NASCAR warns on teammate interference

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- NASCAR issued a warning to teammates of drivers battling for the top positions in the Winston Cup standings during the pre-race drivers meeting Sunday morning at North Carolina Speedway.

	Matt Kenseth Credit: Autostock

Managing event director David Hoots said championship leader Matt Kenseth and the others near the top, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick, should be the ones who decide who finishes where in the points.

"We'll be watching very closely and intently that the championship and all the points positions should be played out on the race track," Hoots said. "I want to remind you all that we shouldn't have any teammate intervention as all the positions are settled for these all-important Winston Cup points and points positions in the final standings.

"We'll be watching that very closely, crew chiefs. I want you to keep that in mind."

RCR close on driver choice

Richard Childress appears to be closing in on a driver for his No. 30 Chevrolet. Steve Park won't be back next season, and Childress has delayed an announcement for nearly a month.

Some drivers appear to be leery of getting in the car with a sponsor, America Online, that has a year left with the team. Early speculation centered around Ward Burton and Jeremy Mayfield, but AOL apparently vetoed Burton, and Mayfield re-signed with Evernham Motorsports.

	Credit: Autostock

One thing Childress won't do is use more than one driver, like he's done successfully in the Busch Series.

"Right now, we don't have that on our agenda," Childress said. "Hopefully, we can make some kind of announcement at Homestead. I want that as bad as y'all want to quit asking me."

Childress said he'd also announce shortly who would share the Busch Series seat with Kevin Harvick in 2004.

"We're probably going to announce that next week," Childress said. "I'm really excited. I've got two drivers. Probably, if I get one of them, I'm going to sign the other one anyway because he's what I like. He's full of fire."

Old habits hard to break?

Every driver and crew chief has to attend the pre-race meeting, and if NASCAR doesn't see everyone it needs to, it makes a quick announcement.

"Driver of the 22?" Hoots says.

Sunday, Ward Burton responded with a "Here."

Burton, of course, isn't the driver of the No. 22, but he used to be.

Elliott starts at the rear of the field

Bill Elliott has already had a good weekend, as his No. 9 Dodge crew won Saturday's pit crew championship with a record time for a four-tire pit stop.

Elliott, though, had to drop to the rear of the field for Sunday's Pop Secret 400 because of an engine change.