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Monday, January 20
Updated: January 27, 3:03 PM ET

Comments on Winston Cup drivers
ESPN.com

We spotlighted Winston Cup drivers Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Steve Park and Kyle Petty. Here are your thoughts on their '02 campaigns and prospects for next season:

Jerry Nadeau

I feel that Jerry Nadeau will not only swim in 2003, but all the way to two wins and a top-10 in the points standings! I feel this way because if you look at Johnny Benson when he went over to MB2, he wasn't exactly the greatest driver out there, but came within five laps of winning the Daytona 500 and ended up with back-to-back top-15 points finishes. So I feel that Jerry Nadeau will surprise most people and have that "breakout season" that him and his fans have been waiting for for the past five years now!

Jeremy Sebastian
Erie, Pa.

Jerry Nadeau is only brilliant, and is one of the best drivers I have ever seen. Expect him to run up front if the team is competitive.

Bruce MacInnes
Senior Instructor
Skip Barber Racing School, LLC
Lakeville, Conn.

Jerry is a great driver, but he has his weaknesses. He should just settle with one team and race. If he does this he may be able to win some races.This guy has the skill to win time after time. If he just settles with a nice team.

Dylan Blackburn
Jonesboro, Ind.

I think that Jerry Nadeau will have a better season in 2003. He is an excellent driver, but he has never had a top quality crew and car. If he gets the right people and a great car this season, I think we will see a win and more top-10s for him. If not, it will be just another season for him.

Janelle Oliger
Columbus, Ohio

Joe Nemechek

I believe with Peter S. coming on board last year the No. 25 car developed the chemistry it was lacking. I'm expecting Joe to finish in the top-15 with an outside chance for the top 10 in points for 2003. Just look at how he led the way for the Hendrick cars during Daytona testing. Front Row Joe will become Victory Lane Joe in 2003.

Scott Harris
Richmond, Va.

Look for Joe to be a big surprise this year. He will definitely build on strong finishes at the end of 2002. At least two wins!

Bill Lafontaine
Rochester Hills, Mich.

I think Joe is ready to show everyone what he is made of. He has won championships at every level he's ever raced at, and in 2000, his first year with the No. 33, they put the car in the top-15. This year, he's with an even better team, and they've already had a half-season to work together. Watch out everybody, you will know Joe by the end of 2003.

Jackson Bazley
Dunedin, Fla.

He is a good all around driver. I personally think he needs to have tons of improvements. He needs to start by calming down a lot. You can't be stressed and win a lot at all. He next needs to get a supportive crew. Last, he needs to concentrate on the race.

Dylan Blackburn
Jonesboro, Ind.

Ryan Newman

Watch out for Ryan Newman next year! Look at how strong he was last year. Without those blown engines he would of been higher up in the points. Both he and my boy Rusty will be STRONG next year. Penske knows how to pick the best!

Cindy Adams
Burbank, Calif.

Ryan is a good smooth driver, I'll give him that. But besides that he is a perfectly normal middle finishing racer. I can't name goods and bads but this guy is an average driver. He has his good and bad days. He has a good crew. He gets a couple wins a year. So if i had to rate him on a scale of one to 10 I would give him a five. Perfectly down the middle. I think if he had his chances and a bit of luck you could have a good driver here.

Dylan Blackburn
Jonesboro, Ind.

I think Ryan will be the 2003 Winston Cup champion. His rookie year was great and he'll build on that for this year. The switch to Dodge will prove to not be a factor. He'll win several races and stay in contention all year. He proved his versatility last season and he'll continue to do so in 2003.

Christy Fetterman
Quinby, Va.

To me, Ryan Newman's second-place finish at Watkins Glen last year while driving the better part of the race with no power steering spoke volumes about this young man's driving ability. He is an awesome talent who will pick up many wins and a couple of championships before his days are done.

Scott Lalonde
Morganton, N.C.

Steve Park

Steve Park is absolutely going to be in the top 10 to 15 in points. He has a crew chief that actually cares about the team and has the confidence in the team and the driver to already give him several good runs at the end of last season. He has amazing courage and perseverance and will be in victory lane this year.

Fran Pittman
Wilmington, N.C.

Now that DEI has brought in some key people to the No. 1 Pennzoil team, it wouldn't surprise me to see Steve Park win at least one race this season, run consistently in the top 20, and finish in the same group. The momentum that started building when Tony Gibson took over as crew chief has continued through the off-season testing. Steve is back and will "Park it" in VL in 2003!

Deanna Frock
Akron, Ohio

Steve Park had some OK runs in the 2002 season, but it wasn't too good of a year. He only missed four races out of 36, so he should have or could have done better than in 2001, which was probably going to be his best year. However, good runs at Darlington (spring), Indy and Talladega (Fall) showed signs of promise from Park. Also, his running some BGN races should help him improve, too.

Charlie Stobie
Beaverton, Ore.

I think the fact that a new crew chief late in 2002 coincided with a resurgence if his performances, it showed that perhaps many of Steve's problems were not all his fault, and had nothing to do with his health. It will be much harder for the media to ignore him this year.

Melissa Williams
Ripton, Vt.

Kyle Petty

Watch out for this team this year. Last year was just a big boost for better things to come for Kyle Petty. Yes, Robin Pemberton is gone, but the information he brought to the team all of last year isn't gone. Kyle Petty's team and crew is a year older, more experienced and ready to win a race in 2003!

Collin Utterback
Sioux Falls, S.D.

I don't Kyle will win any races for Petty this season or later. If anybody will win it'll be Andretti, who should be called the lead driver instead of Kyle. Kyle should just step aside and be an owner and let Christian Fittipaldi drive his car. Also, the next Petty driver to win a race will most likely be Austin Petty.

John Illk
Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

This is painful to say because of the Petty name but let's be honest -- we have heard this rebuilding talk for the last five years. And guess what? It is still not happening. You have to wonder what Richard must be going through with all the losing and not even being competitive.

Todd Blackburn
Jonesboro, Ind.

I've been a Petty fan since 1963 (five years old). Kyle could have called it quits but has persevered through much adversity. His expectations seem quite realistic and last year is proof of that. I think you can expect both the 45 and the 43 to finish 2003 in the top 20 in points with one of the cars breaking the top 15. I also think Kyle will finish in the top five at least once during the season, maybe even at Daytona as the car seems fast in testing.

Richard Snyder
Mannsville, N.Y.

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