Stewart

Sports need their stars to shine, and that's exactly what NASCAR got on Sunday.

With Tony Stewart winning the 2002 Winston Cup championship, NASCAR benefits from one of its biggest names winning its biggest prize.

Not that there's anything wrong with Mark Martin. He's a great driver who certainly deserves a title. But Martin falls into the same category as a Dale Jarrett, a Ricky Rudd, a Rusty Wallace or a Bill Elliott -- plenty of ability, plenty of stature, plenty of experience, plenty of success.

And a good deal of personality.

Personality, but not persona. At least not like Stewart.

Last season, NASCAR was in the unenviable position of replacing its biggest star. So who better to win the 2001 championship than Jeff Gordon, the sport's second-biggest star?

A year removed and moving forward, NASCAR needs its personalities to remain in the spotlight and achieve success to continue the sport's growth. And with his on-track ability and off-track controversy, Tony Stewart has done just that.

If you had to give NASCAR a choice between a beloved elder statesman carrying the mantle or a younger hotshot who is more likely to draw further interest into the sport -- well, it's not a difficult choice.

For NASCAR would likely trade having a champion it may not be able to control in favor of attaining growth it can't control.

Among NASCAR fans, it doesn't matter. Many like Mark Martin. They know what he's meant to the sport. They know how close he has come, only to fall agonizingly short. They know the tragedy he has endured.

	Will Stewart be the new face of NASCAR?

They know Mark Martin has earned a championship several times over, even if he has never actually won one.

Mark Martin is a star, but he's not a star.

Tony Stewart makes news. He makes people want to watch races. People that maybe normally wouldn't care so much.

Stewart embodies not necessarily what NASCAR is, but to an extent what NASCAR wants John Q. Public to think NASCAR is. For even though Rusty Wallace might have as much attitude as a guy like Stewart, it's all about perception. And in Stewart's case, the perception often isn't too far off from the reality.

He's a bad boy. He does things his way. He wins his way. And most of all, he's a pure racer. And that's what NASCAR wants.

Another perception was that NASCAR was all about the young guns vs. the experienced veterans this year. Well, sometimes it played out, sometimes it didn't. But regardless of whether certain veterans still find success and compete for championships -- as Martin did this year and a number of drivers are capable of next year -- Martin's generation has indeed become Old NASCAR.

But it's not a question of old vs. young. Rather, it's old vs. new.

New NASCAR? It's Stewart, it's Gordon, it's Dale Earnhardt Jr. It could be Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch.

Gordon's titles have been a transition period. Now, there's a new sheriff in town -- or a new outlaw, as it may be. Either way, Stewart's title has helped to unofficially usher in New NASCAR.

This isn't to say that guys like Jarrett and Wallace and Martin can't win titles in the next few years -- they can. But as this point, it could be less about them winning a title as it is about Stewart and Gordon losing one.

For it's their time now -- time for New NASCAR.

And for veterans such as Mark Martin, time is running out.