Chip Ganassi Racing: Sterling Marlin won two races early and has successfully treaded water since. Jimmy Spencer missed the Daytona 500 and has been only marginally competitive since.

Evernham Motorsports: Bill Elliott has been competitive but Jeremy Mayfield hasn’t been able to put things together. The same holds true for quasi-teammate Casey Atwood.

Hendrick Motorsports: Jeff Gordon’s divorce is a sideshow; his winless streak is the real puzzler. Jimmie Johnson’s been great. Terry Labonte’s team is improving. Joe Nemechek is giving the No. 25 a whirl.

Joe Gibbs Racing: A decidedly mixed season thus far. Tony Stewart has a 43rd and 36th place finish but is still in the title hunt. Bobby Labonte hasn’t had a top-10 finish since his Martinsville win.

Penske Racing South: Rusty Wallace can’t seem to break into the top five. Ryan Newman has been up there some, but four engine failures have rained on his rookie parade.

Robert Yates Racing: Ricky Rudd finally got a break at Sonoma he very easily could have four wins. Dale Jarrett seems to have righted his ship a bit, too.

Roush Racing: Everybody’s won except Jeff Burton, which seems odd. Matt Kenseth leads the circuit with three wins. Kurt Busch has made some dangerous enemies. Mark Martin is in title contention.

PPI Racing: Three top fives is a solid job for Ricky Craven and his team. Cal Wells wants to add a second team, and that might help.

Dale Earnhardt Inc.: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Talladega. Michael Waltrip has come from 27th to 14th in the points standings since Texas. Steve Park, however, is driving for his job.

Petty Enterprises: Kyle Petty is 18th in points, a nice improvement over years past. John Andretti’s team, however, hasn’t been swept up in the rising tide. Steve Grissom is just hanging on in the No. 44.

Wood Brothers: Driver search for 2003 is already on with Elliott Sadler heading out the door. Car has been pretty racy, though.

Richard Childress Racing: Two top-five finishes for three teams isn’t Childress’ idea of success. His teams must dig out of the same hole Roush Racing fell into last year.

Bill Davis Racing: Ward Burton’s Daytona 500 win is bound to be the season’s highlight, but not by much. Hut Stricklin’s team hasn’t been a factor.

MBV Motorsports: If Joe Gibbs Racing can’t figure out the problem with Pontiacs, what chance do these guys have?

Andy Petree Racing: Waiting to see how the proposed deal with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones goes down.

Jasper Motorsports: Dave Blaney is doing a solid job for this underdog team.

Morgan-McClure; Brett Bodine Racing; A.J. Foyt Racing; Haas-Carter Motorsports; Junie Donlavey Racing, et al.: The pickings are slim at this end of Winston Cup’s economic food chain.