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Wednesday, November 26
Making a Thanksgiving-sized list
By Jerry Bonkowski
Special to ESPN.com
Next to Christmas, no other holiday brings a family together like Thanksgiving. There's the traditional turkey feast, the closeness of being with loved ones and catching up on what's new in their lives, and the post-dinner festivities, be it watching football on TV, playing cards, knitting … or in my case, taking a full-belly nap.
In keeping with that spirit, I'd like to give thanks to many of those in the NASCAR family. We may not always see eye to eye on issues -- then again, what families can say they're always in complete agreement on everything, anyway -- but we're all cut from the same cloth when it comes to trying to be good people day to day, as well as enjoying a mutual love for racing.
And so, if you'll indulge me for a few minutes, I'd like to give thanks for:
Jerry Nadeau. Hovering close to death after a horrendous crash at Richmond this spring, Nadeau has made nothing short of a miraculous recovery. While his road back to racing full-time remains lengthy, he's on the right track, and that road back gets shorter every day.
Ryan Newman and the HANS device. To watch Newman helplessly endure frightening end-over-end barrel rolls first in the season opener at Daytona, and less than two months later at Talladega, and emerge unscathed in both instances is a testimony to the incredible advances made in safety equipment in NASCAR racing, particularly with head and neck restraining devices. Not only was Newman able to walk away from both wrecks, he went on to have a phenomenal season, leading Winston Cup in wins (8) and poles (11). Had it not been for some early-season DNFs, including those at Daytona and Talladega, Newman could very easily have been the 2003 season champion.
Matt Kenseth. The final Winston Cup champion was a picture of grace under pressure all season long. He was the epitome of cool and calm, never letting himself get ruffled or fretting if his points lead was in jeopardy by a hard-charging fellow driver. And while Kenseth had only one win in 2003, compared to a series-leading five the year before, he once again proved the old NASCAR axiom true: it's not how many races you win, it's how consistent you are during the entire season. And Kenseth was, without a doubt, Mr. Consistent and Mr. Cool in 2003.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Son of arguably NASCAR's greatest driver ever, the younger Earnhardt made significant gains both on and off the racetrack in 2003. Not only did he show a more intense commitment to his craft, his maturity level increased exponentially. While he still maintains his famous hip-hop persona, as he grows one year closer to the age of 30, Earnhardt has finally realized this is more than just a game or sport, it's a big business that requires a driver to take on equally large responsibilities and maturity. Another part of that is Earnhardt becoming a Busch Series team owner. He's wisely preparing for his post-driving career and getting a head start on building his own racing empire while still young.
Mark Martin. Despite enduring his worst season in Winston Cup, and just one year after finishing runner-up to champion Tony Stewart, Martin is perhaps the most thoughtful driver on the circuit today. While he may have a rough edge that occasionally rubs some people the wrong way, Martin is brutally frank when it comes to discussing his performance or issues within the sport. You may not always agree with him, but his answers are well thought out and insightful. Plus, even with a poor 2003, he's still a hell of a race car driver.
Bill Elliott. As he closes in on the half-century mark, Elliott proved at Rockingham, N.C., in the season's second to last race that he still has a few checkered flags within his grasp. While rumors swirl about whether he'll retire before Daytona in February, I'm betting that Awesome Bill from Dawsonville (Ga.) will be with us for a couple of more years, at least through the 2005 season. Elliott has been nothing short of a true gentleman in the sport … and is someone certain so-called brash "young gun" drivers of today could take a few lessons from when it comes to exuding class and sincerity.
|  | | Bill Elliott's legion of fans remain thankful for his continued success. |
Brian France. NASCAR's new Chairman and CEO has the future of the sport resting in his hands. It's a big job with equally large responsibility, but France is in a unique position having been part of the sport's growth the last 15 to 20 years but now beings its guiding light for the next 20 to 30 years. Even though he isn't even 40 yet, France has played a significant role in NASCAR's ascension to the second-most popular sport in the U.S. today, as well as the multi-year mega-billion dollar TV deal he helped engineer. To borrow a phrase from a popular insurance company, NASCAR is in good hands with France.
Terry Labonte. One of the friendliest guys on the circuit, Labonte shook off a couple years of extremely harsh criticism from media and fans alike to have one of the most surprising finishes of any driver in 2003, ending the season in 10th-place. While others had written him off as too old, saying he should hang up his firesuit after more than a quarter-century of Winston Cup racing, Labonte proved there's still a lot of fuel left in his gas tank. What's more, if he was that good this past season, how much better can he be in 2004? It will certainly be a treat to watch.
Tony Stewart. The 2002 Winston Cup champ has been called a lot of things in his career, from crass to Terrible Tony. But as reigning Cup champion during the 2003 season, Stewart surprised many critics by keeping his cool, not losing his temper and genuinely becoming a fitting champion. He was graceful in defeat, particularly when Matt Kenseth blew by him in almost an effortless manner, and showed that Terrible Tony can actually be a pretty nice guy.
Jimmie Johnson. If only all the young guns currently in the sport could be like Johnson, we'd have nothing short of a love-fest both on and off the track. Not only is he a huge talent behind the wheel, JJ is a team owner and sponsor's dream. He provides eloquent and well-thought-out answers to questions, is graceful in defeat and epitomizes the kind of class and respect for other drivers that many of his fellow young peers could learn from. Finishing the season as runner-up to Kenseth, just 90 points away, Johnson is one of the favorites to become the first Nextel Cup champion in 2004. If that happens, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Rusty Wallace. If a reporter needs a good, colorful quote to make for a successful story, there's usually no better mouthpiece than old Rusty. Even in his late 40s, Wallace remains as outspoken as ever. And, given that he's coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, he'll have a lot to say during the offseason to try and get the No. 2 team back on the right track (he's closing in on three years without visiting Victory Lane). While Wallace may be old school, he's just as relevant today as he was 20 years ago.
John Andretti. While he has been one of the hardest-luck drivers in the series, what he has lacked in career performance, Andretti has more than made up for with his never-give-up attitude. He still approaches every race as if it was his first in Winston Cup. And with last week's announcement that he would remain in the DEI-owned No. 1 Chevrolet for 2004, I'm predicting that Andretti will enjoy the best season he's had in more than a decade of Cup racing.
The NASCAR Media Relations Department. Folks like Jim Hunter, Mike Zizzo, Herb Branham and others make it a lot easier to do what can be a very tough job at times. They're always helpful and professional. Plus, they even tell some good jokes from time to time (that's an inside joke, folks).
Those are just some of the members of my extended NASCAR family that I wish to give thanks for. While we may not be related by blood, we are by marriage, of sorts -- the wedding of speed and excitement that only NASCAR racing provides. Now, pass the Mark Martin gravy bowl, let me cut the turkey with the Rusty Wallace electric knife, pour me a cup of coffee in my Jimmie Johnson mug, raise a toast for Jerry Nadeau's continued recovery, wipe myself off with my Bill Elliott napkin and then let me finally get that nap in my Tony Stewart easy chair.
I tell you, Thanksgiving can be almost as much hard work as going to the races.
Jerry Bonkowski covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at Motorsportwriter@MSN.com.
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