Martin

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- NASCAR warned its drivers before Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to allow Tony Stewart and Mark Martin to race for the Winston Cup championship without interference.

NASCAR president Mike Helton addressed the 43 drivers in their pre-race meeting, telling them the sanctioning body would be keeping a close eye on the on-track action.

"There's a lot on the line today, and we'll be watching," Helton said. "If we see something, you'll be brought in for a few laps and you'll be wondering what's wrong with your car."

It was a stern lecture, perhaps aimed at a fast-moving rumor through the garage that some drivers in the field would try to sabotage Stewart's effort because they favored Martin for the championship.

It also could have been a warning to teammates against blocking or trying to hold up other cars. Martin has three teammates at Roush Racing, Stewart has one at Joe Gibbs Racing.

And there was more on the line than just the championship -- spots three through eight in the standings were separated by just 72 points at the start of the race.

The warning apparently was heeded. There were no incidents, the top drivers all finished the race unscathed, and Stewart held off Martin for the championship.

Rookie of the Year

	Newman

Ryan Newman wrapped up one of the most exciting Rookie of the Year battles in NASCAR history by beating Jimmie Johnson for the title on Sunday.

The award came down to a combination of race results and a vote by a four-member panel on a variety of on- and off-track issues. Newman edged Johnson by 23 points.

"I'm happy about it, as much for myself as for the entire team," said Newman. "I'm glad we were able to compete the entire year, and even be in the running for the championship."

Newman said it was the fifth rookie title he's won, and that he's earned one on every level he's competed.

Johnson won three races this season -- tying Tony Stewart's mark for most wins by a rookie -- and finished fifth in points. Newman had one win and was sixth in points, seven points behind Johnson. But he also had a record six poles.

"I'm a little bummed out right now," Johnson said. "All in all, it's been an incredible year. We got a top-five and we'll go from here."

Winless Wallace
Rusty Wallace finished 14th, snapping his streak of 16-straight seasons with at least one victory.

It was a mark he desperately wanted to continue -- one more win would have broken the NASCAR record he shares with Ricky Rudd. His finish also caused him to drop from fifth to seventh in the standings.

"It's probably one of the saddest days of my life," Wallace said. "To not win and fall back into seventh in points -- it was just a terrible day, everything was."

Dodge disappointment

	Marlin

A year that started on such a high note for the Dodge camp ended bitterly for the manufacturer.

Despite seven victories -- including Ward Burton's in the season-opening Daytona 500 -- and Sterling Marlin leading the points for 25 weeks before he was sidelined with injury, no Dodge driver finished in the Top 10 in the standings.

Bill Elliott was the highest-finishing Intrepid driver at 13th in the standings.

"There's not a doubt in our minds that Sterling would be in this chase right down to this final race," said Bob Wildberger, senior manager of Dodge Motorsports' NASCAR Operations.

"So him getting hurt, and Bill Elliott's string of bad luck that took him out of the Top 10, it's a real kick in the teeth that we won't have a driver at the banquet in New York."

But there is hope: Dodge is expanding its fleet next season with the addition of Penske Racing South cars driven by Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman, and hot newcomer Jamie McMurray will be in a Chip Ganassi-owned Intrepid.

Dodge could have yet another young driver if Ganassi follows through with hints that he'll pick a young driver to replace Jimmy Spencer.

"We're going to have good balance in our program," Wildberger said. "We'll have a nice group of seasoned veterans and some rookies and youth who will be groomed to take their places. It's very important for us to make that transition and guarantee this program will be strong well into the future."

Schrader still looking

	Schrader

Ken Schrader isn't panicking even though he still doesn't have a job for 2003.

Schrader ran his last race with MB2 Motorsports on Sunday, then headed off for a busy schedule of dirt-track racing in the next three weeks.

"I'm a little concerned because there are more drivers than there are cars next year, but if it doesn't happen, there's plenty of other things for me to do," Schrader said.

Schrader said he's been in discussion with car owner Andy Petree, who doesn't have a primary sponsor but plans to field the No. 55 Chevrolet next season. That's probably his best bet for getting a full-time ride for a 19th season.

But Schrader has plenty of other series to race in -- the last idle weekend he had was in January, and he crams his schedule full of smaller events.

"I won't get in a Winston Cup car just to collect a paycheck," he said. "The joy is being in a race car, the satisfaction is running good, but there is nothing more rewarding that running well in Winston Cup."

Pit stops