Driver reports. (NASCAR).

NASCAR driver reports are written by Lee Spencer. They appear in the first issue of each month and provide the lowdown on the teams TSN considers the top five title contenders. For the most recent TSN Power Poll and the Winston Cup standings, go to www.sportingnews.com/nascar.

Mark Martin 6

GAINING POINTS: The next four tracks have been good to Martin--eight poles and 10 wins in his career. He says one of those wins, last spring at Charlotte that snapped a 58-race skid, was "the win of my life." He has had mixed results on restrictor-plate tracks this season, wrecking at Talladega in April but finishing sixth and fifth in the two Daytona races. He was eighth at Atlanta and Martinsville. His biggest weakness appears to be a lack of bonus points. He has picked up just 55 points this season for leading laps and hasn't led the most laps in any race. He's also still looking for his first pole of 2002.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: Crew chief Ben Leslie believes Martin has accomplished so much in his career, he doesn't need a title to complete it. With some expecting Martin to retire when his contract expires in 2005, it's unlikely he'll have a better opportunity to get a championship. Martin has been in right points races before. In 1990 he had a 45-point lead with two races remaining, but lost the title by 26 points to Dale Earnhardt.

Tony Stewart 20

GAINING POINTS: Stewart maybe the best points racer in the garage. The No. 20 car consistently has gained points--leading a lap in 14 races and leading the most laps in four. But nothing replaces winning, and Stewart has won three times this season. Talladega will present a challenge--his best finish on a restrictor-plate track this season is 29th in the spring Alabama race. But the next four races on the schedule are the ones in which he moved from third to second last year. The season ends at Phoenix and Homestead, two of ins favorite tracks.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: After finishing second last season, there's only a little room for improvement, but winning the title could silence those who have doubted Stewart's commitment since he came to NASCAR. He has many years of racing ahead--if he chooses to stay and deal with the outside pressures. Some believe if Stewart won the title, it would give him enough ammunition to leave NASCAR. On the other hand, a title would give him negotiating leverage when his contract expires in 2004.