OK, it's FINALLY time for the 5th annual Winston Cup drivers and season report card. Once again, remember, this is an opinion based column. If you agree with some... good. If you don't... good. If you don't agree with any... well I pity you, fool. And if you agree with all, seek professional help.
Without any further ado here's the long awaited much maligned "Stooge's 2000 WC Report Card".
Remember folks, I have a family oriented page and message board. Please state your
opinions of the column and grades on the message board but do so as if you would expect
your mom or your children to read them. Somebody's does! If you feel the need to
destroy me, my column or my image with less than suitable language, four letter
descriptions or misnomers please do so in a private email to:
gore/bush/?@whitehouse.gov.... just kidding.... to:
As usual, I will proceed in a numerical and orderly fashion (it's easier for me to
remember them all by going through the car #'s) and I grade on a curve, my curve being,
past performance, past expectations, future expectations and over-all skill level. For
example, a "lesser skilled" driver will get a better grade then a "higher skilled" driver
even if he didn't have nearly as successful a season in points, wins, etc. And if you don't
like it go write your own report card.
#1 Steve Park A- Steve was a pleasant surprise for me this year. A win, 13
top 10's, only that slight miss from the Top 10 in points (11th) kept this from being a
straight A year for Park.
2000 Winston Cup Season A- A great season! Plus sides: 10 winners in 10
races, 14 different winners over all! A few "edge of the seat" races, a few "sleepers" and
overall great racing most of the year. NASCAR's decision to look at "aero" take-aways
going more towards "stock" instead of another plate. Soft wall technology studied. A
great return to help silence some of the "doom sayers" that were ringing the death knell
for NASCAR's immense popularity. Down sides: The tragic loss of Adam and Kenny,
plates at NHIS, the usual "rule waffling" and inconsistencies... I could go on. But all in
all I think the plus side far outweighed the negative side and I look back at 2000 as a darn
good year. And I STILL smile at that Mayfield pass at Pocono.
"Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong"
#2 Rusty Wallace A 4 wins, enough poles to start his own phone company, a
shame he didn't have the consistency to make this an A+ season.
#3 Dale Earnhardt A This was border line A+ but I think even DE would
consider it a loss since he didn't get #8. Excellent comeback season though!
#4 Bobby Hamilton D- A terrible season for this once powerful team. Lowest
finisher in points of all cars that started all 34 races, only 2 top 10's, amazes me the
sponsor didn't bail too.
#5 Terry Labonte C He can't be happy even though he beat 11 others who ran
more races, the snapping of his "Iron Man" streak had to be another major
disappointment. Having won the championship just a couple years ago makes his 17th
place finish even harder to take. Would have been lower if not for the 2 race sit out with
injuries.
#6 Mark Martin B- An 8th in the points for most would easily rate a B or
higher but a sub par performance for Mark. He was the one of the highest average
finishers in points for the decade of the 90's. Are the 00's the end of his era?
#7 Mike Waltrip C Although there were a few glimmers of hope in 2000 this
perennial "average" runner had his perennial "average" season. For Mikey's sake I sure
hope that DEI ride pans out in '01. He's a good guy and I STILL say he can win.
#8 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. A- 2 wins in his rookie season! The kid's got talent and
although his team lacked consistency with only 5 top 10's and the 16th in points I have to
give this youngster an A- for youth AND talent. Now the top 50 sexiest male athletes? I
don't think so!
#10 Johnny Benson B I wanted to give Johnny an A for his run at Daytona in an
unsponsored car alone, let alone his runs at other tracks in a "questionably" sponsored car
but only 7 top 10's make it a B. I can only say, if I had a top running car I'd put Johnny in
it. The man can get it done with the right backing.
#11 Brett Bodine F For sale, one WC team with grand history, sad recent
past.
#12 Jeremy Mayfield B- Two wins but 2 DNS' keep this a B. I still smile about
that Pocono pass every time I think of it. It's a shame this team suffered such an
inconsistent season, without the wins this would have been a low C.
#13 Robby Gordon F Maybe it's the car #? Nahh, maybe just re-read the '97
report card.
#14 Rick Mast D I used Rick for the #14 as he seemed to have the longest
tenure. Bad season for all involved. Gotta make AJ sick!
#16 Kevin Lepage C- Signs of life were just death rattles for this doomed team.
I think Roush needs to rethink that winning the championship by quantity and try by
quality. Shame Kevin and the rest of the #16 team had to be the red headed step child in
this over grown family.
#17 Matt Kenseth A 1 win, Rookie of the Year. The kids smooth, smart and
smiling all the way to the bank. Big things to come for Kenseth, hope Martin got an iron
clad contract. Nuff said!
#18 Bobby Labonte A+ WC champion, class act, class team, class owner. Great
rep for the 2001 reigning champ season!
#20 Tony Stewart A 6 wins! The slide to 6th in points kept this from an A+
season. A great season for any driver. What sophomore jinx?
#21 Elliott Sadler C- This was a toughy, grade it on the Wood's history or
Sadler's youth. I went with the Sadler youth and tossed a coin.
#22 Ward Burton B I was real tempted to go with a B+ or A- because of the
win but I just don't think the Davis/Burton team is happy with 10th in points. Sure it's a
trip to the stage in NY but I think they should have done better. I look for a top 5 in
'01
#24 Jeff Gordon B 3 wins but still "sub-Gordon". Another one that can't be
satisfied with the final points stat for '00.
#25Jerry Nadeau B+ Had to toss in the plus for that win. Definitely an above
average job for the Nadeau team despite the 20th place points. This was an "E" for effort
grade
#26 Jimmy Spencer C Average driver, average season, average grade.
#27 Mike Bliss C- That Viagra ride seemed to be hard on drivers. Hope it
was just growing pains and the #27 team can mount a stiff challenge for '01 without
Viagra's help. Hope Bliss gets another shot for a new ride, I think he's better than his
season showed.
#28 Ricky Rudd B Good season for most, 5th place should probably rate an A
but I knocked off points for failing to complete an assignment... win. Next year!
#31 Mike Skinner C Another toughy. Since he's still a non-winner he gets an
average score. Could have been higher with a little more effort but this team needs to put
in a lot more class time.
#32 Scott Pruett F My biggest disappointment of the year. If you look back at
my '00 Predictions I picked Pruett for 10th place. Figured he had the talent to make the
Indy/WC switch. Should remember my axiom, anyone can drive them cars that stay glued
to the ground with ground effects. Takes a bit more talent to wrestle the WC tanks around
the track.
#33 Joe Nemechek B- Just slightly above average for his new ride. Not much
else to be happy about for '00
#36 Kenny Schrader C- Kenny, the parties over. Sorry dude.
#40 Sterling Marlin C- I just don't know. Give them one more chance with the
Dodge switch. If that doesn't do it for next season, turn out the lights too Sterling.
#42 Kenny Irwin, Jr. We'll miss you!
#43 John Andretti D A very disappointing season for this winner from '99.
Look for new life in them '01 Dodges
#44 Kyle Petty D Adam's loss had to be too much for any man, even a
Petty. My heart goes out to Kyle and screams A for just completing the season.
#50 Ricky Craven B Should be an "Incomplete" but I give him a B for
"stick-to-it-tiveness" and the efforts he puts in on every run.
#55 Kenny Wallace B- I see flashes of my expectations from Kenny at times. I
still say he could run and win like Rusty with backing from a "Penske-type". It's just that
#55 has always been an average ride.
#60 Geoff-Rey Bodine F Just doomed from Daytona on. If I was employing a driver
I'd tell them you drive my car full time. You want to run the other stuff find another ride.
Just too much to risk.
#66 Darrell Waltrip F Even the name "Victory Tour" couldn't help this disaster.
The "Hindenburg of auto racing"?
#71 Dave Marcis D--- Just couldn't quite fail him for running with a budget
more equipped for a Yugo then a Monte.
#75 Wally Dallenbach, Jr. D Did he run this year?
#77 Robert Pressley C+ A couple memorable runs this year gave the #77's a
slightly above average grade.
#88 Dale Jarrett A- 2 wins, 4th in points... got to be an A. Just not the year he
was looking for to back up his championship. You could see it in his eyes during
interviews an the final 1/3 of the season. He lost that champions "visage" and "talk".
#90 Whoever was driver of the week for
Donlavey D No steady pilot,
sitting out races. Just a bad year for perennial "good guy" Junie. Maybe you should just
grab that rocker and call it quits? Nahhhhh, wouldn't be the same. Go Junie!!!
#93 Dave Blaney B Not a bad rookie year. In some seasons could have been a
winning run for Rookie. Just not this one.
#94 Bill Elliott D 21st in points, 2 DNS, just not the BE of old. Signs of life
after the addition of Ray in the background. Maybe next year???
#97 Chad Little D No #97 next year. What else can you say?
#99 A He let me down, I really felt this would be the year. As the
Flyers fans keep saying (for a few decades now)... Next year! A drop from 2nd to 3rd in
the final race stole the A+ and a big chunk of change. No team changes during the off
season will mean 2001 WC Champion... Jeff Burton! Now I got to get my Vegas
connection to go put a couple hundred on that one!