton Nemechek Park Sadler and Wallace.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tony Stewart
Ryan Newman
Jeff Gordon
Rusty Wallace
Bristol
Rae Wirness
Jimmie Johnson
Ricky Craven
Jeff Burton
Robby Gordon
Hamilton
Joe Nemechek
Steve Park
Elliott Sadler
Winston Cup Schedule 2003 Dates and Tracks
Schedule for the 2003 Winston Cup season lists race dates and venues including Daytona Las Vegas Darlington Texas Martinsville Richmond Lowe's Pocono Infineon Chicago Pocono Watkins Glen Bristol with February and March events and tracks named in sequence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daytona Internationa
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Darlington Raceway
Texas Motor Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Richmond International Rac
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Pocono Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Also Mentioned on This Page
David Poole
Charlotte
N.C
Observer
Ward Burton
Bill Davis
Jim Utter
Thatsracin.com
Chip Ganassi
Dodge
Jamie McMurray
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Bobby Labonte
Michigan International Speedway
Matt Kenseth
Dale Jarrett
Jarrett
Victory Lane
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Park
Jim McLaurin
Columbia
S.C
Talladega
Bruton Smith
Texas
Mike Brudenell
Detroit Free Press
Sibi
Bill Fleischman
The
Philadelphia Daily News
Westlake
ACE Hardware
Fleming
Garden City
Ricky Rudd
Other
Johnson
Cana
Chicagoland Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Naytona
Richmond International Raceway
Dover International Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Phoenix International Raceway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
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