(dis)believe the dialogue: Weekly news in review

Well, here we go, the final stretch. Only four races to go before we close the Winston Cup era and the 2003 season. It seems like just yesterday we were watching Ryan Newman's No. 12 tumbling over and over at Daytona.

Speaking of Newman, he has nine top-10 finishes in the previous 10 races, so continuing our "what if" points watch, he would currently be second in the points, a miniscule 65 points behind Matt Kenseth, if he had finished just 20 positions higher in races 8-11 (when he finished 38th or worse four straight times).

On to this week's topics ...

See if you agree with the "DIS" of what has been reported, or maybe you "BELIEVE" everything you read, because if it is printed, it is true ... right?

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Elliott: DIS

Championships should be stepping stones to bigger and better things, period.

Back in July, both Marty and I wrote that Gaughan is a star waiting to happen, but apparently he isn't in a rush. It is admirable that he doesn't want to leave his guys behind, but I don't think that should come at the expense of sacrificing opportunities.

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This kid has dominated the Craftsman Truck Series in 2003 and has nothing left to prove if he hoists the championship hardware in Homestead.

Sure, Gaughan certainly needs some seat time in a Cup car, but if Kyle Busch can get a full time Busch ride in 2004 with limited experience at this level, Gaughan easily could, too.

Marty: BELIEVE

Gaughan is a solid wheelman and the boundaries of his marketability are limitless, so in my mind he belongs at a higher tier of NASCAR competition. But the simple fact is that Winston Cup owners aren't blowing his phone up with offers.

Is it a bit surprising? Sure. In an era where unproven, good-looking guys like Casey Mears are handed Winston Cup rides out of the clear blue sky, it's shocking that Gaughan isn't more-highly sought after. That said, he's not. He told me that himself last weekend at Martinsville.

Gaughan's an awfully smart kid, and seems to me to have an uncanny ability to see past the crap. So he's doing what's right -- staying put, making sure his guys have structure for the post-Brendan era and, in the meantime, helping resuscitate the Craftsman Truck Series. Orleans Racing just inked a new factory deal with Dodge Motorsports. If they land an equally potent sponsor, look out.

I absolutely think this is the right call for Gaughan. Until he gets THE call, anyway.

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Elliott: BELIEVE

I have been one to get on Dale Jarrett and the No. 88 this season, I admit it, but after Sunday it is clear to me that DJ doesn't quit, and I respect that.

	After a terrible start to his Martinsville weekend, Jarrett finished 11th. Credit: Autostock

At Martinsville, one UPS car was totaled during qualifying. The next UPS car that showed up Sunday got dinged up and spun around (twice), but Jarrett still rallied to an 11th-place finish, which was his best finish since Bristol back in August.

That's right. August.

I wish we could report that Jarrett had turned his year around during the second half of the season, but he hasn't. I mean, he only has FOUR top-10 qualifying efforts this entire season.

He had four after just 10 races in 2002.

He also had seven top-10 finishes before halfway last season. This year, seven total.

The Yates guys are having a tough go at it in 2003, but I am making a prediction now -- they will rebound in 2004 in the same manner that Richard Childress Racing was able to rebound after a horrible 2002 campaign.

Marty: BELIEVE

To me, the most impressive thing about Jarrett's effort last weekend was that he drove a speedway car, built sleek and lean for aerodynamic purposes, to that best finish since August Elliott talked about. Though short-track cars and their speedway brethren are identical in appearance to laymen, their characteristics are quite different.

Therefore, Jarrett had to completely alter his customary Martinsville driving style to suit the car. The UPS Ford wouldn't handle coming off the corner, so in order to make up ground on his competitors, Jarrett had to bonsai that puppy deep into the corner before jamming the brakes. That's game...

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Elliott: BELIEVE

Yes, Jeff Gordon dominated Martinsville, but what else is new?

I will tell you.

Drivers, especially former champions, smell the end of the season and they are turning up the heat for the other nine positions directly behind Matt Kenseth.

Guess who has five-straight top-five finishes? Both Tony Stewart and Gordon, the current and four-time champions, respectively.

	Jeff Gordon was all smiles after he dominated Martinsville ... again. Credit: Autostock

Who else is hot? Jimmie Johnson is no slouch with five top-fives in the past six races, and Kevin Harvick with five straight top-10s.

Sure, Ryan Newman has just as many wins as Gordon (2), Stewart (2), Johnson (3) and Harvick (1) combined, but isn't it interesting that they are all fighting for the same positions in the points?

We may be ready to crown Kenseth our final Winston Cup champion, but the real question is who is going to grab that runner-up spot?

Marty: BELIEVE

Same driver (Jeff Gordon). Same track (Martinsville). Same car (HMS chassis No. 2446). Same setup (pretty much). Same result (Victory Lane). Gordon at Martinsville is like Andy Pettitte in October. The silent swagger is unmistakable.

In the spring, Gordon led 188 laps en route to his fourth career Martinsville win. En route to number five, he absolutely dominated, leading 311 of the 500 laps, and rebutting from crew chief Robbie Loomis to pit for tires with 95 laps to go, opting instead to slide around on worn out rubber in favor of keeping key track position.

And when he complained about it? Loomis told him to shut up and drive. Classic.