NASCAR: WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2002 By-Bethann Puderbaugh Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! Many were glad to see the end of the 2001 season come. Last season's emotional highs and lows, and the grueling schedule had many drivers and crews emotionally and physically burnt out. Robin Pemberton, and Todd Parrot both made tough decisions and left their positions within their team's organizations for less demanding positions. Silly Season was crazy, with drivers and crew chiefs jumping from team to team. So what should we look for in 2002? - Hopefully we will see a close race for the championship, not a repeat of this year where the champion was pretty much decided with 5 races to go. I want to see the engraver sitting there at homestead waiting for the final lap to put the finishing touches on that trophy. - The Championship Race: Look for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick to be real contenders for the 2002 Championship. With the distractions of this past season behind him Dale Jr. should be a real contender. His second half of the season showed that he and his crew are ready for the challenge. Kevin Harvick, with the distraction of running two series simultaneously gone, he will be able to focus entirely on his Winston Cup aspirations. Other viable contenders to watch are Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, and Tony Stewart. - Look for SAFETY to become a hot topic again this season. Last season Nascar and Its teams worked together and developed some safety features to make racing safer. This season we should see the introduction of crash data recorders in cars, more exploration into soft wall technology, and the changes in store for restrictor plate races will be something to watch as well. -Look for more on track and off track excitement! Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart should keep the Big Red Trailer busy. I say "Rubbin is Racin"! Those are my thoughts on the upcoming season, I don't expect everyone to agree with them. Lets all hope for a competitive, and safe 2002 Nascar Season! If you want to contact me you can do so at penguins111@yahoo.com Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! Article Archives Return to the Main Page