The tests provide the lessons

Sporting News, The, Jan 20, 2003 by Lee Spencer

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M@IL BONDING

LEE SPENCER ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

How do you see the 2003 season unfolding for these drivers--Ward Burton, Johnny Benson, Jeff Green and Joe Nemechek--who are trying to break through?

Scott Collier, Powder Springs, Ga.

Scott: I would not categorize Ward Burton as a driver trying to break through. With nine years in Winston Cup and five wins, Burton is established as a contender, though inconsistency has been a problem.

Benson's emergence perhaps has taken longer than expected, but his first career victory, at Rockingham last year in his 226th attempt, will boost his team this season. Injuries have slowed his progress the last two seasons. If Benson stays healthy, he is sure to move up to the next echelon of drivers.

Green was a pleasant surprise as Richard Childress Racing's top finisher in the 2002 points standings. He has proved he can race with the best if he has top-notch equipment. New crew chief Mike Beam will be a welcome addition.

Of this group, Nemechek has shown the most improvement in the shortest amount of time, beginning with his move to the No. 25 car last May. Hendrick Motorsports is committed to making this team competitive.

SPEED READS

* It would behoove Ganassi Racing, which has rookie drivers Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears, to copy Hendrick Motorsports' game plan from 2002. Mears and McMurray would accelerate their learning curves by spending meaningful time on the track with Sterling Marlin, Ganassi's only veteran driver. After following Jeff Godron's lines around Daytona last year, Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson won the pole in his 500 debut

* Ultra Motorsports' pairing of Jimmy Spencer with crew chief Tommy Baldwin is the strongest combination the NO. 7 team has put together since its inception. Spencer won't contend every week, but he will be tough on short tracks and in restrictor-plate races.

* Don't expect Tony Stewart's extracurricular racing at smaller short tracks to end soon. That said, Stewart's decision to forgo the International Race of Champions and the Indy 500 speaks volumes about this commitment to winning a second Winston Cup championship.

INSIDE DISH

By LEE SPENCER

The biggest surprise in the first session of January testing was the solid performance of Mike Skinner in Morgan-McClure Motorsports' No. 4 Pontiac. Credit Larry McClure with recruiting veteran crew chief Tony Furl and bringing back former General Motors engineer Gary Grossenbacher. "There are going to be a lot of positives this year," says Skinner, who won both poles at Daytona in 1997 as a rookie. "We had an awfully tough year last year. Hopefully, that will all turn around this year. I think everyone is focused right now." Skinner also credits major motor improvement during the last six races of 2002. The chief engine builder is Runt Pittman, whose motors powered three cars to Daytona 500 wins, starting with Ernie Irvan in 1991.... The sudden dismissal of Robin Pemberton as general manager at Petty Enterprises came as a surprise to many, including Petty driver John Andretti. "Robin did a real nice job while he was here," Andretti says. Speculation persists that the lack of sponsorship--Sprint did not re-sign after its contract ran out--was the reason for Pemberton's dismissal. Pemberton, 46, is one of the strongest aerodynamics specialists in the garage and made a significant contribution to Kyle Petty's program last year. Don't expect Pemberton to sit idle for long.... Changes have been made in Jeff ButtOn's pit crew. Burton's No. 99 Ford has two new tire changers, Bonnie Brown in front and Rich Boyles in back. Shaun Allen has been hired as gas man, and shock specialist Eric Slade will double as the catch-can man. Former shock man Pierre Kuettel will remain car chief. The team has yet to replace departed jackman Brian Perry. Burton is easing into his relationship with crew chief Paul Andrews, who joined the team last September. "I can't look in Patti's face yet and know what he's thinking," Burton says. "I'm not saying that's a bad thing." Burton adds that he wanted "totally new energy, a totally new environment and a totally new team," and that's what owner Jack Roush has provided. With testing planned for Rockingham and Los Vegas, expect Burton to get off to a fast start.... Elliott Sadler, who finished second in the Daytona 500 last year, is getting acclimated to the additional horses under the hood of his No. 38 Robert Yates Racing Ford. "They're very aggressive with their motors, and I really like that," he says. Sadler plans to attack the season early and has tests planned for Rockingham and Atlanta.... Fox Sports analyst and former crew chief Larry McReynolds is in discussions with NBC analyst and driver Wally Dallenbach to start up a new Busch Series team for the second half of the season. "We'd like to find an existing team and see if they're interested," McReynolds says. He says his ability to work on cars will enhance his value on the broadcasts.... Brett Bodine, among the last drivers who own their cars, is working on a partnership with Bolt Brooks of Hooters Restaurants. Bodine, 44, says the move should give him a better outlook. "We just haven't been able to get ahead of things," Bodine says. "The last few years, we were going backward." He missed four races last season and finished 36th in points.