rpm.espn.com: Casey Atwood

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Tuesday, December 4

Casey Atwood
By Jerry Bonkowski
ESPN.com

Team: Ray Evernham Motorsports/Ultra Motorsports
Car/sponsor/make: No. 7 Dodge Intrepid

Casey Atwood
Atwood

STATS

Year
Rank
Wins
Top 5
Top 10
Money
Best finish

2001 26 0 1 3 $1,797,110 3rd, Homestead

Career 0 1 4 $1,894,140 3rd, Homestead

2001 recap
The good: Overshadowed by eventual Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick, Atwood still showed chutzpah and talent behind the wheel far beyond his age (turned 21 in late August). His ability to qualify well at several races bodes strongly for next season.

Season highlight: Bill Elliott's win at Homestead-Miami in the waning laps took away some of the gloss of Atwood's performance in the event, which he could have won had it not been for a late-race bobble on the track that allowed Elliott and Michael Waltrip to pass him for first and second in the final results.

The bad: To the naked eye, it appears Evernham has had his fill of Atwood, shuffling him off to a new "partnership" with Ultra Motorsports' owner Jim Smith for 2002, while Jeremy Mayfield comes on board to replace Atwood in the No. 19 Dodge. Reports of several clashes during the season between Atwood and Evernham only add more suspicion on why Atwood was shifted to Smith's operation, but Evernham says it's because Atwood needs more seasoning and to be brought along more slowly.

Season lowlight: Take your pick -- being demoted to Smith's team for 2002, or starting No. 4 in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, only to finish a disappointing 28th.

Casey Atwood
Rookie Casey Atwood toured the one-mile layout at Phoenix at 131.296 mph to claim his first career pole.

Key stat: Atwood put together three consecutive races late in the season where he qualified in the top-3 in each event, starting with his first career pole at Phoenix, followed by starting No. 3 in Rockingham and sitting on the outside of the front row in the No. 2 starting spot at Homestead-Miami.

2002 outlook
What needs to be done: Jim Smith is known for his patience as a team owner with young or problem drivers. He will be able to give Atwood more tutelage, time and seat time in testing than Evernham can.

Prediction: With his strong performances in the waning weeks of the season, Atwood most certainly will improve in 2002. If he continues to learn and improve under Smith's tutelage, expect Atwood to finish around 15th.

Your take
Did Ray Evernham make the right call in replacing Atwood with Jeremy Mayfield for 2002? Check out what RPM.ESPN.com users had to say:

Your take.

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