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What: Sports Illustrated Presents 1997 Winston Cup.

Where: Newsstands, $5.95.

Who’s the roughest driver in NASCAR?

Who’s the best driver in NASCAR?

A poll of 25 leading Winston Cup drivers for Sports Illustrated’s stock car racing special almost made Dale Earnhardt the answer to both questions. Only Jimmy Spencer, Mr. Excitement, edged Earnhardt for the roughest.

“There’s no give and take [with Spencer], just take,” one driver said.

Even though Earnhardt has gone 59 races without a win, the Intimidator remained No. 1 over Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon in the eyes of his peers.

Of Earnhardt, it was said, “A good driver can take a 12th-place car and finish eighth. Dale can take a 12th-place car and finish fifth.”

In another poll, Roger Penske’s new California Speedway was a hands-down choice as NASCAR’s best track. “If anybody wants to build a track, they should have to hop on a plane and go look at that one,” Wally Dallenbach Jr. said

The half-mile oval at Martinsville, Va., was a narrow selection for worst track over the new Texas Motor Speedway.

In addition to the polls, the year-end wrap-up for motor racing’s most successful season also included a look ahead to 1998.

Dale Earnhardt will win the Daytona 500 on his 20th try, but Dale Jarrett will win the Winston Cup, predicts forecaster Ed Hinton.

The 164-page magazine showcases each of the 32 races in 1997, complete with track diagrams, top five finishers and series leaders at the time.

For enthusiasts, it’s just what the front cover slogan exclaims: “Special Collector’s Edition.”