The NASCAR Winston Cup season can be likened to a 36-turn labyrinth. The maze is not as simple as what you'll find in a newspaper comic section; a more accurate comparison is to the memorably confusing network of paths in Stephen King's classic "The Shining." OK, maybe it's not as scary as all that, but it is equally daunting. One wrong move and Bam! Roadblock.

Teams must navigate their way from Daytona in February to Homestead in November without making too many wrong decisions. Those who have successfully avoided the season's pitfalls are still concentrating on 2003 at this moment. Those who have taken a wrong turn or two? They're already looking ahead to 2004.

That's the scenario heading into Atlanta this weekend. With just four races remaining the agendas vary and the complexion of Sunday's Bass Pro Shops 500 will reflect as much.

Atlanta has been a magical place for Kevin Harvick. In only his third career start, just weeks after replacing Dale Earnhardt, he scored an emotional first career victory there. Now he heads to the 1.54-mile track hoping to make a charge at his first Winston Cup Championship.

Including his win at Indianapolis, Harvick has recorded 10 top-10 finishes in his last 12 races, vaulting him from seventh to second in the standings, 240 points behind leader Matt Kenseth.

But what if? What if Harvick hadn't stumbled early in the season?

"I think for us we try not to look back at anything," said Harvick, who finished 19th at Atlanta this spring. "Obviously, you could look back to Richmond, or Chicago where we ran out of gas running second and finished 17th, or Loudon where we ran out of gas. But everybody goes through the year and has some weeks where they run out of gas or have a crash. It's just part of our sport. So, we try not to look back. We try to just keep going with what we've got ahead of us."

He and Kenseth are the only two drivers who still have realistic title hopes. It seems everyone else is fighting for second. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson are knotted together, with just 23 points separating positions three through five.

Jeff Gordon was tracing the course of the unknown perfectly until August. At tracks where he normally excels, Watkins Glen, Michigan, Bristol and Darlington, Gordon struggled. His best finish was 28th (Bristol) during that four-week stretch, dropping him from title contention.

Gordon has since found his way, recording five consecutive top-five finishes including his second win, last week in Martinsville. But it has been a roller coaster season.

"You ride the wave when it carries you," Gordon said. "And you keep your chin up when it's not going your way."

Gordon, sixth in points, is trying to build momentum for next season. He heads to Atlanta looking to notch back-to-back wins for the 18th time in his career. This spring Gordon led 68 laps in Atlanta before Bobby Labonte bumped his way past him for the win.

"Bobby made a great move here in March," said Gordon, who has three Atlanta victories. "He had momentum and I slid up in front of him to block him. He gave me a little tap and I got sideways. I tried to squeeze him high, but I knew we'd wreck if I took him any further."

The move gave Labonte his sixth Atlanta victory, the most among active drivers. At the time it appeared to signal the rejuvenation of the 2000 Winston Cup champ. Labonte left Atlanta fifth in points, but appeared to get lost in the maze shortly after. He finished outside the top-30 in three of the next four races. Labonte arrives in Atlanta eighth in the standings.

The Winston Cup labyrinth is not one where you can simply retrace your steps. If you're still lost at this stage of the season, it's game over. Time to prepare for next year's puzzle.

Several teams will be moving in that direction this week. Bill Davis Racing and Ward Burton will officially part ways as Burton moves to Haas Motorsports. Joe Nemecheck will also get an early jump on 2004, moving from Hendrick to MB2 Motorsports.

The byproduct of this accelerated free agency plan creates a sneak preview of next year's Rookie of the Year contest. Scott Wimmer will replace Burton at BDR and Brian Vickers will fill Nemechek's seat at Hendrick.

Wimmer has previously made six Winston Cup starts. Coincidentally his first was in Nov. 2000 at Atlanta, where he remembers being shadowed by Earnhardt.

"I looked in my rearview mirror and all I saw was that mustache," said Wimmer, who finished 22nd that day. "I was so nervous and all I kept thinking was, 'Don't spin out.' That was the one and only time I've ever raced against Dale Senior and I could see why everyone called him 'The Intimidator.' It was probably the most scared I had ever been in a race car."

Vickers made his Cup debut two weeks ago, finishing 33rd in Charlotte. This weekend he'll continue preparations for next year despite being embroiled in the Busch Series championship chase. He currently leads second-place David Green by just 23 points.

"Some people have questioned the decision to have me run the last four Cup races because we're in the midst of competing for the Busch Series championship," Vickers said. "I think the four races will help me not only in the long run, but in the immediate future, too. I'll get a lot more track time and I think it will help my focus."

Focus may be the operative word. At least, you'd better have a clear focus if you want to find a way out of this labyrinth.

If not, there's always next year.

Mike Massaro covers NASCAR for ESPN and ESPN.com.