NASCAR Could Miss Competition Factor

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) _ With three teammates, it would be easy for Mark Martin to enlist some help to slow Tony Stewart in the chase for the Winston Cup title. <br><br>But car owner Jack Roush won't

Friday, November 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) _ With three teammates, it would be easy for Mark Martin to enlist some help to slow Tony Stewart in the chase for the Winston Cup title.

But car owner Jack Roush won't stand for that in Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

``We are one race team that races four cars, but the feeling of fair play does pervade the team,'' Roush said. ``The guys, I'm sure, without any conversation, will give (Stewart) every consideration to have clean track and an opportunity to do what he needs to do.''

As will most of the other drivers in the 43-car field _ no one wants to cause the accident that could derail the championship fight between Stewart and Martin.

Stewart holds an 89-point lead over Martin in the standings as both drivers seeking their first Winston Cup title.

But the idea that the rest of the field will give the two contenders leeway on the race track disgusts Stewart.

``This is just one of 36 races, we all have to race hard and if 43 guys don't race to win this weekend, I'll be very disappointed,'' he said. ``I have a responsibility with what I do in my car this weekend and I don't expect anybody else to change the way they race.''

Regardless, there will be drivers in the field neither Stewart nor Martin will want to be around. Some just have a reputation of making reckless moves and not giving others common courtesy.

Just last week, Stewart had to avoid a wreck involving Robby Gordon and Scott Wimmer. Afterward, Stewart was less than thrilled with Gordon.

``If he can't race guys, he just wrecks guys,'' Stewart fumed after the race. ``He's been a weapon ever since he's been in Winston Cup racing.''

Joe Gibbs, Stewart's car owner, knows there are some cars on the track that can make the entire team a little skittish when they approach.

They know all too well that freak things can happen _ Stewart was knocked out of the spring race in Darlington, S.C., and had to be held overnight in the hospital when. He was leading that race when Buckshot Jones wrecked as Stewart tried to put him a lap down.

``I can tell from talking to our drivers that there are certain people that they don't mind racing next to and other people where they are more concerned,'' Gibbs said. ``You can kind of hear it and you can hear it in the voice of the spotter and you can hear it in our crew chiefs.

``You don't like to have any personality conflicts on the track when you're in this position. So, yeah, I think you worry about that.''

Meanwhile, the battle could be considerably tighter before the start of Sunday's race should Roush Racing win its appeal of a 25-point penalty Martin was assessed earlier this month for having an unapproved spring in a race in Rockingham, N.C.

Stewart can clinch his first title by finishing 22nd, should Martin win the race and lead the most laps. But a restoration of 25 points would force Stewart to finish 13th should Martin have his best possible result.

The three-member National Auto Racing Commission will hear the appeal Saturday.

``I'm not bitter,'' Martin said. ``It doesn't bother me unless it falls into that area where the 25 points would make a difference in the championship.''