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Unofficial Nextel Cup Raybestos
2004 Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Page
Updated 11-18-2004

THIS IS UNOFFICIAL

    How the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Works:

    The point systems that are used to determine the Raybestos Rookie of the Year in NASCAR's top three divisions is very different from the NASCAR point system that is used.

    To remain eligible for the Rookie of the Year award, the driver must qualify for 8 of the 20 first races of the season.

    Drivers can cannot particiapte in more than 7 Cup races in one season to maintain their rookie status for the following season.

    The rookie point system is determined by the following:

    1. Only the driver's best 17 races are counted in head-to-head competition in the Winston Cup Series, 16 for the Busch Series and 14 in the Craftsman Truck Series.

    2. One point is awarded for each race in which a rookie of the year candidate qualifies and is eligible for championship points [not a post entry for expample].

    3. A 10-1 point system is in place for the rookies according to where they finish in the race in relation to the other rookies. The highest finishing rookie in each race earns 10 points; the second highest finishing rookie earns nine points, and so on.

    4. Each rookie contender will receive bonus points for a finish in the top 10. If a rookie finishes 10th, he will be awarded one point. If a rookie finishes in fifth place, he will receive six points and for a win the rookie will receive 10 bonus points.

    5. Bonus points are also awarded to each rookie after race numer 10, 20 and the final race [36]. The candidate with the most Winston Cup or Busch Series championship points accumulated in each segment will receive 10 bonus points; the candidate earning the second highest number of points receives nine, and so on.

    6. Following the final race of the season, the highest ranking rookie in Winston Cup, Busch, and the Truck Series receives an extra 10 bonus points, the second highest rookie receives nine points, and so on.

    7. There is also a Rookie of the Year panel for the Winston Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Trucks. The panel has the right to penalize any rookie for conduct or acts that might discredit or reflect unfavorably upon NASCAR.

    8. During the final weekend of the season in each series, the panel meets to discuss the Rookie of the Year candidates and each competitor is evaluated on three criteria:

    A. Conduct with the officials in the garage and pit areas,
    B. Conduct and awareness on the track, and
    C. Personal appearance and relationship with the media.

    The voting in the three areas will consist of a 10-1 point system. Voting may be distributed by a panel member in any way that he/she chooses. Total points will be averaged from each panel member's ballot. The points derived from the panel will be added to the entry, competition, and bonus points after the final race of the season to determine the overall Rookie of the Year winner in each division.

    Rookie Stripes: rookies will be noted on the car they drive by a yellow stripe on the rear bumper of the car.
    sometimes a driver not up for the award may have yellow stripes on tracks they have not competed on before.

    ROOKIE NEWS and NOTES 2004

    NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDERS
    NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES

    FINAL - KAHNE WINS 2004 ROTY AWARD

    · Kasey Kahne won the 2004 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Kahne finished the 2004 season with four poles, 13 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in 36 starts. He was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in 19 events this season.

    · Kahne finished 13th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, three points behind 12th-place Bobby Labonte and 46 better than 14th-place Kevin Harvick.

    · Kahne officially captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year by 120 points (376-256) over Brendan Gaughan. He is the 48th winner of the award since the program began in 1957.

    · The 24-year-old from Enumclaw, WA, became the youngest Raybestos Rookie of the Year since Jeff Gordon (22 years old - 1993). He started the season as a pure rookie, starting his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race in the season opening Daytona 500.

    · Kahne posted four Bud Poles and started on the front row eight times. He had 14 top-10 starts, including five top-fives in the first seven races.

    · Kahne tied Ryan Newman (2002) for the rookie record for most second-place finishes (five).

    · Kahne's best point position was fourth following Race No. 4 (Atlanta); his worst points position was 41st following the season opener at Daytona. Kahne was in the top-10 for seven races in the 2004 season.

    KASEY KAHNE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

    1994: Began racing Micro Midgets at age 14.

    2000-01: Won 21 open-wheel events in various series including World of Outlaws, Silver Crown, USAC Midgets and All-Star Sprints.

    2000: USAC National Midget Champion with nine victories and 17 top-10s in 18 races.

    2002: Made NASCAR Busch Series debut at Rockingham in February. Drove in 20 races for Robert Yates Racing, finishing 33rd in the Series points.

    2003: Had one victory, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Busch Series and scored his inaugural series victory in season finale at Homestead. Finished seventh in NASCAR Busch Series points.

    MORE NOTES

    · DID YOU KNOW? Four Raybestos Rookies led at least one lap in the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the most Raybestos Rookies to lead a lap in a race this season: Scott Riggs (twice for 12 laps), Kahne, Scott Wimmer (once for three laps), and Brendan Gaughan (once for two laps).

    · Two or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 in four races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer (ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth) Pop Secret 500: Kasey Kahne (second) and Scott Riggs (seventh) Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500: Kasey Kahne (fifth) and Brian Vickers (seventh)

    · Kahne led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie this season. He led led 44 times in 17 races for a total of 1,051.71 miles (692 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season:
    ---Brian Vickers (nine times in six races for 87 laps, 128.82 miles)
    ---Brendan Gaughan (six times in five races for 30 laps, 67.77 miles)
    ---Scott Riggs (five times in four races for 15 laps, 30.16 miles)
    ---Scott Wimmer (three times in three races for 10 laps, 23.82 miles)
    ---Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles)

    · Kahne was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most laps in a NEXTEL Cup Series race this season. He led the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway (six times for 148 laps) and the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway (four times for 207 laps).

    Raybestos ROOKIE HISTORY

     · The way to the NASCAR NEXTEL championship is to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Since 1979, SIX Raybestos Rookie of the Year drivers have gone on to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).

    · At least one Raybestos Rookie has won a Bud Pole in each of the last nine years. (1996-2004). There has been a first-time Bud Pole winner in each of the last 18 years (1987-2004).

    Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
    DRIVER, POINTS
     Kasey Kahne 376
    Brendan Gaughan 256
    Brian Vickers 255
    Scott Wimmer 247
    Scott Riggs 237
    Johnny Sauter 155
    Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(11-23-2004)

    Some NEWS

  • Streak Could End: A Raybestos Rookie has won at least one race in each of the last FIVE seasons dating back to Tony Stewart's win at Richmond International Raceway in September, 1999. Other freshman drivers to win: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Richmond, 2000), Matt Kenseth (Charlotte, 2000), Kevin Harvick (Atlanta, 2001), Ryan Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). All these drivers are still with the team they came into Cup with. The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).(Camp and Assoc PR). NASCAR's Rookie Points Standings are now WAY off mine, looks like they are counting more then 17 races, have not heard that it changed as I have not seen the ROTY Rules for 2004 and gave up asking for them.(11-18-2004)
    UPDATE: the streak ended.(11-21-2004)

  • Kahne going for a tie of the record UPDATE nope: with 1 race left, #9-Kasey Kahne is chasing NASCAR's modern-era [1972-present] record for top-five finishes by a rookie driver. Kahne is one of only six drivers to have scored 10 or more top-five finishes this season.
    Most top fives by a Cup series rookie (1972-2004)
    14 by Ryan Newman in 2002, 36 races [38%]
    13 by Kasey Kahne in 2004, 36 races [36%]
    12 by Tony Stewart in 1999, 34 races [35%]
    11 by Dale Earnhardt in 1979, ran 27 of 31 races [41%]
    9 by Davey Allison in 1987, 22 of 29 races [41%](11-18-2004)
    UPDATE: it didn't happen as Kahne finished 38th.(11-21-2004)

  • This week Raybestos and NASCAR match up, but somehow Vickers lost some points on the Raybestos side of things.(10-28-2004)

  • Rookie of the Year Points: for years, have been calculating how the Rookie of the Year [ROTY[ award is calculated. Every year until thjis year, I was pretty much on, maybe a point here of there. This year, my calculations are way off what Raybestos sends out and NASCAR sends out, if fact, even they differ. Why? no idea, unless the rules changed unannounced sometime this season, I used to rules found at the beginning of the 2004 season. None of the systems differ in who will win or is leading by a huge margin, #9-Kasey Kahne. Anyhow questions go unanswered, but been asked by readers, why the differences..no idea, here are the three standings......
    Driver Car# Jayski NASCAR Raybestos
    Kasey Kahne 9 302 294 294
    Brian Vickers 25 209 201 206
    Brendan Gaughan 77 207 206 200
    Scott Wimmer 22 205 200 201
    Scott Riggs 10 193 191 193
    Johnny Sauter 09 134 133 127
    (10-19-2004)

  • Rookie Rules will NOT change: NASCAR has concluded a review of its rookie of the year programs and will not change the eligibility requirements, vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter said Sunday. There has been speculation in recent weeks NASCAR would find a way to get #99-Carl Edwards and #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr. eligible to run for Nextel Cup rookie honors next season, even though Hamilton has, and Edwards will likely, surpass the seven-race maximum to remain eligible for the program. Without them, there are currently no other candidates for rookie of the year for the 2005 season in Cup.(ThatsRacin.com)...unless Kyle Busch moves up to Cup in 2005; Kvapil in the #77?(9-20-2004)

  • Changes in the Rookie requirements? UPDATE: Carl Edwards and Bobby Hamilton Jr. might be in the right place at the right time for more than merely a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup ride. Their unforeseen good fortune involves NASCAR's rookie program and a possible change in eligibility rules that could allow these two drivers to compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year Cup honors. To qualify to compete for the rookie program a driver can't have more than seven starts in a series prior to announcing their intentions to run a full season in pursuit of rookie honors. Compliance with the current rules will be impossible since both drivers will far exceed the limit. Edwards will have 14 starts by the end of this year and Hamilton will have approximately 17 this year between his service with James Finch and his new owner, Cal Wells III. Hamilton also has 14 starts in previous years with a variety of owners, which pushes his total to 31. In speaking with the Raybestos Rookie of the year communications manager, James B. White, www.teamfordracing.com learned that no qualified driver is on the horizon for 2005 Cup rookie honors, but beyond that he wasn't sure what might be in the cards for 2005 and his program. The issue came to light in Hamilton's strong suggestion at Richmond International Raceway that he and Edwards were going to be allowed to run for ROTY honors, despite lacking qualified status. NASCAR's deal with Raybestos to administer the Rookie of the Year program runs several more years. It would be highly irregular for NASCAR's premier series to be void of eligible Rookie of the Year contestants, and obviously problematic for Raybestos, which has purchased the right to promote them. Raybestos, according to motto, the best in brakes, handles ROTY programs for NASCAR's top-three touring division.(Team Ford Racing - member access)(9-16-2004)
    Rowdy: Today on Rowdy you can hear Jimmy White, Raybestos Rookie media relations director, comment on next year's rookie situation on a special edition of Raybestos Rookie Review. Listen as part of the Rowdy free trial at 1-800-95-ROWDY. Rowdy is daily racing news, driver interviews, and commentary on your phone. (Rowdy PR)(9-16-2004)
    UPDATE: NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter said Friday the sanctioning body will review the requirements for its rookie of the year programs at the end of the season, as it does every year. There has been speculation in recent weeks NASCAR would find a way to get Carl Edwards and Bobby Hamilton Jr. eligible to run for Nextel Cup rookie honors next season, even though Hamilton has, and Edwards will likely, surpass the seven-race maximum to remain eligible for the program. If Edwards and/or Hamilton Jr. are ineligible, there are currently no other candidates for rookie of the year for the 2005 season in Cup. Hunter said the review of the requirements does not mean a change. “We always make sure the program is working as it was intended to do so for all three series,” he said.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-17-2004)

Past Notes from the 2004 season

2004 RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS

THIS IS UNOFFICIAL

Pos Driver Car# Race
Att		 Races
Made		 Rookie
Pts
Jayski		 Rookie
Pts
NASCAR		 Driver
Pts		 Pts
Pos		 Best
Start		 Best
Fin		 Ave
Start		 Ave
Fin
1 Kasey Kahne 9 36 36 327 376 4274 13 1 2 13.6 16.4
2 Brendan Gaughan 77 36 36 221 256 3165 28 5 4 20.9 25.4
3 Brian Vickers 25 36 36 220 255 3521 25 1 7 16.1 22.1
4 Scott Wimmer 22 36 35 213 247 3198 27 14 3 29.3 24.1
5 Scott Riggs 10 36 35 202 237 3090 29 4 5 21.0 25.2
6 Johnny Sauter 09 20 16 148 155 1430 36 10 14 30.9 24.8


NOTE: the points I have posted are thru race 36 without the 3rd bonus or final discretionart points voted on by the panel.

2004 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE AWARDS

Driver Awards Races
#77-Brendan Gaughan 7 1. Talladega (13th)
1. California (6th)
2. Dover (22nd)
2. Talladega (4th)
Kansas (10th)
Charlotte (23rd)
Homestead (6th)
#9-Kasey Kahne 19 Rockingham (2nd)
Las Vegas (2nd)
1. Atlanta (3rd)
1. Darlington (13th)
Texas (2nd)
1. Charlotte (12th)
1. Michigan (2nd)
1. Loudon (8th)
2. Pocono (3rd)
Indy (4th)
Watkins Glen (14th)
2. Michigan (5th)
2. California (2nd)
2. Richmond (24th)
2. Loudon (4th)
2. Martinsville (13th)
2. Atlanta (5th)
Phoenix (5th)
2. Darlington (5th)
#10-Scott Riggs 2 1. Dover (5th)
2. Bristol (17th)
#09-Johnny Sauter 0  
#25-Brian Vickers 6 1. Martinsville (13th)
1. Richmond (8th)
1. Pocono (13th)
Sonoma (22nd)
2. Daytona (9th)
Chicago (14th)
#22-Scott Wimmer 1 1. Daytona (3rd)
1. Bristol (13th)

(x) is the second race of the year at that track

ROOKIE OF THE RACE
at HOMESTEAD

For the past 2004 ROTY race results,
see the chart below of by ROTY Race by Race Page

Driver Car# Start/Finish Start
Point		 Bonus
Points		 Rookie
Points		 Total
Brendan Gaughan 77 17/6 1 5 10 16
Scott Wimmer 22 21/13 1 0 9 10
Scott Riggs 10 25/15 1 0 8 9
Brian Vickers 25 14/18 1 0 7 8
Kasey Kahne 9 4/38 1 0 6 7
Johnny Sauter 09 DNQ 1 0 0 1


THIS IS UNOFFICIAL

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR POINTS
BREAKDOWN CHART

Rookie
Driver
----->		 #77
Brendan
Gaughan		 #9
Kasey
Kahne		 #10
Scott
Riggs		 points
deducted
after
17 races
# race
track		 st fin rookie
points		 st fin rookie
points		 st fin rookie
points		 car#
(points
deducted)
1 Daytona 17 19 10 27 31 1 36 34 1 9(5),10(7)
2 Rockingham 15 20 1 3 2 20 19 31 1 10(5),77(6)
3 Las Vegas 8 22 10 1 2 20 15 29 1 10(6)
4 Atlanta 25 33 1 12 3 19 17 25 9 77(5)
5 Darlington 37 27 1 1 13 11 27 30 1 10(5),77(6)
6 Bristol 7 20 9 5 40 1 28 34 1 9(5),10(7)
7 Texas 16 38 1 3 2 20 24 15 9 77(5)
8 Martinsvile 11 17 10 15 21 1 13 28 1 9(8),10(7)
9 Talladega 20 13 11 26 30 1 5 34 1 10(5),9(6)
10 California 5 6 16 1 13 1 4 25 1 9(9),77(8)
BONUS 1 9 10 5
11 Richmond 40 34 1 39 28 1 16 35 1 10(5),77(6),9(8)
12 Lowe's 7 33 1 19 12 11 28 25 9 77(6)
13 Dover 5 27 1 13 21 1 23 5 17 77(5),9(7)
14 Pocono 31 39 1 1 14 1 40 16 9 77(6),9(9)
15 Michigan 6 16 8 34 2 20 20 20 1 10(6)
16 Sonoma 33 26 9 30 31 1 41 42 1 9(7),10(6)
17 Daytona 12 36 1 31 25 1 7 21 10 77(6),9(8)
18 Chicago 15 30 8 2 36 1 16 29 9 9(6)
19 NHIS 29 22 9 6 8 14 15 28 1 10(7)
20 Pocono 10 28 1 20 3 19 26 22 1 77(6),10(7)
BONUS 2 6 9 7
21 Indy 30 35 1 12 4 18 27 37 1 10(6),77(7)
22 Watkins 30 34 1 11 14 1 31 23 9 77(6),9(10)
23 Michigan 30 33 1 11 5 17 31 19 9 77(6)
24 Bristol 17 35 1 2 21 1 39 17 11 9(8);77(7)
25 California 22 42 1 5 2 20 9 7 14 77(6)
26 Richmond 37 27 10 11 24 1 35 39 1 10(6),9(10)
27 NHIS 32 30 1 12 4 18 30 26 9 77(7)
28 Dover 25 22 11 20 42 1 18 31 9 9(6)
29 Talladega 26 4 18 23 27 1 4 11 10 9(8)
30 Kansas 13 10 12 2 12 1 14 26 1 10(7),9(9)
31 Charlotte 16 23 11 2 32 1 4 38 1 10(6),9(7)
32 Martinsvile 14 34 1 38 13 11 6 26 9 77(6)
33 Atlanta 25 18 9 32 5 17 DNQ x 1
34 Phoenix 40 30 1 4 5 17 11 14 10 77(6)
35 Darlington 29 27 1 13 5 17 31 25 1 77(6)
36 Homestead 17 6 16 4 38 1 25 15 9 9(6)
Totals 20.9 25.4 221 13.6 16.4 327 21.0 25.2 202


Rookie
Driver
----->		 #09
Johnny
Sauter		 #25
Brian
Vickers		 #22
Scott
Wimmer		 points
deducted
after
17 races
# race
track		 st fin rookie
points		 st fin rookie
points		 st fin rookie
points		 car#
(points
deducted)
1 Daytona 21 26 9 35 39 1 26 3 19 25(6)
2 Rockingham 36 14 10 20 16 1 31 15 9 25(7)
3 Las Vegas 28 24 8 3 23 1 37 39 1 22(5);25(8)
4 Atlanta 39 30 7 2 21 10 32 27 1 22(7)
5 Darlington 24 26 8 28 23 1 14 16 10 25(8)
6 Bristol 10 15 10 22 35 1 20 13 11 25(6)
7 Texas 37 24 8 13 12 10 32 33 1 22(6)
8 Martinsvile 22 31 6 36 13 11 16 29 1 22(6)
9 Talladega 29 14 10 39 27 1 30 18 9 25(7)
10 California 37 21 9 6 29 1 39 30 1 22(5),25(5)
BONUS 1 7 6 8
11 Richmond 35 19 10 1 8 14 25 30 1 22(7)
12 Lowe's 39 40 6 5 15 10 29 28 1 22(7)
13 Dover 37 20 9 3 23 1 21 9 12 25(6)
14 Pocono DNR x 0 2 13 11 24 35 1 22(7)
15 Michigan DNR x 0 2 9 12 29 14 9
16 Sonoma DNR x 0 39 22 11 25 25 10
17 Daytona DNR x 0 14 9 13 37 32 1 22(7)
18 Chicago DNR x 0 4 14 11 40 23 10
19 NHIS DNR x 0 23 34 1 38 18 10 26(6)
20 Pocono DNR x 0 6 14 9 28 11 10
BONUS 2 5 10 8
21 Indy DNR x 0 6 29 10 34 32 1 22(8)
22 Watkins DNR x 0 22 30 1 26 19 10 25(7)
23 Michigan DNR x 0 22 22 1 26 18 10 25(7)
24 Bristol DNR x 0 20 20 10 34 36 1 22(7)
25 California DNR x 0 1 13 9 38 21 1 22(7)
26 Richmond DNQ x 1 26 37 1 21 38 1 22(7),10(8)
27 NHIS DNQ x 1 24 22 10 27 36 1 22(6)
28 Dover DNR x 0 3 38 1 29 23 10 25(7)
29 Talladega DNR x 0 21 36 1 29 31 1 22(7),25(6)
30 Kansas DNR x 0 25 19 1 37 36 1 22(6),25(8)
31 Charlotte 29 24 10 17 40 1 42 26 1 25(5),22(8)
32 Martinsvile DNR x 0 34 27 1 24 20 10 25(7)
33 Atlanta DNQ x 1 13 7 14 DNQ x 1
34 Phoenix 30 39 6 2 18 1 38 26 1 22(7),25(8)
35 Darlington 42 29 6 27 21 10 28 22 9
36 Homestead DNQ x 1 14 18 1 21 13 10 25(7)
Totals 30.9 24.8 148 16.1 22.1 220 29.3 24.1 213


  • GREEN stands for a rookie;s best start or finish

  • RED stands for the rookie driver that had the highest finish of the race by a rookie

  • BLUE (in gray background) signifies one of the races that do not count in the rookie points
    If RED, the Rookie was the best finishing rookie for that race too.
    (only 17 best races count - see rules at top, plus the one(1) for the attempt for the other races besides the 17)

    DNQ = Did Not Qualify, DNR = Did Not Race

    ALL TIME ROOKIE of THE YEAR WINNERS

  • 1957 Ken Rush
  • 1958 Shorty Rollins (1)
  • 1959 Richard Petty
  • 1960 David Pearson
  • 1961 Woody Wilson
  • 1962 Tom Cox
  • 1963 Billy Wade
  • 1964 Doug Cooper
  • 1965 Sam McQuagg
  • 1966 James Hylton
  • 1967 Donnie Allison
  • 1968 Pete Hamilton
  • 1969 Dick Brooks
  • 1970 Bill Dennis
  • 1971 Walter Ballard
  • 1972 Larry Smith
  • 1973 Lennie Pond - Darrell Waltrip
  • 1974 Earl Ross (1)
  • 1975 Bruce Hill
  • 1976 Skip Manning
  • 1977 Ricky Rudd
  • 1978 Ronnie Thomas
  • 1979 Dale Earnhardt (1) - Joe Millikan, Terry Labonte, Harry Gant
  • 1980 Jody Ridley (1)
  • 1981 Ron Bouchard (1)
  • 1982 Geoff Bodine
  • 1983 Sterling Marlin
  • 1984 Rusty Wallace
  • 1985 Ken Schrader - Eddie Bierschwale
  • 1986 Alan Kulwicki - Michael Waltrip, Chet Fillip, Pancho Carter
  • 1987 Davey Allison (2) - Dale Jarrett, Steve Christman, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope
  • 1988 Ken Bouchard - Ernie Irvan, Brad Noffsinger, Jimmy Horton
  • 1989 Dick Trickle - Hut Stricklin, Larry Pearson, Jimmy Spencer, Rick Mast, Ben Hess, Chad Little
  • 1990 Rob Moroso - Jack Pennington
  • 1991 Bobby Hamilton - Ted Musgrave, Stanley Smith, Wally Dallenbach Jr(157)
  • 1992 Jimmy Hensley - Dave Madar III, Andy Belmont
  • 1993 Jeff Gordon - Bobby Labonte, Kenny Wallace, P.J. Jones
  • 1994 Jeff Burton - Joe Nemechek, Steve Grissom, Loy Allen, John Andretti, Jeremy Mayfield, Mike Wallace, Ward Burton
  • 1995 Ricky Craven - Robert Pressley, Randy LaJoie, Steve Kinser, Davy Jones
  • 1996 Johnny Benson - none
  • 1997 Mike Skinner - David Green, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon
  • 1998 Kenny Irwin - Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, Steve Park
  • 1999 Tony Stewart (3) - Elliott Sadler, Buckshot Jones
  • 2000 Matt Kenseth (1) - Dale Earnhardt Jr(2), Dave Blaney, Scott Pruett, Stacy Compton, Mike Bliss
  • 2001 Kevin Harvick (2) - Kurt Busch, Casey Atwood, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday Jr, Andy Houston
  • 2002 Ryan Newman (1) - Jimmie Johnson(3), Carl Long, Shawna Robinson
  • 2003 Jamie McMurray - Greg Biffle(1), Tony Raines, Casey Mears, Jack Sprague, Larry Foyt
  • 2004 Kasey Kahne - Brendan Gaughan, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer, Scott Riggs, Johnny Sauter

    (NOT a 2002 candidate but won - Jamie McMurray(1) and ran and won ROTY in 2003
    winner bold; wins if any in parens() - rest of rookie class listed if known

    SOME ROTY NEWS and RECORDS

  • Newman breaks pole record: On Friday, #12-Ryan Newman put himself in the record book with his sixth pole of 2002. That breaks the rookie record of the late Davey Allison in 1987.(11-10-2002)

  • Rookies: #48-Jimmie Johnson tied Tony Stewart's rookie record for most wins by a Winston Cup Rookie of the Year candidate with his win at Dover, his third win of 2002. With last weeks win at NHIS, #12-Ryan Newman broke the rookie record of top fives, with his 13th (now has 14), the old record was 12, also by Stewart in 1999. The top ten record [Modern Era 1972-present] is also held by Stewart at 21, Newman is now tied at 21, Johnson has 20. Some comparisions (all were Rookie of the Year except Earnhardt Jr):

    1958 Shorty Rollins
    29 (of 51) races, 1 win, 12 top 5's, 22 top 10's, 0 poles, final points postion was 4th

    1959 Richard Petty
    21 (of 44) races, 0 wins, 6 top 5's, 9 top 10's, 0 poles, final points postion was 15th

    1962 Tom Cox
    42 (of 53) races, 0 wins, 3 top 5's, 20 top 10's, 0 poles, final points postion was 19th

    1966 James Hylton
    41 (of 49) races, 0 wins, 20 top 5's, 32 top 10's, 1 pole, final points postion was 2nd

    Modern Era 1972-present:
    1979 Dale Earnhardt
    27 (of 31) races, 1 win, 11 top 5's, 17 top 10's, 4 poles, final points postion was 7th

    1987 Davey Allison
    22 (of 29) races, 2 wins, 9 top 5's, 16 top 10's, 5 poles, points pos 21st

    1999 Tony Stewart
    34 races, 3 wins, 12 top 5's, 21 top 10's, 2 poles, 4th in points

    2000 Matt Kenseth
    34 races, 1 win, 4 top 5's, 11 top 10's, no poles, 14th in points

    2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr
    34 races, 2 wins, 3 top 5's, 5 top 10's, 2 poles, 16th in points

    2001 Kevin Harvick
    35 (of 36) races, 2 wins, 6 top 5's, 16 top 10's, no poles, 9th in points

    2002 Jimmie Johnson
    36 races, 3 wins, 6 top 5's, 21 top 10's, 4 poles, 5th in points

    2002 Ryan Newman
    36 races, 1 win, 14 top 5's, 22 top 10's, 6 poles, 6th in points(11-17-2002)

  • Some Rookie Stuff: Jamie McMurray is the 4th driver to pick up his 1st career Winston Cup win at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the modern era (The others: 2000: Matt Kenseth; 1995: Bobby Labonte; 1994: Jeff Gordon). McMurray became the 3rd rookie to win this year, joining Jimmie Johnson & Ryan Newman. It marks the first time that 3 rookies have won a Winston Cup race in the same season in the modern era [1972-present]. Of the 13 first-time winners since 2000, 7 of those have come on Bruton Smith (SMI Tracks). 2000: Dale Earnhardt Junior (Texas), Matt Kenseth (Charlotte), & Jerry Nadeau (Atlanta; 2001: Kevin Harvick (Atlanta), Elliott Sadler (Bristol); 2002: Kurt Busch (Bristol) & Jamie McMurray (Charlotte).(10-13-2002)

  • Quickest wins by a driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in only his 12th Winston Cup start. Ron Bouchard won a Cup race in his 11th start in 1981 at Talladega, Mark Donohue won in his 5th Winston Cup start in 1973 at Riverside, the earliest in the 'modern era' of Winston Cup, he would only make one more Cup start. Others: Morgan Shepherd won in his 15th start (Martinsville) in 1981, but wasn't named Rookie of the Year. Several other drivers won in their first year, but weren't considered ROTY candidates: Dan Gurney at Riverside in 1963 in his third race and Mario Andretti at Daytona Beach in 1967 in his fifth start.
    BUT in 2001, #29-Kevin Harvick won his first Winston Cup race in his third ever start, the best ever in the modern era [1972-present]. McMurray won in his 2nd start at Lowe's today which is the new Modern Era record and ties the all time record, set by John Rostek, who won in his 2nd career start in April 1960 at Arizona State Fairgrounds.
    ALSO of Note, Johnny Rutherford won a Daytona Qualifying race in his first start back in 1963, back then the Qualifier races counted as wins and the championship and points. And of course Jim Roper won in his first start, the first race ever held by NASCAR in 1949 and Jack White won in his first start in 1949, the 5th race of the season.(10-13-2002)

  • First time back-to-back - Correction: #48-Jimmie Johnson's victory comes a week after #12-Ryan Newman won, marking the first time in series history rookies have won back-to-back races.(News and Record), Actually in 2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth won back-to-back points races, with Earnhardt Jr winning at Richmond and Kenseth winning at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May of 2000, the Winston was run between the two races, also won by a rookie, Dale Earnhardt Jr.(9-23-2002)

  • Earnhardt Jr the fastest Correction and UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr has won his first two Winston Cup races faster then anyone in Winston Cup modern era. Earnhardt Jr won his 2nd race in his 16th start. Tony Stewart did it in his 32nd race, Dale Earnhardt in his 41st, Jeff Gordon 50th, Darrell Waltrip 65th and Bobby Labonte 77th. Not sure what the all time record is but Red Byron won his 2nd race in his 5th start during the first NASCAR Grand National(Before Winston Cup) season in 1949
    Correction: Davey Allison also won his 2nd race in his 16th start(5-7-2000)
    Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick won his 2nd Cup race in his 17th start.
    UPDATE: add #48-Jimmie Johnson ties the record as he won his 2nd race in his 16th start.(6-2-2002)

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