rpm.espn.com: Meeting expectations

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Tuesday, December 24

Meeting expectations
ESPN.com

A season or two of success -- or lack thereof -- often sets the bar as to how well a driver is expected to perform. For instance, after four seasons of top-six finishes including the 2002 Winston Cup championship, Tony Stewart is expected to compete for the championship in 2003. A finish outside the top 10 -- or even the top five -- would be surprising.

On the other hand, both success and funding have been hard to come by for driver-owner Brett Bodine over the past six or seven years as bigger teams have poured more money into their operations. With that, not many expect Bodine to suddenly challenge for an overall top-10 finish next year.

But, as Kenny Mayne likes to point out, that's why they play the games (and run the races) in your TV and not on paper. Anything can happen.

So, which Winston Cup drivers are most likely to give surprise performances next year? And which are likely to disappoint? Check out the responses from our users:


	Rudd

Surprise performer of 2003: Ricky Rudd and The Wood Brothers Team. Both driver and team have agendas to prove. Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing, new ideas and personnel will be a big help. Bill Elliott in the Evernham No. 9 will continue it's steady climb to the top and erase the inconsistency it had in 2002 to become a top-seven car.

Disappointing performer in 2003: Both Robert Yates Racing Teams, The 88 needs new ideas to get back to it's perennial top-five spot, and the 38 car will sorely miss Fatback McSwain and will find that Ricky Rudd did more than talk. Richard Childress Racing will continue to not impress many as well. Serious changes need to be made, and need to come from outside the doors of RCR to accomplish that. Also, I expect the 22 Car of Ward Burton and Bill Davis Racing to continue it's inconsistent trends of 2002. New personnel and ideas were needed, and I don't think Frank Stoddard is the answer to that.

Bill Floyd
Greenville, S.C.

With starting grids with the likes of Stewart, Busch, Johnson, Newman, Kenseth, Gorden, Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick, not to mention the older guys like Martin, Wallace, Jarrett, Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Marlin, Elliott and Rudd, it's going to be mighty difficult for anyone else to break into the top-10 with any sort of consistency and only when five or so the the aforementioned dropout. My surprise guess is that Ricky Rudd and the Wood Brothers will finish ahead of Elliott Sadler and Yates Racing more often than not.

Carl B. Sachs
Culpeper, Va.

Biggest disappointment: Jeremy Mayfield -- again. With Penske and Evernham, he has always had good rides and not so impressive results. Paired with Rusty and Bill, he should have won more races by now. Dumped by midseason.

Tim Claus
Newport News, Va.

Jeff Gordon will claim championship No. 5. Jarrett or Martin will announce retirement, which will be a disappointment. Matt Kenseth, Jeremy Mayfield, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will all have outstanding years.

Kim Howse
Cullman, Ala.


	Gordon

Everybody talked about Jeff Gordon and his winless streak earlier this year being a factor of him not being able to win his fifth Winston Cup title. So to me a surprise for next year would be watching Jeff Gordon win races more often than not. A big disappointment would be to see Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson not duking it out for the title.

Billy Sachs
Oakland, Md.

The only surprise I see for the 2003 season will not be a surprise. I feel the young guns -- Johnson, Newman, Bush, Kenseth and Earnhardt -- will contend again. On the other hand, the non-surprises of the 2003 season will be that Tony Stewart has an excellent chance to repeat, and Martin, Gordon, Wallace, Jarrett and Jeff Burton should also be in the mix.

Jerry Nicas
Kansas City, Mo.

As far as 2003 goes, I am going to go out to the farthest point of a limb imaginable and say every top team that switched manufacturers between '02 and '03 is going to have an off year. Gibbs, Penske, PPI; all are going to fight to be somewhat successful. After saying that, I might as well say the sophomore jinx will haunt Jimmie Johnson, as well. A surprise, though some might not see it so, I feel, will come from the MB2 and MBV gang. Those teams were sleepers in '02 and I feel they will ride strong in '03. Ganassi will also find problems, though he doesn't think so, with two rookies. Evernham will make yet another driver change in the 19 car, no surprise. Petty Enterprises could possible see a lot more top fives and 10s, possibly a win on a short track or Dover. I also feel that the all-too-hyped Elliott Sadler/RYR deal will have meager success as everything except the blue oval is new to an old team.

Justin Boyd
Pensacola, Fla.

Petty Enterprises is going to have a breakthrough year. Both John Andretti and Kyle Petty will see victory lane. Both will be in or very near the top 15 in points. The Dodge Racing program is going to break through with a Winston Cup champion -- Sterling Marlin.

Gary Gaddis
Mass.

Ward Burton will have a great year. He just doesn't need to win the Daytona 500. Whomever wins the 500, I feel for them -- look at the last two winners of the race. They have both failed to crack the top ten at the end of the season. I believe Tony Stewart will have a disappointing season like his teammate Bobby Labonte had last year

Kevin Walsh
Nashville, Tenn.


	Park

I really believe that Steve Park will do well this year. After his accident I think he just wasn't his old self. So I think he will finish up in the top ten.

Bill Holley
Maumee, Ohio

After posting a career-best 15th in the points last year, look for fellow Mainer Ricky Craven to crack the top-10. With set sponsorship (Tide), another year to improve on his weaker tracks, and his solid performances on short and flat tracks, Ricky could pull off a victory or two and should at the least repeat his 15th-place finish from this year.

Nate Akerley
Bangor, Maine

I think Jimmie Johnson will be the biggest disappointment next year. After a dream season filled with very little bad luck, I think that he'll fall off slightly next year, and maybe slide out of the top 10 in points. On the contrary, I think Dave Blaney will be the biggest surprise of 2003. The Jasper team made great strides from perennial also-rans to a team that was very consistent and had a lot of top-20 finishes. With a full year at Jasper under Blaney's belt, those top 20s should become top 15s, and in my opinion, bring his points finish into the top-15 range as well.

Kyle Ward
Urbana, Ohio

I think Harvick will come back in a strong way. Rudd and Jarrett are going to fall out of the top 10 as well as Jeff Burton but will remain in the top 15. Nemecheck, Robby Gordon, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Green, and Elliott Sadler will be in the top 20 and all should be in position to challenge for wins here and there.

Ed Mejia
Atlanta

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