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Wednesday, November 20
Updated: November 21, 3:08 PM ET
Stewart heads the class
By Jerry Bonkowski
ESPN.com
I always wanted to be a teacher. You get to hand out demerits or detention and be the giver rather than the recipient of homework.
And in between all that, you do your best to try and impart knowledge into young, impressionable minds.
But the best part of being a teacher is report card time. It's when you get to play judge, jury and, if need be, executioner. You're like Santa Claus -- you know who's naughty and nice.
Now, with the season over and Christmas right around the corner, it's time to hand out the Winston Cup report card for 2002, from the best to the rest, from those who made the grade to those who need some off-season tutoring.
Each of the full-time drivers on the circuit are represented here, along with their grade and a few "teacher's comments."
The A list
| |  | | | Stewart |
Tony Stewart -- Despite an unprecedented double probation, NASCAR's bad boy turned his life and season around following a notorious run-in with a photographer after the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis. Second-half consistency (which tempered an inconsistent and mishap-filled first half) and doing just enough to stay ahead of Mark Martin earned Stewart the championship. But if he thinks it was tough winning this year, wait 'til next year when he tries to repeat.
Mark Martin -- Even though he finished as bridesmaid for the fourth time in his career and continues to wait for his first career title, Martin made a remarkable comeback from a miserable 2001. He showed he had all the elements to be champion, and had he won another race or two this season, he may very well have overtaken Stewart. If he can start strong in 2003, that elusive trophy may find a place on his mantle.
Kurt Busch -- The hottest driver in the final six weeks of the season, Busch could very well be next year's Stewart. With his late-season burst of three wins, including the season finale at Homestead, Fla., Busch could give Stewart his biggest challenge when the new season starts in less than three months.
| |  | | | Johnson |
Jimmie Johnson -- Even though he tailed off in the final part of the season, there's no discounting what Johnson accomplished as a rookie: three wins, four poles and 21 top-10s. With drivers like Johnson, Busch, Ryan Newman, Stewart and Matt Kenseth, we could very well be witnessing the next evolutionary phase of NASCAR, where many of the veterans will soon be giving way to the stars of the future.
Ryan Newman -- Arguably the most consistent driver this season (14 top-fives and 22 top-10s), Newman didn't win the Rookie of the Year Award for nothing. The promise this youngster showed in 2002, not to mention the experience he gained and his uncanny knack for getting the most out of his car, will put him right near the top of the list of favorites to win the 2003 championship.
Sterling Marlin -- Even though he ultimately finished a disappointing 18th, there's no denying that Marlin was The Man for much of the season, including being the points leader for 25 of the first 26 weeks. Had it not been for an unfortunate and untimely neck injury that knocked him out of the chase with six weeks to go, Marlin may have been the series champion, regardless of what Stewart did. If he can bounce back in 2003, all the ingredients are in place for him to be among Stewart's chief nemeses.
The B list
| |  | | | Gordon |
Jeff Gordon -- A lousy first-half, coupled with off-track distractions in his personal life (such as his pending divorce) kept Gordon from repeating as champion and earning his fifth career title. Still, finishing fourth in the standings is nothing to be ashamed of. But if there's one thing Gordon has been noted for throughout his career, it's resiliency, the ability to come back with a vengeance. Expect to see a lot more of the "old" Gordon in '03.
Rusty Wallace -- Even though his streak of at least one win in each of the last 16 seasons was snapped, what Wallace lacked in victories, he made up for with consistency, finishing the season in seventh, his 15th top-10 finish in the last 16 seasons. Had he snagged a couple of wins, Wallace could have come close to earning his second championship, but there's always next year, right?
Matt Kenseth -- Led the series with five wins, but bouts of inconsistency forced an eventual and disappointing eighth-place finish. Even though he hovered in second in the standings for much of the first-half of the season, Kenseth could never overcome his inconsistency. He should have finished in the top three, if not challenged Stewart down the stretch. If he can lick the consistency problems in 2003 while putting together another five- or six-win season, Kenseth could run away with the championship.
| |  | | | Jarrett |
Dale Jarrett -- A late season run boosted Jarrett into the top-10, but he could have and should have finished a lot higher. Don't be surprised if there's some movement of personnel within the team during the offseason, particularly with new teammate Elliott Sadler coming aboard. Jarrett has the potential to win another championship, but distractions this season with outgoing teammate Ricky Rudd hampered both teams. A new teammate could mean a new start for Jarrett in '03.
Ricky Rudd -- Moving to the Wood Brothers next season will give Rudd new energy and the potential to call his own shots as the only driver for the team, rather than having to share the spotlight as he did the last few seasons with Jarrett. Many people question whether Rudd's time is over, but finishing this season in 10th despite distractions and run-ins with others shows Rudd still has some mileage left in his tires. Ironically, Sadler finished 23rd. Maybe the Wood Brothers will actually be getting the better end of the deal in the long run.
The C list
| |  | | | Earnhardt Jr. |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- That he finished 11th in the standings in a season which he dropped back as low as 17th says a lot about Earnhardt Jr.'s drive, particularly with six top-10s in his last eight starts. But you still can't ignore the fact that he just didn't seem his typical self behind the wheel this season, for whatever reason. Stewart stole most of the spotlight this year; maybe it's Junior's turn to reclaim it next season.
Jeff Burton -- No wins, only five top-fives. That says it all about Burton in 2002. He went winless for the first time since 1996, which was also the last year he wound up out of the top-10 in the standings. The release of longtime crew chief Frank Stoddard in the second half of the season indicates there was much more than meets the eye to Burton's lack of success. Burton is among the most talented of drivers, but he just can't seem to step into the top echelon, always being pushed back by one thing or another. It would be a shame to see him spend his career like Martin and never win a championship.
Bill Elliott -- After impressive back-to-back wins at Pocono and Indianapolis (which boosted him to a season-high sixth), Elliott's season went into the tank. Following his triumph at Indy, he had just two top-fives and one top-10 in the remaining 15 races. Rumor has it crew chief Mike Ford is on the hot seat and could be gone before the season opener at Daytona. How Elliott could have fallen apart so quickly is a mystery he hopefully will solve by next season.
| |  | | | Waltrip |
Michael Waltrip -- Enjoyed his most successful season since finishing 14th with the Wood Brothers in 1996. Also added his second career win this past season. Continues to grow as a driver and could potentially be a top-10 finisher next season. A late bloomer in his career, for sure, but Waltrip has a lot of time left to close in on his more successful older brother.
Ricky Craven -- After earning his first career win in 2001, Craven failed to visit Victory Lane in '02, registering a meager three top-fives and nine top-10s. Held a lot of promise for a top-five finish at the start of the season, but settled for 15th. Still, that's the highest Craven has ever finished, so that would have to be considered a plus heading into next season.
Jeff Green -- Debut season with Richard Childress Racing must be considered a success, given he was the top driver in the three-team stable, finishing ahead of Robby Gordon and Kevin Harvick. While he failed to earn a victory and had just four top-fives and six top-10s, showed promise for 2003, particularly with the extra experience.
| |  | | | Blaney |
Dave Blaney -- The former dirt track king continued to make improvements in his third season, finishing 19th. But, he still has yet to earn a top-five, let alone nail his first victory. Crew chief Ryan Pemberton left just before the season finale at Homestead, Fla., so it should be interesting to see if Bootie Barker can fill Pemberton's shoes.
Robby Gordon -- Although he managed only one top-five and five top-10s, Gordon showed promise for the future. Having just finished his first full season with RCR, Gordon finally has all the elements he needs to be successful. He just needs a bit more luck and a breakthrough finish and he could become a top-10 finisher, perhaps as early as 2003.
Kyle Petty -- Finished 22nd and enjoyed his best season since 1997. Proved to many that he's not finished as a driver. Has a very real chance of being a top-15 finisher next season as he continues his long-term plan of getting the Petty Enterprises name back to prominence.
The D list
| |  | | | Labonte |
Bobby Labonte -- For the No. 18 team, it's another case of wait 'till next year, with a major shakeup likely within team personnel during off-season, according to team owner Joe Gibbs. It's hard to believe that the 2000 champ has fallen so far in such a short period of time.
Kevin Harvick -- What a major disappointment after the storybook season in 2001. What didn't go wrong with the No. 29 team? He switched crew chiefs and that didn't even help much. To finish nearly 1,300 points behind Stewart is an embarrassment after the outstanding rookie campaign Harvick had in 2001. Look for major changes within the team during the off-season.
| |  | | | Sadler |
Elliott Sadler -- No wins and only two top-fives. Moves to Yates from the Woods for 2003. Since making the announcement he was switching in August, Sadler's season became nothing more than a run-of-the-mill campaign, with few bursts of excellence. He has so much talent -- finished second at season-opening Daytona 500 in February -- and yet could not seem to find the key to consistency and success. Maybe he'll find it with Yates, but only time will tell.
Terry Labonte -- After some early-season success, Texas Terry wound up with his worst career finish (24th), sparking rumors that retirement -- or a possible release from Hendrick Motorsports -- may be in the cards. It's a shame, because Labonte is one of the nicest drivers on the circuit, but being competitive and winning races wins championships, not being Mr. Nice Guy.
Ward Burton -- If people say Marlin had the worst luck of all drivers, how quickly they forget about Burton, who began the season with a smash by winning the Daytona 500, only to fall flat the rest of the way. Mechanical problems plagued the team, although it seemed the more effort was paid to fixing those problems, additional ones crept up in other areas. This is another team that could see major off-season changes.
Incompletes
| |  | | | McMurray |
Jamie McMurray -- Was quite impressive in six starts replacing Marlin, including a win in his second event. Holds lots of promise for a full rookie season in 2003 as he will run a full season for Chip Ganassi as Marlin's teammate.
Greg Biffle -- Along with McMurray, could put on an even more impressive rookie show in 2003 than the one we saw this past season between Johnson and Newman.
Also-rans
| |  | | | Mayfield |
Jeremy Mayfield -- Going nowhere fast, it seems.
Jimmy Spencer -- Career in limbo now that he's out at Ganassi.
John Andretti -- Another mediocre year, and remains unsigned for next season. Rumors abound that he's raced his last Cup race and may be returning to open-wheel (as in IRL) next season, though Petty remains confident he will sign.
Johnny Benson -- Earned first win this season after 256 career starts, but not much else to write home about. Hopefully can stay healthy and use his first win and build upon it in 2003.
| |  | | | Schrader |
Ken Schrader -- Losing his sponsor and with no wins or top-10s in 2002, will have a new home in 2003.
Mike Skinner -- New team and new sponsor in 2002, yet same old results. Unless team has a major overhaul, expect more of the same next season.
Bobby Hamilton -- A driver that could be better, and should be better, but just can't seem to get a handle on his talent.
Steve Park -- Lingering medical woes caused Park to struggle this season. If he doesn't have a strong start to 2003, he could be sidelined -- and not by choice.
Joe Nemechek -- To have the upheaval he endured with sponsorship problems, it's a credit Nemechek finished where he did. Things improved markedly when he joined Hendrick in May, and after a runner-up finish at Homestead, he could be well on his way to a jump in 2003.
| |  | | | Atwood |
Casey Atwood -- How far this promising young driver has fallen, to the point where he's out of a job and with few prospects for 2003. Look for him to likely wind up in the Busch Series next season, which might be the best place for him to get some valuable experience.
Brett Bodine -- One of the last independent racers, he should be commended for doing the best with what little he has.
Jerry Nadeau -- Forgotten season, forgotten performances, hopscotched as driver for hire, but has a new deal and new team for 2003 that offers promise and potential to get him back in the top-20 on a consistent basis.
Todd Bodine -- Like Nemechek, went through an extremely trying experience with sponsorship this season, able to start only 24 races. But Bodine will not return to Haas-Carter's No. 26 Ford, which has no sponsor signed for 2003, and is still looking to finalize his plans for next season.
| |  | | | Wallace |
Kenny Wallace -- Rusty's younger brother replaced Hut Stricklin as driver of the No. 23 Dodge, and brings several new sponsors with him to run a full campaign next season (competed in just 21 races).
Hut Stricklin -- Replaced in August as driver of the No. 23 Dodge. Future plans remain uncertain.
Mike Wallace -- Has earned a reputation as a fill-in driver, but could really showcase the talent he has if he could get a good, credible, well-financed ride for next season.
Stacy Compton -- Was once one of the brighter lights on the horizon, but has faded from view considerably the last two seasons. Is in the same boat as many other second- and third-tier drivers: has talent, but needs a stronger team and sponsor to help bring out that talent.
Buckshot Jones, Ted Musgrave, Tony Raines, Shawna Robinson, Derrike Cope, Frank Kimmell, Geoffrey Bodine, Rick Mast, Steve Grissom and Hermie Sadler -- They all need help in a variety of ways, and lots of it!
Jerry Bonkowski covers NASCAR for ESPN.com.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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