We got drivers jumping from one seat to another while others are looking and making plans. Multi car teams getting bigger while Pontiac numbers are getting smaller. Lots of penalties that include points as well as cash. And we still got 16 to go.

Sterling Marlin, our point leader has been on top for 19 races. He is taking the championship seriously. Teammate Jimmy Spencer missed the Daytona 500, but has passed 8 drivers that ran every race. He sits 23rd in points. Rumor has it that Chip Ganassi may start a 3rd team for 2003. Suggestion would be get both cars running up front first.

Mark Martin leads in top 10 finishes with 13. Actually, all the Roush teams are running well. Matt Kenseth has the series leading 3 wins. Busch certainly has made the races a tad more interesting. Jeff Burton has had the lions share of trouble over here. Looks like they all share their notebook though. But Roush plans to add a 5th team for 2003. Can you say "getting out of hand"?

Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon run 3rd and 4th respectively. Expected Gordon to be up front, but winless? The rookie Johnson is having a fantastic season, even losing points. Another driver that runs for Hendrick is Terry Labonte. He has never gotten his due here. And the 25 car just never seems to finish. Maybe there is no good equipment left? Apparently there isn't enough notes to go around either. To me, Hendrick doesn't concentrate on all his teams.

The Yates teammates, Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd always seem to do well. Usually can find them both running up front. Could it be they have never spread themselves thin by adding a third team? Or will they be? Will it hurt the success they already have? And where will Ricky end up? Amen already!

Tony Stewart running fast, Bobby Labonte is not. Tony Stewart has run up front, Bobby has not. Tony has 11 top 10 finishes, Bobby just 3. But they both have visited victory circle so what is the problem here? The coach is switching to Chevy's next season. Is the Pontiac the problem? Then how come both drivers aren't struggling?

Kenny, Rusty doesn't have time to help you with those wrestlers. He has problems of his own. No wins, two top 5's and he just lost 4 spots in the points this past weekend. Most times you can find his teammate, rookie Ryan Newman running closer to the leader. Newman has 8 top 5 finishes. Maybe Rusty should be hollering for Newman's help?

Bill Elliott just took the win at Pocono. Running consistent puts this team in 9th. Now Ray Evernham needs to concentrate on the 19 car. They are back in 28th place. 2 top 5's doesn't cover it. It's all the unscheduled pitstops and garage visits during a race that is killing this team. Are they running the same equipment? Casey Atwood pushed over to the 7 team isn't far behind Mayfield. Still think Ray should have kept Casey in the 19 and put Mayfield in the 7.

Ricky Craven sits in 14th and is the first single car operation in the points. Good for them! Rumor has it that there may be a teammate for Ricky next season. Didn't help last year.

Next in line is two of the DEI cars, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr.. Michael is doing better and Junior is not. Steve Park missed 4 races and showed some promise when he came back, but now appears to be having trouble finishing toward the front. Is this an inner circle problem?

Elliott Sadler is next. He drives the second team in the points with no teammate on the track. Guessing Sadler thinks he can do better since he is moving on. And I still think Elliott is the cutest thing in a driver's suit.

In 20th sits the first of the Childress entries, Jeff Green. He has just two top 10 finishes. Kevin Harvick penalized a race, has 5. Switching teams seems to have worked for him. Robbie Gordon was doing okay but now he's hurt. Indianapolis and Watkins Glen are two tracks he should have excelled at. Being hurt could hurt his chances for good finishes. With this trio, who expected Childress not to have problems? Is he bald yet?

Dave Blaney and the 77 team really seem to be meshing. He has brought this team to the front consistently. Sitting in 21st spot I look for them to keep getting better. Last season there was only one single car team in the top 25, this one.

Dave Blaney and the 77 team really seem to be meshing. He has brought this team to the front consistently. Sitting in 21st spot I look for them to keep getting better. Last season there was only one single car team in the top 25, this one.

Got to give a "bravo" to Kyle Petty in 22nd. He has made all the races and has a top 10 to his credit. What a difference a year makes. His teammate John Andretti isn't doing as well. The addition of Jerry Nadeau to the 44 might actually bring new life to the group.

Ward Burton just won Loudon. He won the Daytona 500. The wins are his only top 5's of the season. Can you say struggling? Well his teammate Hut Stricklin can say it louder. Its apparent something isn't working here since Hut is reported not to be back in this ride next season. Could it be Scott Wimmer?

Bobby Hamilton had a teammate, then he didn't. But sometimes he does. Had a ride, soon he won't. I would be confused too.

Mike Skinner is the big surprise to me. I thought he and the Morgan McClure team would excel together, especially on restrictor plate tracks. No top anything this season!

And what is with Kenny Schrader? We all know that his teammate, Johnny Benson has missed some races due to fragile ribs, but what is Kenny's problem, fragile cars?

Brett Bodine has run every race and hasn't finished in the top 10 yet this season. Maybe some time with the sponsor on the hood will help. Well, some more time.

Stacy Compton is out Mike Wallace in, for now. Steve Grissom is out Jerry Nadeau in. Todd Bodine was out, now in. And Rick Mast, he has just disappeared!

Fines get bigger, the entries get smaller. Springs are down penalties are up. And we still got some racin' to do!

That's what I think for now.

- gertie