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Reactions: NASCAR's 2001 storylines

TV coverage and the Earnhardts the talk of this year

Many are saying Dale Earnhardt Jr. may capture his first Winston Cup title in 2001. Allsport

CNNSI.com users were asked what they thought would be the big story in 2001 in the world of NASCAR. Will Dale Earnhardt win an eighth Winston Cup title? How will Dodge do in their return? Will the extra races have an effect? A sample of the responses we received to these questions follows:

Will Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham do as well separately as they did together?
Joe Knowles, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Fox Sports' coverage of NASCAR races will be a major story for me. When I heard that they might make certain cars on the track "glow" when they are speaking of them, I almost dropped my dentures. I am also a hockey fan and I remember all to well how the glowing pucks and comet tails on shots actually obstructed the view of the fan at home during Fox hockey telecasts.

For now, Fox has the benefit of the doubt. I, for one, am not holding my breath. I can't imagine Bubba and Boudreaux, while watching the Southern 500, saying to each other, "Shoot, I sure do wish they could make that No. 3 car glow when they're fixin' to talk about it."

Let's have more camera angles, different camera angles and maybe more in-race conversations with the drivers during caution laps, but leave the glowing to Three Mile Island.
M. Paul Gelch, Little River, S.C.

Dale Earnhardt will not win the championship in 2001. Dodge will start out strong, but the long season will hurt the small teams. The story in 2001 will be the extra races and the negative effect it will have on the drivers and the small teams. The new TV package will also be a big story in 2001. In the end, Jeff Gordon will win his fourth championship.
Bret Johnston, Skidmore, Texas

I am twenty years old and have been a NASCAR fan for a long time. Dale Earnhardt is an excellent driver and I really believe that he will win his eighth championship in 2001. But, I think Dale Jr. will end up in the top three in points and give pops a run for his money. Dale Jr. showed that he has the ability to win races last year. The only thing that he needs to work on is consistency. The Earnhardts will be the ones to watch in 2001!
Joseph Darling, Bloomington, Ind.

The biggest storyline of this year will be Earnhardts dueling, not for the race, but for the championship. Dale Sr. will win it for the eighth time with Little E following right behind him!
David Jr., Windsor, Colo.

The story of the year will be the return of Dodge to NASCAR. I want to see what Ray Evernham can do with the Intrepid. Can he dial the car into a track for Bill Elliott like he did the Chevrolet for Jeff Gordon?
Jim Bingley, Bloomington, Ill.

First, I think Jeff Burton got a huge burden off his back by finally winning at Daytona in the Pepsi 400. I predict that this will carry over, and he will win the Daytona 500. As for the Winston Cup, I could see Earnhardt winning his eighth title. What an incredible feat that would be. I also think you can look for Jeff Gordon to come back strong after having a year under his belt with a new team.
Jason Sleik, Seymour, Wisc.

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