Forget about traction control, NASCAR needs to worry about cloning technology falling into the wrong hands.

Over the last five years the search for the next Jeff Gordon has intensified. Team owners have seemingly done everything but swipe the four-time champion's DNA. While some experiments have failed, it's undeniable the quest for the next wonder boy has infused the sport with talent. NASCAR's new generation now fits a distinct profile; clean cut, young and fast.

In 1999, Tony Stewart became the first Winston Cup rookie to win since Davey Allison in 1987. Since then, not a season has gone by without a rookie victory. In fact, there are very few rookies who haven't won.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth combined for three wins in 2000. In 2001, Kevin Harvick tallied twice. Last year, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Jimmie Johnson set a new standard with a total of five rookie victories -- though McMurray technically wasn't yet even a rookie. Johnson won three times, tying the rookie record set by Stewart.

The youth movement continues in 2003 and leading the way is Chip Ganassi Racing. McMurray, who made just six starts in relief of Sterling Marlin following his neck injury last season, retains his rookie status. He'll join Marlin and fellow rookie Casey Mears in the Ganassi stable.

"It's pretty cool because Casey's young and we're gonna go through the same experiences together for the first time," said the 26-year-old McMurray. "And then we have Sterling who we can go to for advice. And the thing about Sterling that is so good is what he says is what he really feels. He was really helpful to me last year when he wasn't driving. So I feel like he will be a benefit this year."

McMurray stunned the racing world winning at Charlotte on Oct. 13 in only his second career start. Now he'll become the first driver ever to begin his official rookie season already having a victory. With this, McMurray has set a high standard for his teammate, but Mears brushes off the pressure and is able to keep things in perspective.

"The whole rookie thing in the last couple years has really escalated from what it's been over the last 50 years, and what the expectations are out of rookies," Mears said. "I think at the end of the day the people that I need to please most are back at the shop. And they all know that realistically I am a rookie.

"Obviously they chose me because they think I can do well and win races and that's why I'm here and that's what I want to do. But at the same time we are being realistic. If we can consistently finish inside the top-20 early on and get some good solid races under our belt we'd be happy to a certain extent."

	Jamie McMurray, center, also won two Busch races last season.

Personality traits aside, McMurray and Mears have little in common. Mears hails from California, is a descendant of open wheel royalty and before spending the past year in the Busch Series was a CART and IRL driver. In contrast, McMurray is from Missouri, climbed the NASCAR ladder racing late models, the Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series before landing in Winston Cup. Still, comparisons between the two young drivers will be inevitable. But both drivers downplay the prospect of a friendly in-house rivalry.

"We haven't looked at it in a rivalry sense. I haven't anyway," Mears said. "There isn't anyone who wants to come back to a three-car team third quickest out of everybody. Everybody wants to be the quickest guy. But at the same time we're all reaching toward a common goal. And that's to get the whole team up front at the end of the year. And we're not going to do that by not sharing information."

McMurray agrees.

"I don't think there's anymore (competition) with Casey than there is with Sterling because we all just want to do well," he said. "I want Casey to do well and I want myself to do well. And I don't know that I'd be bitter if one did better than the other I just would like to see both of us be successful."

Viva Las Vegas
Ganassi's youth troop continued preparations this week during testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For McMurray it was a bit of a reality check.

"Honestly this is one of the first tests I've had that I feel like hasn't been a good one so far," he said. "Not that it's been bad, but everything for the last five months has been perfect. I couldn't screw up. And like today is the first day it didn't go perfect. I mean were not horrible it's just gonna take a little time to get used to working together."

NASCAR's restriction on testing dates this year, cutting the number of allowable sessions from seven to five, did not deter teams from testing at Las Vegas. Twenty-three Cup drivers headed to NASCAR's "test in the west" this week to prepare for the third race of the season and beyond.

Some teams believe that if you're competitive in Las Vegas you'll be solid throughout the season. For example, in 2001 Jeff Gordon won this event en route to his fourth championship. A year ago, Sterling Marlin's victory provided momentum he held along with the point lead for 25 consecutive weeks. It's this type of indicator that may have inspired teams like Hendrick, Roush and Ganassi to place heavy emphasis on this test.

But while each of these organizations sent multiple cars, two other teams were conspicuously absent. Neither Penske South Racing nor Robert Yates Racing were in attendance at all.

MBV/II alliance with Morgan McClure
For teams adjusting to new body styles, preseason testing takes on additional importance. Consequently, MBV and MBII Motorsports, which captured it's first win last year at Rockingham, N.C., with Johnny Benson, has joined forces with Morgan McClure Motorsports, which hasn't been to Victory Lane since 1998 when Bobby Hamilton won at Martinsville, Va. Both teams hope the alliance will help them compete on a higher level and adjust to this year's new Pontiac.

Homecoming
The Las Vegas test gave Kurt Busch an opportunity to return home. After winning four races in 2002, including three of the last five, Busch has established himself as a star and that's how he was treated this week. The Sporting News followed him around the city where he stopped at all his old hang outs. Among his favorites, In and Out Burger and Applebee's, which now proudly displays a Kurt Busch tribute collage featuring pictures from his formative years in the Southwest Series.

Flyovers
The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is located less than a mile from Nellis Airforce base. And while NASCAR's Top Guns were dialing in their cars for the upcoming season, American fighter pilots were testing for something of much greater consequence. Serving as a constant reminder that there are more important things than sports.

Mike Massaro covers NASCAR for ESPN and ESPN.com.