What do the ten drivers I just mentioned have in common??? They drove in a combined total of two races during the 1998 season, with Kenseth getting a one-time shot along with R. Gordon participating in a road event. The top ten for 1998 read as follows: Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Burton, Bobby LaBonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Terry LaBonte, and Bobby Hamilton. Of that group, only Jeff Gordon and the two LaBonte�s rank in the top 11 in 2003. As far as Martin, Jarrett, Rusty, and Jeff Burton are concerned � it is not so much that they suddenly started stinking in five years, it�s just that the new wave has swept them out into NASCAR�s abyss.

But at the final Labor Day weekend running of the Southern 500, there were no celebratory burnouts, along with no smack talking or altercations after the race. Instead, we get Terry LaBonte�s first win in over four years thanks to masterful pit work that got the #5 out to stay. Afterwards, there was no burnout, just the veteran politely asking for the checkered flag before doing one slow �I�ve been in the end zone before� victory lap around the venerable egg-shaped speedway. And instead of the latest hottie girlfriend in Victory Lane, we instead see LaBonte�s teen-age daughter along with his wife. Instead of cell phones, household products or building materials we got good old milk and cereal. It was a popular win all the way around and even second-place Kevin Harvick admitted that he would had felt like the Grinch had he passed LaBonte in the closing laps.

But earlier in the weekend we were introduced to an even newer wave sure to hit a Cup track near you soon. 19 year-old Brian Vickers, driving the #5 Busch Series car for Hendrick Motorsports won the Busch Series race for his 12th top-ten in his last 15 outings. Afterwards it was announced that Vickers will be replacing veteran Joe Nemechek in the #25 Hendrick Cup car for 2004. Finishing second in the Busch race was Kyle Busch registering his second-second place finish in just three races. Along with the news regarding Vickers 2004 promotion to the Cup circuit, it was announced that the younger Busch would replace Vickers in the Busch #5 car for �04. Ironically, it was Joe Nemechek providing Kyle with his rides this season. Don�t be surprised if Kyle pushes Terry LaBonte out the door as soon as the 2005 season.

By the way - it appears that like his older brother, it will not take Kyle long to ruffle some feathers in the racing world. Busch raised eyebrows after performing a doughnut along with Vickers after the race. I know Michael Waltrip did a doughnut after finishing second at Vegas but (1) Waltrip is a veteran and (2) everyone knows Michael enough to know that he�s a cut-up and doesn�t mean his actions in a taunting or show-off manner. Matt Kenseth was among those criticizing Kyle afterwards referring to the stunt as �unbelievable� and suggesting that the celebrations should be reserved for winning. And that came from a teammate of Kurt Busch, who knows what the likes of Kevin Harvick and the veterans will have to say about Kyle in the future.

In the aftermath of the Jimmy Spencer incident, Kurt Busch commented that the Busch�s was �used to booing� back in Las Vegas because they �won a lot�. That may also add a little fuel to the fire, along with Kyle perhaps catching some of the backlash Kurt has created. Kyle signed with Hendrick in an attempt to create a separate identity from Kurt, but the early line says that his act appears to be much the same. And here's another word of warning for Kyle, anger from fans in this sports often tends to spread to the entire clan.

Lost in the euphoria of the LaBonte win was how the rookie class of �03 is finally strutting it�s stuff. Also this was Ryan Newman�s race to lose for much of the day and, he found a way to lose it. Here are the driver recaps�

Kevin Harvick � It seemed to be a different driver each time, but Bridesmaid Harvick seemed to be second to someone coming out of the pits all day. But his third striaght second-place finish pulls Harvick to within 26 points of Dale Jr. for second place behind Matt Kenseth.

Jimmie Johnson � Yes, the usual suspects were heard from. Johnson�s third top-five effort in four races keeps him a solid fourth in the standings.

Jamie McMurray � One school of thought has it that Ryan Newman has kept the other Dodge teams from getting concessions from NASCAR, for only one Dodge driver besides Newman has done as much as place second this year. I would consider the theory but you haven�t seen anyone help out the Pontiacs lately. In addition, McMurray is proving in recent weeks that Dodges beside Newman can indeed contend with his third top-five in five races.

TRIVIA: Who is the other Dodge driver to score a second place finish this year???

Bill Elliott/Jeremy Mayfield � The Spring race is called the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, this one�s called the Mountain Dew 500 and sure enough they finish fifth and sixth respectively. Do you believe in coincidences??? Guess the Dodges don�t need much help.

Bobby LaBonte/Elliott Sadler � Good to see these two turn the tide and score top tens, reversing weeks of misfortune.

Ricky Craven � However this guy�s misfortune has been even worse since winning the Spring race. Even with an eighth place finish it wasn�t a good weekend for Ricky, as one of his businesses in Maine burned down. Here�s an interesting note though, Craven managed to go 56 laps on a set of tires during Happy Hour. Definitely a horse for this course.

Greg Biffle � Qualified well top-five material much of the day and a definite contender to win with a new chief, but the car �biffed� late resulting in a tenth place finish. Still one of the #16�s best efforts of the season and I have a feeling there will be more to come.

Jeff Burton � Always strong here and led for a while early on before gradually fading to 11th. Off the track Burton re-upped with Rosch Racing on a new multi-year contract.

Tony Stewart � Not much of a factor for the win and placed 12th. As with Burton the biggest Stewart news was off the track as he wisely re-upped with Joe Gibbs Racing. I got a kick on how MRN explained how rumors 'get out of control with the internet and what have you'. Yeah, that dang JAYSKI starting trouble again. Seriously though, how much upside would there had possibly been with Ganassi or anyone else??? That would have much more of a chance of ending in dissapointment than success.

Kurt Busch � Unscheduled pit stop due to a tire going down wrecked Busch�s day, and was unable to get decent track position after that. Sponsor Rubbermaid chimed in this week in voicing it�s displeasure towards the embattled driver�s recent actions, and plans in developing a �mentoring� program to help it�s driver with his behavior. Meetings will consist of media training along with meetings with other Rosch and veteran drivers so Kurt can �learn from their experiences, both on and off the track.�

Matt Kenseth � Not his best effort, but has still raced all of two laps this year while increasing his points lead to 389. I�ll make the announcement: KACSPORTS has projected Matt Kenseth as the 2003 NASCAR Cup Champion.

Kevin LePage � Anytime the #4 car finishes on the lead lap and leads a few circuits it�s news.

Jeff Green � Finished two laps down in 18th, but was fired by DEI afterwards being replaced by John Andretti.

Steve Park � Finished 20th, the reaper may also he coming after him for the second time this year.

Jimmy Spencer � To add insult to injury, Joe Nemechek was eliminated after becoming the latest to be on the receiving end of the #7.

Ryan Newman � Let�s face it, this was Newman�s race. Qualified from the pole, led the most laps, and had the cherished #1 pit position. But that�s where things went wrong as the #12 was suddenly lifeless. After several attempts by the Newman team to push-start the #12 in the 90+ degree heat, Rusty Wallace�s crew came to the rescue to help out, but still to no avail. As crewmen finally gave up and started to push the car back to the garage, Newman realizes that HE HAD HIT THE KILL SWITCH!!!!! And I thought that was a stunt reserved for Harvick. DOH!!!!!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. � Led his usual laps early on, but a gear problem put him behind the wall and eight laps down.

Kyle Petty � Was on the lead lap with a chance at a top ten before dropping a cylinder late after which the motor beat itself to death.

Robby Gordon � Was bidding for a top-ten but cut a tire/wrecked and limped home 28th.

Jeff Gordon � Yet another in an incredible string of bad luck for the #24, as Casey Mears got into him midway through the race. Said Gordon afterwards �I consider Casey to be a good friend, but he needs a spotter.� Mears confirmed that he didn�t hear �outside� from the spotter until it was too late.