Unofficial Nextel Cup Raybestos 2004 Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Page
Updated 11-23-2004
THIS IS UNOFFICIAL
ROOKIE NEW and NOTES 2004
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDERS NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES
POST DARLINGTON / PRE HOMESTEAD
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Mountain
Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Kahne finished fifth, his
13th top-five and 14th top-10 finish of the 2004 season. He finished
fifth for the third consecutive race and took top rookie honors for
the 19th time this season and for the fourth consecutive race.
· Kahne is the third consecutive Raybestos Rookie to score a
top-five finish in the Southern 500, joining Jamie McMurray who placed
fourth here in 2003 and Ryan Newman who finished second in 2002.
· Other Raybestos Rookies to score top-five finishes in the
Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington (since 1975): 1975: Bruce
Hill, fifth 1979: Terry Labonte, third 1984: Rusty Wallace,
fourth 2002: Ryan Newman, second 2003: Jamie McMurray, fourth
· At least one Raybestos Rookie has now finished inside the top-10
in each of the past FOUR consecutive Mountain Dew Southern 500 races
at Darlington. The others: 2001: Kevin Harvick, eighth 2002: Ryan
Newman (second) and Jimmie Johnson (ninth) 2003: Jamie McMurray
(fourth) and Greg Biffle (10th)
· Kasey Kahne enters the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway 12th
in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, 80 points
better than 13th place Bobby Labonte and 102 better than 14th place
Dale Jarrett.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brendan Gaughan by 115 points (346-231)
entering the Ford 400.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT HOMESTEAD
· Tony Stewart is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a NEXTEL Cup
Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Stewart won the inaugural
Ford 400 in 1999 by 5.289 seconds over Bobby Labonte. Stewart led the
race four times for 44 laps, and was the only Raybestos Rookie driver
to lead a lap in the first two NEXTEL Cup races at Homestead.
· The only other Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish in the
Ford 400 is Casey Atwood. Atwood finished third in the 2001 event,
after leading the race twice for 52 laps, the most laps led by a
Raybestos Rookie in five races at Homestead.
· The most Raybestos Rookies to finish inside the top-10 is THREE
in 2001: Atwood, Kevin Harvick (seventh), and Jason Leffler (10th).
Harvick led the race three times for 47 laps.
· The only other race where TWO or more Raybestos Rookies finished
inside the top-10 was the 2002 Ford 400. Ryan Newman finished sixth
while Jimmie Johnson grabbed an eighth-place finish. Newman led once
for 28 laps while Johnson held the top spot one time for 27 laps.
· The only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole in five NEXTEL Cup races
at Homestead Miami Speedway is Jamie McMurray. McMurray won his
first-career pole at the 2003 Ford 400 on his way to claiming
Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. McMurray finished ninth in the
race, his 13th top-10 finish of the 2003 season.
· Only two Raybestos Rookies have scored top-five finishes in the
Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway: 1999: Tony Stewart, first
2001: Casey Atwood, third
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Ford 400 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 1999: Tony Stewart, first 2000: Dave
Blaney, ninth 2001: Casey Atwood, third 2001: Kevin Harvick,
seventh 2001: Jason Leffler, 10th 2002: Ryan Newman, sixth 2002:
Jimmie Johnson, eighth 2003: Jamie McMurray, ninth
· Raybestos Rookies that have led at least one lap in the Ford 400:
1999: Tony Stewart (four times for 44 laps) 2001: Casey Atwood
(twice for 52 laps) 2001: Kevin Harvick (three times for 47 laps)
2002: Ryan Newman (once for 28 laps) 2002: Jimmie Johnson (once
for 27 laps)
MORE NOTES
· 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 have 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 has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Homestead, Kahne has 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 is 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 346
Brendan Gaughan 231
Brian Vickers 229
Scott Wimmer 226
Scott Riggs 219
Johnny Sauter 146
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(11-18-2004)
POST ATLANTA / PRE PHOENIX
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Bass Pro
Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kahne finished fifth, his
11th top-five and 12th top-10 finish of the 2004 season. He took
Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the 17th time this season.
Kahne led once for four laps, the fourth consecutive race where he had
led at least one lap.
· Kahne became the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five
finish in the fall race at Atlanta since Kevin Harvick finished third
in 2001. Kahne is just the sixth Raybestos Rookie to finish inside
the top-five at the fall race at Atlanta (since 1975). The others:
1979: Dale Earnhardt, second 1987: Davey Allison, fifth 1994:
Mike Wallace, fifth 1997: Jeff Green, fourth 2001: Kevin Harvick,
third
· Brian Vickers finished seventh at Atlanta, his fourth top-10
finish of the 2004 season. This is his first top-10 finish since he
placed ninth at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in
July (race number 17).
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have now 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)
· Kasey Kahne enters the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix
International Raceway 13th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
championship standings, 59 points behind 12th-place Dale Jarrett.
Kahne has a 48-point lead on 14th-place Kevin Harvick.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brendan Gaughan by 95 points (304-209)
entering the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT PHOENIX
· Tony Stewart is the only Raybestos Rookie to win at Phoenix in 16
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races. Stewart won from the pole in 1999, beating
Mark Martin to the checkered flag by 2.081 seconds. Stewart is the
only Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish at Phoenix.
· The most recent Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 finish at
Phoenix is Dave Blaney, who finished eighth in the 2000 race.
· Stewart is the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most laps at
Phoenix. Stewart led the 1999 race three times for 150 laps.
· THREE Raybestos Rookies have won pole positions at Phoenix:
Stewart, Casey Atwood (2001) and Ryan Newman (2002). Atwood and
Newman are the only Raybestos Rookies to win poles in back-to-back
races.
· TWO or more Raybestos Rookies have finished inside the top-10
just once at Phoenix: In 1989, Dick Trickle placed seventh while Jimmy
Spencer claimed a 10th-place finish. Both Trickle and Spencer
finished on the lead lap.
· TWO or more Raybestos Rookies have led the same race at Phoenix
just twice. In 1991, Stanley Smith led once for 12 laps while Bobby
Hamilton led the race once for one lap. In 2002, Ryan Newman led
three times for 14 laps while Jimmie Johnson led once for one lap.
· The most recent Raybestos Rookies to lead a lap at Phoenix is
Ryan Newman in 2002.
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Checker Auto Parts
500 at Phoenix International Raceway: 1989: Dick Trickle, seventh
1989: Jimmy Spencer, 10th 1993: Bobby Labonte, eighth 1999:
Tony Stewart, first 2000: Dave Blaney, eighth
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race at the 2003
Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. McMurray
finished 12th completing all 312 laps of the Race.
MORE NOTES
· 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 have 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 has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Phoenix, Kahne has 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 is 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 304
Brendan Gaughan 209
Brian Vickers 208
Scott Wimmer 203
Scott Riggs 193
Johnny Sauter 133
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(11-1-2004)
POST MARTINSVILLE / PRE ATLANTA
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Subway
500 at Martinsville Speedway. Kahne finished 13th and took top
Raybestos Rookie honors for the 16th time in 2004.
· Kahne led the Subway 500 once for 17 laps. He was the only
Raybestos Rookie to lead at least one lap in both Martinsville races
in 2004.
· Kahne, Scott Wimmer (20th) and Scott Riggs (26th) all finished on
the lead lap at Martinsville. At least one Raybestos Rookie has now
finished on the lead lap in each of the past four consecutive Subway
500 races at Martinsville Speedway: Ron Hornaday (18th, 2001), Jimmie
Johnson (seventh in 2002), and Jamie McMurray (eighth in 2003).
· Wimmer finished on the lead lap for the first time since the
September 5 Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway. Riggs scored his
first lead lap finish since the October 3 EA Sports 500 at Talladega
Superspeedway.
· Kasey Kahne is 15th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings, six points behind 14th-place Bobby Labonte. He has a
291-point lead on 16th-place Michael Waltrip.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brendan Gaughan by 89 points (296-207)
entering the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT ATLANTA
· Since 1975, Kenny Irwin is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a
pole at the fall race in Atlanta. Irwin grabbed the top spot for the
1998 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.
· The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the fall race at Atlanta
(since 1975) is second by Dale Earnhardt in 1979. Earnhardt finished
one-half car length behind winner Neil Bonnett.
· Dale Earnhardt holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos
Rookie in the fall race at Atlanta (since 1975). Earnhardt led six
times for 69 laps in the 1979 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.
· DID YOU KNOW? Only five Raybestos Rookies have posted a top-five
finish in the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway since
1975: 1979: Dale Earnhardt, second 1987: Davey Allison, fifth
1994: Mike Wallace, fifth 1997: Jeff Green, fourth 2001: Kevin
Harvick, third
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, claiming a
15th-place finish.
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Bass Pro Shops MBNA
500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (since 1975): 1976: Sam Sommers, ninth
1977: Ricky Rudd, eighth 1979: Dale Earnhardt, second 1979:
Terry Labonte, seventh 1979: Joe Millikan, ninth 1980: Jody
Ridley, sixth 1982: Mark Martin, 10th 1987: Davey Allison, fifth
1992: Jimmy Hensley, eighth 1994: Mike Wallace, fifth 1997: Jeff
Green, fourth 2000: Matt Kenseth, ninth 2001: Kevin Harvick, third
2002: Ryan Newman, 10th
MORE NOTES
· 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 have finished in the top 10 in
three 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)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Atlanta, Kahne has led 43 times in 16
races for a total of 1,045.54 miles (688 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 is 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 296
Brian Vickers 202
Scott Wimmer 203
Brendan Gaughan 207
Scott Riggs 193
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(10-28-2004)
POST CHARLOTTE / PRE MARTINSVILLE
· Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the
UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte. Gaughan finished 23rd and took top
Raybestos Rookie honors for the fourth consecutive race for the sixth
time in 2004.
· Kasey Kahne led the race at Charlotte four times for 207 laps, the
most laps that Kahne has led in a single race in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
career.
· Kasey Kahne is 15th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings, 26-points behind 14th-place Bobby Labonte. He has a
268-point lead on 16th-place Michael Waltrip.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brendan Gaughan by 88 points (294-206)
entering the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
· Both Kahne (second) and Scott Riggs (fourth) started inside the
top-10 at Charlotte. This is SEVENTH race this season where at least
two Raybestos Rookies qualified in the top-five.
· The most Raybestos Rookies to start inside the top-five this
season was THREE at the May 2 Auto Club 500 at California Speedway:
Kasey Kahne first; Scott Riggs, fourth; and Brendan Gaughan, fifth.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway. McMurray finished eighth,
completing all 500 laps of the race. He was the only first-year
driver to log a top-10 finish.
· A Raybestos Rookie has finished on the lead lap in each of the
past three consecutive Subway 500 races at Martinsville Speedway: Ron
Hornaday (18th, 2001), Jimmie Johnson (seventh in 2002), and McMurray
in 2003.
· The most recent Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the Subway 500
at Martinsville is Ryan Newman. Newman led once for 33 laps in the
2002 race.
· The most recent top-five finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the
Subway 500 is third by Dick Trickle in 1989.
· Only once since 1975 have TWO Raybestos Rookies finished in the
top-10 in the Subway 500. In 1979, Joe Millikan finished third and
Terry Labonte placed ninth in the fall race at Martinsville.
· The most Raybestos Rookies to lead a lap in the fall race at
Martinsville: TWO in 1982. Tim Richmond led twice for 14 laps while
Morgan Shepherd led one for 18 laps.
· The most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the Subway 500 (since
1975) is 53 by Geoffrey Bodine in 1982.
MORE NOTES
· 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 have finished in the top 10 in
three 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)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Martinsville, Kahne has led 42 times in
15 races for a total of 1,036.60 miles (671 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 is 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 294
Brian Vickers 206
Scott Wimmer 201
Brendan Gaughan 200
Scott Riggs 193
Johnny Sauter 127
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(10-18-2004)
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
Kasey Kahne 294
Brendan Gaughan 206
Brian Vickers 201
Scott Wimmer 200
Scott Riggs 191
Johnny Sauter 133
Per NASCAR Officials Results.(10-18-2004)
POST KANSAS / PRE CHARLOTTE
not posted
POST TALLADEGA / PRE KANSAS
· Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the EA
Sports 500 at Talladega. He finished fourth, his best in 29-career
NEXTEL Cup Series starts and first ever top-five. Gaughan scored his
second top-10 finish of the season (he placed sixth in the Auto Club
500 in May at California Speedway). He took Raybestos Rookie of the
Race honors for the fourth time this season and for the second
consecutive race.
· Gaughan is the fourth Raybestos Rookie this season to score a
top-five finish, joining Kasey Kahne (10), Scott Wimmer (1) and Scott
Riggs (1).
· Kasey Kahne is 14th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings, 65-points behind 13th-place Dale Jarrett. He has a
17-point lead on 15th place Bobby Labonte.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brian Vickers by 93 points (292-199)
entering the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway.
· Scott Riggs started fourth at Talladega, grabbing his fifth top-10
start of the 2004 season. Riggs has started in 2004. Riggs started in
the top-five in both Talladega races this season (he started fifth in
the Aaron's 499 in April).
Raybestos ROOKIES AT KANSAS SUPERSPEEDWAY
· DID YOU KNOW? Jason Leffler is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a
pole in three races at Kansas Speedway. Leffler took the top starting
spot in the inaugural Banquet 400 in 2001.
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in
all three races at Kansas Speedway: Kurt Busch (ninth) in 2001, Ryan
Newman (second) and Jimmie Johnson (10th) in 2002, and Jamie McMurray
(eighth) in 2003.
· Ryan Newman is the only Raybestos Rookie to finish inside the
top-five at Kansas Speedway. Newman placed second to Jeff Gordon in
2002.
· TWO or more Raybestos Rookies have finished inside the top-10
only once at Kansas Speedway: Ryan Newman (second) and Jimmie Johnson
(10th) in 2002.
· Only two Raybestos Rookies have led at least one lap in three
races at Kansas: Jason Leffler (once for eight laps in 2001) and Ryan
Newman (twice for 81 laps in 2002).
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway, posting an eighth-place finish.
MORE NOTES
· 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 have finished in the top 10 in
three 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)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Kansas, Kahne has led 34 times in 13
races for a total of 667.61 miles (431 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 is 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.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 292
Brian Vickers 199
Scott Wimmer 197
Brendan Gaughan 196
Scott Riggs 189
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(10-7-2004)
POST DOVER / PRE TALLADEGA
· Brendan Gaughan was the RAYBESTOS Rookie of the Race in the MBNA
America 400 at Dover International Speedway, scoring a 22nd place
finish. Gaughan took top rookie honors for the third time this
season..
· Kasey Kahne is 14th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings, seven behind 13th-place Bobby Labonte and 14 behind
12th-place Kevin Harvick. Kahne has an 18-point lead on 15th place
Dale Jarrett. .
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for RAYBESTOS
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brian Vickers by 93-points (290-197)
entering the EA Sports 500 at Talladega SuperSpeedway..
RAYBESTOS ROOKIES AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY .
· Jamie McMurray was the RAYBESTOS Rookie of the Race in the 2003
EA Sports 500 at Talladega. McMurray led the race three times for 20
laps..
· The only RAYBESTOS Rookie to win the fall race at Talladega is
Ron Bouchard. Bouchard won the 1981 Talladega 500 over Darrell
Waltrip and Terry Labonte in a photo finish..
· Only twice since 1975 has a RAYBESTOS Rookie won the pole for the
EA Sports 500 at Talladega: Geoffrey Bodine (1982) and Jimmie Johnson
(2003)..
· TWO or more RAYBESTOS Rookies have finished in the top-10 in the
fall race at Talladega THREE times since 1975:
---Lake Speed (eighth) and Kyle Petty (ninth) in 1980
---Ron Bouchard (first) and Stan Barrett (ninth) in 1981
---Mike Bliss (ninth) and Matt Kenseth (10th) in 2000.
· The most RAYBESTOS Rookies to lead a lap in the fall race at
Talladega is FOUR in 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (five times for 28
laps), Mike Bliss (once for four laps), Stacy Compton (once for two
laps) and Matt Kenseth (once for one lap)..
· The late Davey Allison holds the record for most laps led by a
RAYBESTOS Rookie in the fall race at Talladega. Allison led seven
times for 77 laps on his way to a second place finish in 1987..
· Top-10 finishes by RAYBESTOS Rookies in the EA Sports 500 at
Talladega (since 1975): 1976: Skip Manning, ninth 1977: Ricky
Rudd, fourth 1979: Harry Gant, seventh 1980: Lake Speed, eighth
1980: Kyle Petty, ninth 1981: Ron Bouchard, first 1981: Stan
Barrett, ninth 1984: Tommy Ellis, ninth 1999: Tony Stewart, fifth
2000: Mike Bliss, ninth 2000: Matt Kenseth, 10th 2002: Ryan
Newman, seventh.
· Since 1975, only THREE RAYBESTOS Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the EA Sports 500 at Talladega:
1977: Ricky Rudd, fourth
1981: Ron Bouchard, first
1999: Tony Stewart, fifth.
MORE NOTES.
· 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 have finished in the top 10 in
three 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).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other RAYBESTOS
Rookie. Entering the race at Talladega, Kahne has led 34 times in 13
races for a total of 667.61 miles (431 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 (four times in
four races for 23 laps, 49.15 miles) ---Scott Riggs (four times in
three races for 14 laps, 27.50 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 is 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.
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)..
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
RAYBESTOS Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 291
Brian Vickers 198
Scott Wimmer 196
Scott Riggs 186
Brendan Gaughan 184
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(9-30-2004)
POST LOUDON / PRE DOVER
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Sylvania
300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. He finished fourth, his
10th top-five and 11th top-10 finish of the 2004 season. Kahne has
scored TWO top-10 finishes at New Hampshire this season [he finished
eighth in the July race]. He took top Raybestos Rookie honors for
the 15th time this season and for the third consecutive race. Kahne
led the race twice for 31 laps and was the only Raybestos Rookie to
lead a lap in the race.
· Kahne is 12th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings,
eight points behind 11th place Jamie McMurray. Kahne scored his third
top-five finish in the last five races.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brian Vickers by 93-points (290-197)
entering the MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
· DID YOU KNOW? TWO Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10
in each of the last three MBNA America 400 races at Dover: ---Jamie
McMurray (sixth) and Greg Biffle (seventh) in 2003 ---Jimmie Johnson
(first) and Ryan Newman (seventh) 2002 ---Kevin Harvick (sixth) and
Casey Atwood (ninth) in 2001
· DID YOU KNOW? The best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie
for the fall race at Dover is third by Tony Stewart in 1999.
· DID YOU KNOW? The most Raybestos Rookies to lead the fall race
at Dover is FOUR. In 1994, Steve Grissom, Jeff Burton, Joe Nemechek,
and John Andretti each led at least one lap in the race.
· Scott Riggs was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 6
MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway. Riggs finished fifth, his
first career top-five finish.
· Scott Wimmer had a good day at Dover this past June, coming away
with a ninth-place finish, his most recent top-10.
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
MBNA America 400, grabbing a sixth-place finish. Fellow freshman Greg
Biffle also had a good day at the Monster Mile, posting a
seventh-place effort.
· Jimmie Johnson is the only Raybestos Rookie to win both NEXTEL
Cup races at Dover. Johnson swept both events in 2002, and led the
most laps in each race. Johnson is the only first-year driver to lead
the most laps in the fall race at Dover (four times for 170 laps).
· Raybestos Rookies that have led a lap in the fall race at Dover
(since 1975): ---Jimmie Johnson (four times for 170 laps in 2002)
---Dave Blaney (once for four laps in 2000) ---Tony Stewart (six times
for 97 laps in 1999) ---Robert Pressley (once for 11 laps in 1995)
---Steve Grissom (once for one lap in 1994) ---Jeff Burton (once for
eight laps in 1994) ---Joe Nemechek (once for eight laps in 1994)
---John Andretti (once for one lap in 1994) ---Jeff Gordon (three
times for 80 laps in 1993) ---Dick Trickle, once for 15 laps in 1989
---Ken Bouchard, three times for four laps in 1988 ---Rusty Wallace,
once for two laps in 1984 ---Geoffrey Bodine, twice for 4 laps in 1982
---Dale Earnhardt, twice for 46 laps in 1979
· Top-five finishes by Raybestos Rookies in MBNA America 400 at
Dover (since 1975): 1975: Bruce Hill, fifth 1979: Joe
Millikan, fifth 1981: Ron Bouchard, fourth 1982: Geoffrey Bodine,
fourth 1999: Tony Stewart, second 2002: Jimmie Johnson, first
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in MBNA America 400 at Dover
(since 1975): 1975: Bruce Hill, fifth 1977: Sam Sommers, 10th
1979: Joe Millikan, fifth 1979: Dale Earnhardt, ninth 1980: Jody
Ridley, ninth 1981: Ron Bouchard, fourth 1981: Tim Richmond, ninth
1982: Geoffrey Bodine, fourth 1986: Alan Kulwicki, seventh 1989:
Jimmy Spencer, 10th 1991: Bobby Hamilton, eighth 1993: Bobby
Labonte, seventh 1994: Steve Grissom, eighth 1999: Tony Stewart,
second 2001: Kevin Harvick, sixth 2001: Casey Atwood, ninth 2002:
Jimmie Johnson, first 2002: Ryan Newman, eighth 2003: Jamie
McMurray, sixth 2003: Greg Biffle, seventh
MORE NOTES
· 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 have finished in the top 10 in
three 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)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Dover, Kahne has led 34 times in 13
races for a total of 667.61 miles (431 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 (four times in
four races for 23 laps, 49.15 miles) ---Scott Riggs (four times in
three races for 14 laps, 27.50 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 is 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.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 290
Brian Vickers 197
Scott Wimmer 193
Scott Riggs 184
Brendan Gaughan 179
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(9-20-2004)
POST RICHMOND / PRE LOUDON
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Chevy
Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Kahne finished
24th and took top rookie honors for the 14th time this season and for
the seventh time in the last eight races.
· Kahne is 12th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings entering the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International
Speedway. He is 13 points behind 11th-place Jamie McMurray and 28
behind 10th place Ryan Newman. Kahne leads 13th-place Bobby Labonte
by 21 and 14th-place Kevin Harvick by 29.
· Kahne maintains a comfortable lead in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He leads Brian Vickers by 85-points (280-195)
entering the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire, grabbing a 10th place finish. He was
the only first-year driver to finish inside the top-10 and the only
freshman driver to finish on the lead lap.
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in Siemens 300
at New Hampshire in July, grabbing an eighth place finish. Kahne was
the only first-year driver to finish inside the top-10.
· Four Raybestos Rookies finished on the lead lap at New Hampshire:
Kahne (eighth), Scott Wimmer (18th), Brendan Gaughan (22nd), and Scott
Riggs (28th).
· Ryan Newman is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the September
race at New Hampshire. He is also the only freshman driver to win the
pole for the fall race and the only Raybestos Rookie to win from the
pole. He is also the only first-year driver to lead the most laps in
the fall event at NHIS, leading three times for 143 laps.
· Raybestos Rookies that have led a lap in the fall race at New
Hampshire: ---Ryan Newman (three times for 143 laps in 2002) ---Kevin
Harvick (once for one lap in 2001) ---Tony Stewart (twice for 39 laps
in 1999)
· Top-five finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Sylvania 300
---Tony Stewart (second in 1999)
---Ryan Newman (first in 2002)
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Sylvania 300
---Tony Stewart (second in 1999)
---Ryan Newman (first in 2002)
---Jamie McMurray (10th in 2003)
MORE NOTES
· 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 have finished in the top 10 in
three 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)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at New Hampshire, Kahne has led 32 times in
12 races for a total of 634.81 miles (400 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 (four times in four races for 23 laps, 49.15 miles)
--- Scott Riggs (four times in three races for 14 laps, 27.50 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 is 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.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 280
Brian Vickers 195
Scott Wimmer 192
Scott Riggs 182
Brendan Gaughan 177
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(9-18-2004)
POST CALIFORNIA / PRE RICHMOND
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Pop
Secret 500 at California Speedway. Kahne finished second, the fifth
time this season he's logged a second place finish. He racked up his
ninth top-five and 10th top-10 finish of 2004. The last time a
Raybestos Rookie scored five-second place finishes was 2002 when Ryan
Newman, like Kahne, had five.
· Kahne is ninth in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings
entering the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International
Raceway. He is 11 points behind eighth place Ryan Newman and nine in
front of 10th place Mark Martin.
· Scott Riggs had a good day at California Speedway, coming away
with a seventh place finish. Riggs scored his second top-10 finish of
the season at the 2.0-mile speedway.
Raybestos ROOKIES AT RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond, scoring a 19th-place finish.
Greg Biffle was the only first-year driver to lead a lap in the race,
holding the top spot once for two laps.
· DID YOU KNOW? Jimmie Johnson is the only Raybestos Rookie to win
a pole in the fall race at Richmond. Johnson nabbed the top starting
spot for the 2002 event over fellow Raybestos Rookie Ryan Newman.
· DID YOU KNOW? The first time in NEXTEL Cup's modern-era that two
Raybestos Rookies claimed front row starting positions occurred at
the 2002 Chevy Rock and Roll 400. An all-rookie front row has
occurred just one other time, at the 2004 Pocono 500 (Kasey Kahne
first and Brian Vickers second).
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie had led a lap in each fall race
at Richmond since 1998.
· Only TWO Raybestos Rookies have led the most laps in a fall race
at Richmond: Tony Stewart (1999) and Ryan Newman (2002). Stewart led
five times for 333 of the 400 laps, the most led by a first-year
driver since 1975. Newman led twice for 144 laps.
· The only Raybestos Rookie to win the September race at Richmond
is Tony Stewart, who captured the 1999 Chevy Rock and Roll 400.
MORE NOTES
· 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).
· Kahne enjoys a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings
entering the race at Richmond. He leads Brian Vickers by 84 points
(277-193).
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top 10 in
three 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)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at California, Kahne has led 32 times in 12
races for a total of 634.81 miles (400 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 (four times in
four races for 23 laps, 49.15 miles) ---Scott Riggs (four times in
three races for 14 laps, 27.50 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 is 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.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 277
Brian Vickers 193
Scott Wimmer 191
Scott Riggs 181
Brendan Gaughan 173
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(9-8-2004)
POST BRISTOL / PRE CALIFORNIA
· Scott Riggs was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Sharpie
500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Riggs finished 17th and took top
rookie honors for the second time this season (he was also the
Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the MBNA 400 at Dover International
Speedway in June).
· Kasey Kahne started second in the Sharpie 500, his second top-10
start in two career races at Bristol. Kahne started fifth in the Food
City 500 in March. He had racked up 10 top-10 starts in 2004.
· Kahne is 11th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings, 26 points behind 10th-place Ryan Newman. Kahne is nine
points ahead of 12th-place Mark Martin.
· 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).
· Kahne enjoys a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings
entering the Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway. He leads Brian
Vickers by 74 points (265-191).
· Entering the race at California, Kahne has four second-place
finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored more
than four second-place finishes in his first season was in 2002 when
Ryan Newman had five second-place finishes. James Hylton, who
captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second-place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top 10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at California, Kahne has led 28 times in 11
races for a total of 556.81 miles (361 laps). Other freshman drivers
to lead at least one lap this season: ---Brendan Gaughan (four times
in four races for 23 laps, 49.15 miles) ---Brian Vickers (five times
in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles) ---Scott Riggs (four times in
three races for 14 laps, 27.50 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 is 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.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona, 2003). The record for most wins by a
Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart
(1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 265
Brian Vickers 191
Scott Wimmer 190
Scott Riggs 172
Brendan Gaughan 172
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(9-2-2004)
POST MICHIGAN / PRE BRISTOL
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the GFS
Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Kahne finished
fifth, his eighth top-five and ninth top-10 of the 2004 season.
· Kahne's fifth-place finish moves him from 11th to 10th in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings. He is seven points
behind ninth place Bobby Labonte and six points ahead of 11th place
Jeremy Mayfield. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the
12th time this season and for the fifth consecutive race. Kahne led
the race twice for six laps.
· FOUR Raybestos Rookies led at least one lap in the race at
Michigan, the most rookies to lead a NEXTEL Cup Series race this
season: Scott Riggs (twice for 12 laps), Kahne, Scott Wimmer (once
for three laps), and Brendan Gaughan (once for two laps).
· Kahne enjoys a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings
entering the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He leads Scott
Wimmer by 75-points (264-189).
· DID YOU KNOW? The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the
Sharpie 500 (August night race) at Bristol Motor Speedway is SECOND by
Kevin Harvick in 2001.
· HOW TOUGH IS RACING AT BRISTOL? Since 1975, just THREE Raybestos
Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol:
1981: Ron Bouchard, fifth 2001: Kevin Harvick, second 2003:
Jamie McMurray, third
· DID YOU KNOW? Only one Raybestos Rookie has won the pole
position for the August race at Bristol (since 1975): Tony Stewart.
Stewart grabbed the top starting spot for the 1999 Sharpie 500.
· DID YOU KNOW? Tony Stewart is the most recent Raybestos Rookie
to lead a lap in the Sharpie 500. No first-year driver has led a lap
in any of the past four night races at Bristol.
· DID YOU KNOW? Stewart is also the only Raybestos Rookie to lead
the most laps in the August race at Bristol since 1975. Stewart led
once for 225 laps in the 1999 race on his way to a fifth place finish.
· Entering the race at Bristol, Kahne has racked up four-second
place finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored
more than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002
when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who
captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Bristol, Kahne has led 28 times in 11
races for a total of 556.81 miles (361 laps). Other freshman drivers
to lead at least one lap this season: ---Brendan Gaughan (four times
in four races for 23 laps, 49.15 miles) ---Brian Vickers (five times
in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles) ---Scott Riggs (four times in
three races for 14 laps, 27.50 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 is 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.
SHARPIE 500 Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Sharpie 500 at Bristol. McMurray finished third and was the only
first-year driver to finish in the top-15.
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Sharpie 500 at
Bristol (since 1975): 1975: Bruce Hill, 10th 1977: Janet
Guthrie, sixth 1978: Roger Hamby, 10th 1979: Joe Millikan,
sixth 1979: Terry Labonte, eighth 1981: Ron Bouchard, fifth 1981:
Tim Richmond, eighth 1982: Geoffrey Bodine, 10th 1984: Greg
Sacks, ninth 1986: Alan Kulwicki, 10th 1989: Jimmy Spencer, eighth
1992: Jimmy Hensley, seventh 1993: Kenny Wallace, ninth 1998:
Kevin Lepage, 10th 1999: Tony Stewart, fifth 2001: Kevin Harvick,
second
· Raybestos Rookies that have led a lap in the Sharpie 500 at
Bristol (since 1975): 1979: Harry Gant (once for 16 laps) 1981:
Morgan Shepherd (once for 104 laps) 1986: Alan Kulwicki (twice for
two laps) 1994: Joe Nemechek (once for 14 laps) 1995: Ricky
Craven (once for one lap) 1999: Tony Stewart (once for 225 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos
Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 264
Scott Wimmer 189
Brian Vickers 188
Brendan Gaughan 170
Scott Riggs 167
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(8-25-2004)
POST WATKINS GLEN / PRE MICHIGAN
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Sirius at
The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Kahne finished 14th, and took
top rookie honors for the fourth consecutive race. Kahne's finish at
The Glen is the best by a Raybestos® Rookie on a road course this
season.
· Kahne remained 11th in the NEXTEL Cup championship standings but
closed to just 24-points behind 10th place (and teammate) Jeremy
Mayfield. Kahne leads 12th-place Ryan Nemman by 19 and 13th-place
Mark Martin by 48-points entering the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan
International Speedway.
· Kahne enjoys a comfortable lead in the Raybestos® Rookie standings
entering the race at Michigan, leading Brian Vickers by 67-points
(254-187).
· Brendan Gaughan led the race at Watkins Glen one time for seven
laps. He was the only Raybestos® Rookie to lead a lap at The Glen.
The race at The Glen was the first Gaughan has led since he led 13
laps in the DHL 400 at Michigan (race number 15).
DID YOU KNOW?
· A Raybestos® Rookie has led at least one lap in each of the past
FIVE CONSECUTIVE August races at Michigan: 1999: Tony Stewart (led
twice for 4 laps) 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (led once for 13 laps)
2001: Ron Hornaday (led once for three laps) 2002: Ryan Newman
(led once for one lap) 2003: Greg Biffle (led once for 19 laps)
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos® Rookie has finished in the top-10 in
each of the past FIVE CONSECUTIVE August races at Michigan: 1999:
Tony Stewart, third 2000: Matt Kenseth, eighth 2001: Casey Atwood,
10th 2002: Jimmie Johnson, seventh 2003: Greg Biffle, fourth
· DID YOU KNOW? The most Raybestos® Rookies to finish in the top-10
in the same August race at Michigan is FOUR, which occurred in 1977:
Sam Sommers, fourth Ricky Rudd, seventh Terry Ryan, ninth Janet
Guthrie, 10th
· Entering the race at Michigan, Kahne has racked up four-second
place finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos® Rookie scored
more than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002
when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who
captured Raybestos® Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos® Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos® Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX
times this season entering the Tropicana 400. The races: Pocono
(Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and
Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne,
Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos®
Rookie. Entering the race at Michigan, Kahne has led 26 times in 10
races for a total of 544.81 miles (349 laps). Other freshman drivers
to lead at least one lap this season: Brendan Gaughan (three times in
three races for 21 laps, 45.15 miles) Brian Vickers (five times in
five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races
for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races for two
laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps,
2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
MICHIGAN RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the DHL 400
this past June at Michigan International Speedway and became just the
fourth Raybestos® Rookie to score a top-five finish in the June race
at Michigan since 1975. Joe Millikan (fourth in 1979), Jeff Gordon
(second in 1993) and Ryan Newman (third in 2002) are the others. The
DHL 400 is just the second race this season where two or more
Raybestos® Rookies finished in the top-10 (Brian Vickers finished
ninth).
· Greg Biffle was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2003 GFS
Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, scoring a fourth
place finish. Biffle also led the race once for 19 laps.
· The best finish by a Raybestos® Rookie in the August race at
Michigan since 1975 is a third place effort by Tony Stewart in 1999.
· Only one Raybestos® Rookie has won the pole position for the
August race at Michigan since 1975. Davey Allison won the pole for
the 1987 race.
· Top-five finishes by Raybestos® Rookies in the August race at
Michigan: 1977: Sam Sommers, fourth 1982: Geoffrey Bodine, fourth
1987: Davey Allison, fifth 1989: Hut Stricklin, fourth 1993:
Jeff Gordon, third 1999: Tony Stewart, third
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos® Rookies in the August race at
Michigan: 1975: Bruce Hill, eighth 1977: Sam Sommers, fourth,
1977: Ricky Rudd, seventh 1977: Terry Ryan, ninth 1977: Janet
Guthrie, 10th 1979: Joe Millikan, sixth 1981: Mike Alexander, 10th
1982: Geoffrey Bodine, fourth 1987: Davey Allison, fifth
1989: Hut Stricklin, fourth
1993: Jeff Gordon, third
1993: Bobby Labonte, eighth
1995: Ricky Craven, seventh
1996: Johnny Benson, seventh
1999: Tony Stewart, third
2000: Matt Kenseth, eighth
2001: Casey Atwood, 10th
2002: Jimmie Johnson, seventh
2003: Greg Biffle, fourth
· Raybestos® Rookies that have led a lap in the August race at
Michigan (since 1975): 1975: Bruce Hill (once for one lap) 1979:
Joe Millikan (twice for eight laps) 1982: Geoffrey Bodine, fourth
1986: Alan Kulwicki (once for two laps) 1987: Davey Allison
(twice for 21 laps) 1989: Hut Stricklin (once for three laps)
1993: Jeff Gordon (three times for 17 laps) 1999: Tony Stewart
(twice for four laps) 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (once for 13 laps)
2001: Ron Hornaday (once for three laps) 2002: Ryan Newman (once
for one lap) 2003: Greg Biffle (once for 19 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos®
Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 254
Brian Vickers 187
Scott Wimmer 186
Brendan Gaughan 169
Scott Riggs 164
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(8-18-2004)
POST INDIANAPOLIS / PRE WATKINS GLEN
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Brickyard
400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kahne finished fourth, his
seventh top-five and eighth top-10 of the 2004 season. He finished
fifth in his first NEXTEL Cup Series start at Indianapolis and took
Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the 10th time this season.
· Kahne's good run at Indianapolis moves him up to 11th in NEXTEL
Cup points, just 31 behind 10th place Ryan Newman. Kahne leads 12th
place Jeremy Mayfield by one point and 13th place Dale Jarrett by 24
entering the Sirius at The Glen at Watkins Glen International.
· Kahne enjoys a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings
entering the race at Watkins Glen, leading Brian Vickers by 65-points
(250-185).
DID YOU KNOW?
· The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at The Glen is second by
Ryan Newman in 2002. Only one other Raybestos Rookie has scored a
top-five finish at Watkins Glen: Robby Gordon, who placed fourth in
1997.
· A Raybestos Rookie has led a lap in each of the past two
consecutive races at Watkins Glen. McMurray led once for one lap in
2003 while Ryan Newman led twice for 11 laps in 2002.
· The most Raybestos Rookies to finish inside the top-10 at The
Glen is THREE. In 1993, Bobby Labonte placed seventh, followed by
P.J. Jones (eighth) and Kenny Wallace (ninth).
· Entering the race at Watkins Glen, Kahne has racked up four-second
place finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored
more than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002
when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who
captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX
times this season entering the Tropicana 400. The races: Pocono
(Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and
Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne,
Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Watkins Glen, Kahne has led 26 times in
10 races for a total of 544.81 miles (349 laps). Other freshman
drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five
times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice
in two races for 14 laps, 28.00 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two
races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races
for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for
two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
WATKINS GLEN Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Sirius at The Glen, claiming a 22nd place finish. He led the race
once for one lap.
· Greg Biffle started second in last year's race at Watkins Glen,
the best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie in 18 NEXTEL Cup
Series races at The Glen. Biffle also led the race once for 23 laps,
the most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in 18 races at The Glen.
· TWO or more Raybestos Rookies have led the same race at The Glen
only twice: In 1991, Ted Musgrave led once for one lap while Dorsey
Schroeder led once for three laps. In 2003, Biffle (once for 23 laps)
and McMurray each led a lap.
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies at Watkins Glen:
1993: Bobby Labonte, seventh
1993: P.J. Jones, eighth
1993: Kenny Wallace, seventh
1994: Joe Nemechek, eighth
1995: Ricky Craven, 10th
1997: Robby Gordon, fourth
1999: Tony Stewart, sixth
2000: Matt Kenseth, 10th
2001: Kevin Harvick, seventh
2002: Ryan Newman, second
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos
Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 250
Brian Vickers 185
Scott Wimmer 183
Brendan Gaughan 168
Scott Riggs 161
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(8-10-2004)
POST POCONO / PRE INDIANAPOLIS
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the
Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Kahne finished third, his sixth
top-five and seventh top-10 of the 2004 season. He scored his first
top-five finish in two Pocono races and took top Raybestos Rookie of
the Race honors for the ninth time this season.
· Kahne enters the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
57-point lead (238-181) over Brian Vickers in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He is 12th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings, 69 points behind 10th place Kevin Harvick.
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-five in
each of the last three consecutive Brickyard 400 races: Kurt Busch
(fifth in 2001), Ryan Newman (fourth in 2002), and Jamie McMurray
(third in 2003). No other Raybestos Rookie driver has scored a
top-five finish at Indianapolis. Busch was the first Raybestos
Rookie to score a top-five finish at the historic 2.5-mile speedway.
· Jeff Gordon (five), Kasey Kahne (four), and Ryan Newman (four) are
the only multiple Bud Pole winners this season.
· Entering the race at Indianapolis, Kahne has racked up four second
place finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored
more than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002
when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who
captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX
times this season entering the Tropicana 400. The races: Pocono
(Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and
Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne,
Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at Indianapolis, Kahne has led 26 times in
10 races for a total of 544.81 miles (349 laps). Other freshman
drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five
times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice
in two races for 14 laps, 28.00 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two
races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races
for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for
two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
BRICKYARD 400 Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. McMurray finished
third, the best finish ever by a first-year driver in 10 NEXTEL Cup
races at Indy. He also led the race twice for 22 laps.
· Johnny Benson holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos
Rookie in the Brickyard 400. He is also the only Raybestos Rookie to
lead the most laps in the Brickyard 400. Benson led three times for
70 laps in the 1996 event.
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies at Indy:
1996: Johnny Benson, eighth
1997: Mike Skinner, ninth
1999: Tony Stewart, seventh
2000: Scott Pruett, 10th
2001: Kurt Busch, fifth
2002: Ryan Newman, fourth
2002: Jimmie Johnson, ninth
2003: Jamie McMurray, third
· Raybestos Rookies that have led a lap in the Brickyard 400 at
Indy: 1996: Johnny Benson (three times for 70 laps) 1997: Mike
Skinner, (once for eight laps)
2000: Stacy Compton (once for one lap)
2001: Kurt Busch (once for one lap)
2001: Kevin Harvick (once for 18 laps)
2003: Jamie McMurray, third
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos
Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 238
Brian Vickers 181
Scott Wimmer 180
Brendan Gaughan 166
Scott Riggs 159
Johnny Sauter 123
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(8-4-2004)
POST NEW HAMPSHIRE / PRE POCONO
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Siemens
300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kahne finished eighth,
his sixth top-10 of the 2004 season. Kahne took top Raybestos Rookie
of the Race honors for the eighth time this season.
· Kahne enters the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway with a
48-point lead (224-176) over Brian Vickers in the chase for Raybestos
Rookie of the Year. He remains 14th in the NEXTEL Cup Series
championship standings, 162 points behind 10th place Ryan Newman.
· DID YOU KNOW? The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at Pocono is
second by Ward Burton in the 1994 Pennsylvania 500.
· DID YOU KNOW? The 1994 Pennsylvania 500 had three Raybestos
Rookies finish inside the top-five, the best performance by a rookie
class in 53 previous NEXTEL Cup races at Pocono. Three rookies
finished in the top-five: Burton, Joe Nemechek (third) and Jeff Burton
(fourth).
· A Raybestos Rookie has led at least one lap in each of the last
TWO July races at Pocono: Jimmie Johnson (once for two laps in 2002)
and Casey Mears (once for eight laps in 2003). The most Raybestos
Rookies to lead the July race at Pocono is THREE (Ward Burton, Jeff
Burton, and John Andretti in 1994). Jeff Burton has led more laps
than any other Raybestos Rookie in Pennsylvania 500 (once for 16
laps).
· Jeff Gordon (five), Kasey Kahne (four), and Ryan Newman (four) are
the only multiple Bud Pole winners this season.
· Entering the race at Pocono, Kahne has racked up four second place
finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored more
than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002 when
Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who
captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX
times this season entering the Tropicana 400. The races: Pocono
(Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and
Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne,
Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at New Hampshire, Kahne has led 26 times in
10 races for a total of 544.81 miles (349 laps). Other freshman
drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five
times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice
in two races for 14 laps, 28.00 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two
races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races
for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for
two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
PENNSYLVANIA 500 RAYBESTOS ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Tony Raines was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Pennsylvania 500, coming away with a 16th place finish. He was the
only first-year driver to finish on the lead lap.
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June
race at Pocono, logging a 13th place finish.
· Top-Five finishes by Raybestos Rookies at Pocono (July race):
1987: Davey Allison, fifth 1994: Ward Burton, second 1994: Joe
Nemechek, third
1994: Jeff Burton, fourth
1996: Johnny Benson, fifth
1999: Tony Stewart, fourth
2000: Matt Kenseth, fifth
2002: Ryan Newman, fifth
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies at Pocono (July race):
1982: Mark Martin, 10th
1984: Rusty Wallace, sixth
1987: Davey Allison, fifth
1994: Ward Burton, second
1994: Joe Nemechek, third
1994: Jeff Burton, fourth
1996: Johnny Benson, fifth
1997: Mike Skinner, sixth
1999: Tony Stewart, fourth
2000: Matt Kenseth, fifth
2002: Ryan Newman, fifth
· Raybestos Rookies who have led a lap in the July race at Pocono:
1982: Mark Martin (once for one lap) 1984: Rusty Wallace (once for
one lap) 1986: Michael Waltrip (once for one lap) 1989: Dick
Trickle (once for seven laps) 1993: Bobby Labonte (once for one lap)
1994: Ward Burton (twice for six laps), Jeff Burton (once for 16
laps), and John Andretti (once for one lap). 1995: Ricky Craven
(once for two laps) 1996: Johnny Benson (twice for five laps) 2002:
Jimmie Johnson (once for two laps) 2003: Casey Mears (once for
eight 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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos
Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 224
Brian Vickers 176
Scott Wimmer 173
Brendan Gaughan 159
Scott Riggs 152
Johnny Sauter 117
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(7-29-2004)
POST CHICAGO / PRE NEW HAMPSHIRE
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the
Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Vickers finished 14th and took
top rookie honors for the sixth time this season and for the third
consecutive race.
· Kasey Kahne led the race at Chicagoland twice for 10 laps and was
the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap. He kept alive an impressive
streak: a Raybestos Rookie has led at least one lap in all four races
at Chicagoland: Kevin Harvick (five times for 113 laps) in 2001, Ryan
Newman (twice for 86 laps), Jimmie Johnson (once for two laps) in
2002, Jamie McMurray (once for one lap) in 2003, and Kahne.
· Kahne enters the Siemens 300 at New Hampshire International
Speedway with a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings.
He holds a 40-point advantage over Brian Vickers.
· Jeff Gordon (five), Kasey Kahne (four) and Ryan Newman (three) are
the only multiple Bud Pole winners this season.
· Kahne qualified second for the Chicagoland race, grabbing his
eighth top-10 start in 2004 but his first better than 30th in the past
four races. Brian Vickers (fourth) posted his ninth top-10 start in
2004.
· Kahne drops to 14th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship
standings entering the New England 300. He is 129 points behind tenth
place Ryan Newman.
· Entering the race at New Hampshire, Kahne has racked up four
second place finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie
scored more than four second place finishes in his first season was in
2002 when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton,
who captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only
other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two
races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer
(ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX
times this season entering the Tropicana 400. The races: Pocono
(Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and
Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne,
Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos
Rookie. Entering the race at New Hampshire, Kahne has led 26 times in
10 races for a total of 544.81 miles (349 laps). Other freshman
drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five
times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice
in two races for 14 laps, 28.0 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two
races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races
for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for
two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Greg Biffle was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003
Siemens 300 at New Hampshire, scoring a 10th place finish. He was the
only first-year driver to finish in the top-15.
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has posted a top-10 finish in
each of the last three consecutive Siemens 300 races at New Hampshire:
2001: Kevin Harvick, eighth 2002: Ryan Newman, fifth 2003: Greg
Biffle, 10th
· DID YOU KNOW? Tony Stewart is the only Raybestos Rookie to lead
the most laps in the July race at New Hampshire. Stewart led twice
for 118 laps in the 1999 New England 300.
· The best start by a Raybestos Rookie at New Hampshire is third by
Jeff Gordon in 1993.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 just
once in 11 NEXTEL Cup races at New Hampshire. In 1993, Gordon
finished seventh while Bobby Labonte placed 10th.
· Ryan Newman is the only Raybestos Rookies to finish in the
top-five in the July race at New Hampshire. Newman placed fifth in
the 2002 race.
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies at New Hampshire (July
race): 1993: Jeff Gordon, seventh 1993: Bobby Labonte, 10th 1996:
Johnny Benson, ninth 1999: Tony Stewart, 10th 2001: Kevin
Harvick, eighth 2002: Ryan Newman, fifth
2003: Greg Biffle, 10th
· Raybestos Rookies who have led a lap at New Hampshire (July
race): 1993: Jeff Gordon (led twice for three laps) 1996: Johnny
Benson (led once for 17 laps) 1999: Tony Stewart (led twice for 118
laps) 2001: Kevin Harvick (led once for 13 laps) 2002: Ryan Newman
(led once for one lap)
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002),
Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle
(Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos
Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 215
Brian Vickers 175
Scott Wimmer 168
Brendan Gaughan 155
Scott Riggs 149
Johnny Sauter 117
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(7-19-2004)
POST DAYTONA / PRE CHICAGO
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Vickers finished 10th, scoring his third top-10 in 22 career starts. Vickers took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season and was the only first-year driver to finish inside the top-20.
· Kasey Kahne finished 25th at Daytona but continues to hold a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings. Kahne leads Vickers by 43 points (213-170) entering the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
· Kahne moves up from 12th to 11th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings entering the Tropicana 400. He is 111 points behind Kevin Harvick and trails leader Jimmie Johnson by 561.
· Entering the race at Chicagoland, Kahne has racked up four second place finishes this season. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored more than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002 when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer (ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX times this season entering the Tropicana 400. The races: Pocono (Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne, Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the race at Chicagoland, Kahne has led 24 times in nine races for a total of 529.81 miles (339 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice in two races for 14 laps, 28.0 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
CHICAGOLAND Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, claiming an eighth place finish.
· Kevin Harvick is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a race at Chicagoland Speedway. He won the 2001 Tropicana 400 by .649 seconds over Robert Pressley. He is also the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most laps in the three races at Chicagoland, holding the top spot five times for 113 laps.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two of the three races at Chicagoland: Harvick and Kurt Busch (eighth) in 2001, and Ryan Newman (fourth) and Jimmie Johnson (fifth) in 2002. Newman and Johnson are the only TWO first-year drivers to finish in the top-five in the three races at Chicagoland.
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has led at least one lap in all three races at Chicagoland: Harvick (five times for 113 laps) in 2001, Newman (twice for 86 laps) and Johnson (once for two laps) in 2002, and Jamie McMurray (once for one lap) in 2003.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 213
Brian Vickers 170
Scott Wimmer 163
Brendan Gaughan 152
Scott Riggs 145
Johnny Sauter 117
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(7-8-2004)
POST SONOMA / PRE DAYTONA
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Vickers finished 22nd and
took top rookie honors for the third time this season.
· Kasey Kahne finished 31st at Sonoma but continues to hold a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings. Kahne leads
Vickers by 47 points (204-157) entering the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway [NOTE: which doesn't agree with their points given below, but does with my points calculations]
· Kahne is 12th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings entering the Pepsi 400. He is 83 points behind Kevin Harvick and
trails leader Jimmie Johnson by 484.
· Entering the race at Daytona, Kahne has racked up four second place finishes in 2004. The last time a Raybestos Rookie scored more than four second place finishes in his first season was in 2002 when Ryan Newman had five second place finishes. James Hylton, who captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 1966, is the only other first-year driver to score four second place finishes.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in two races this season. MBNA 400: Scott Riggs (fifth) and Scott Wimmer (ninth) DHL 400: Kasey Kahne (second) and Brian Vickers (ninth)
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the same race SIX times this season entering the Pepsi 400. The races: Pocono
(Kahne and Vickers), Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne, Gaughan, and Vickers), and Dover (Kahne and Vickers).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the race at Daytona, Kahne has led 23 times in eight races for a total of 527.31 miles (338 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice in two races for 14 laps, 28.0 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
DAYTONA Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Greg Biffle won the 2003 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, scoring his first career win in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Series. Biffle crossed the finish line 4.102 second ahead of second place finisher Jeff Burton and led only once covering the final 21
laps. He was the only Raybestos Rookie to score a win in the 2003 season. He is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the Pepsi 400 at
Daytona.
· DID YOU KNOW? Only three Raybestos Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona since 1975: 1979: Dale Earnhardt, third 1993: Jeff Gordon, fifth; 2003: Greg Biffle, first
· DID YOU KNOW? Since 1975, three Raybestos Rookies have won the pole position for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona: Geoffrey Bodine (1982), Davey Allison (1987), and Mike Skinner (1997).
· DID YOU KNOW? Davey Allison is the only Raybestos Rookie since 1975 to lead the most laps in the Pepsi 400. He led the 1987 race twice for 32 laps.
· Raybestos Rookies that have led at least one lap in the Pepsi 400 (since 1975): 1979: Dale Earnhardt (once for one lap) 1981: Mike Alexander (once for four laps) 1981: Stan Barrett (once for three laps) 1982: Geoffrey Bodine (once for four laps) 1987: Davey
Allison (twice for 32 laps) 1987: Brett Bodine (once for one lap) 1990: Rob Moroso (once for four laps) 1993: Jeff Gordon (once for
three laps) 1994: Loy Allen (once for one lap) 1997: Mike Skinner (once for two laps) 1998: Kenny Irwin (once for 15 laps) 1999: Elliott Sadler (once for one lap) 2001: Kevin Harvick (twice for two laps) 2003: Greg Biffle (once for 21 laps)
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona (since 1975): 1975: Ritchie Panch, sixth 1977: Sam Sommers, seventh 1977: Terry Ryan, 10th 1979: Dale Earnhardt, third 1979 Harry Gant, seventh 1979: Joe Millikan, eighth 1979: Dale Earnhardt, sixth 1980: Jody Ridley, seventh 1980: John Anderson, ninth 1981: Mike Alexander, seventh 1981: Ron Bouchard, ninth 1982: Geoffrey Bodine, sixth 1986: Alan Kulwicki, 10th 1989: Dick Trickle, eighth 1989: Hut Stricklin, 10th 1990: Rob Moroso, ninth 1993: Jeff Gordon, fifth 1999: Tony Stewart, sixth 2002: Jimmie Johnson, eighth
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 207
Scott Wimmer 158
Brian Vickers 155 [I have him at 157, as they do above]
Brendan Gaughan 145
Scott Riggs 135
Johnny Sauter 117
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(7-1-2004)
POST MICHIGAN / PRE SONOMA
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the DHL 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Kahne finished second, his fourth second place finish of the 2004 season. He has racked up five top-five and five top-10 finishes in 15 starts. Kahne took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the seventh time in 15 races. He is just the fourth Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish in the June race at Michigan since 1975. Joe Millikan (fourth in 1979), Jeff Gordon (second in 1993) and Ryan Newman (third in 2002) are the others.
· Kahne jumped from 13th to 11th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings following the race at Michigan, 399 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. If the 26-race portion of the season was over, Kahne would be eligible for the Chase for the Championship by just one point.
· The DHL 400 is just the second race this season where TWO or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 (Brian Vickers finished ninth).
· Kahne stretched his lead to 50 points (196-146) over Vickers in the chase for Raybestos Rookie of the Year entering the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.
· Vickers scored a ninth place finish at Michigan, his second top-10 of the 2004 season and second of his 20-race NEXTEL Cup Series career.
· Two Raybestos Rookies® led the DHL 400: Brendan Gaughan (once for 13 laps) and Scott Riggs (once for one lap). Gaughan led for the first time since the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway (race number 10) while Riggs took the lead for the first time since the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (race number three).
· DID YOU KNOW? TWO Raybestos Rookies have led at least one lap in the last two consecutive NEXTEL Cup races entering the Dodge/Save Mart 350. Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in SEVEN of the 15 races this season.
· Vickers claimed the second starting position at Michigan, just .138 second behind pole winner Jeff Gordon. Vickers has qualified sixth or better in the last six consecutive races entering the Dodge/Save Mart 350.
· Kahne (once for 36 laps) and Brian Vickers (once for seven laps) led at Pocono, the SIXTH race this season where two or more Raybestos Rookies have led at least one lap. The other races: Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne, Gaughan, and Vickers) and Dover (Kahne and Vickers). The Pocono 500 is the second consecutive race where both Kahne and Vickers each led at least one lap.
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the Sonoma race, Kahne has led 23 times in eight races for a total of 527.31 miles (338 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five times in five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Brendan Gaughan (twice in two races for 14 laps, 28.0 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Scott Riggs (twice in two races for two laps, 3.50 miles), and Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
INFINEON RACEWAY Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Dodge/Save Mart 350, claiming a 20th place finish.
· The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at Infineon Raceway is ninth, which is shared by Kenny Irwin (1998) and Ryan Newman (2002).
· DID YOU KNOW? Only one Raybestos Rookie has led a lap in 15 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Infineon Raceway. Scott Pruett led twice for 10 laps in the 2000 race.
· The best start by a Raybestos Rookie at Infineon Raceway is second by Tony Stewart in 1999.
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).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by
Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 196
Scott Wimmer 146
Brian Vickers 145
Brendan Gaughan 136
Scott Riggs 128
Johnny Sauter 117
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(6-25-2004)
Rookie's in Top-20: For the first time this season, every single Nextel Cup rookie finished in the top-20. As a matter of fact, it appears that this was the first time since June of 2002 that all of the rookies [of the year candidates] have finished in the top-20 in the same race.(LastCowboys.com)(6-22-2004)
POST POCONO / PRE MICHIGAN
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. Vickers finished 13th and took top rookies honors for the third time this season.
· Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers made history at Pocono during qualifying for the Pocono 500. Kahne won the pole for the race, his
fourth in 14 career NEXTEL Cup Series starts while Vickers joined him on the outside of the front row. The Pocono 500 is the first time in
NASCAR's modern era that two rookies have claimed front row starting positions for a superspeedway race.
· Both Kasey Kahne (once for 36 laps) and Brian Vickers (once for seven laps) led at Pocono, the SIXTH race this season where two or
more Raybestos Rookies have led at least one lap. The other races: Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne, Gaughan, and Vickers) and Dover (Kahne and Vickers). The Pocono 500 is the second consecutive race where both Kahne and Vickers each led at least one lap.
· Kasey Kahne remains the leader in the chase for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. He has a 40-point lead over Wimmer (176-136) entering the DHL 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
· DID YOU KNOW? The only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole for the June race at Michigan is Loy Allen. Allen grabbed the top starting
position for 1994 race.
· DID YOU KNOW? Only THREE Raybestos Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the June race at Michigan since 1975:
1979: Joe Millikan, fourth
1993: Jeff Gordon, second
2002: Ryan Newman, third
· Kahne enters the race at Michigan 13th in the NEXTEL Cup championship standings, 19 behind 12th place Jamie McMurray and 21
behind 11th place Jeremy Mayfield. He is the only Raybestos Rookie in the top 20 in the championship standings.
· The MBNA 400 "A Salute to Heroes" is the only race this season where two or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10. Scott
Riggs placed fifth and Scott Wimmer claimed a ninth place finish.
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the Michigan race, Kahne has led 23 times in eight
races for a total of 527.31 miles (338 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (five times in
five races for 43 laps, 40.82 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for
two laps, 2.03 miles), Brendan Gaughan (once in one race for one lap, 2.0 miles), and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50
miles).
· Kahne is 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.
MICHIGAN Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 DHL 400 at Michigan International Speedway. McMurray finished 14th and was the only first-year driver to complete all 400 miles.
· The most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the June race at Michigan is 25 by Jimmie Johnson in 2002. Only once since 1975 have TWO or more Raybestos Rookies led a lap in the spring race at MIS: 2002 (Johnson and Ryan Newman, who led twice for 10 laps). Other
Raybestos Rookies to lead at least one lap in the June race at Michigan: 1975: Ritchie Panch (once for four laps) 1979: Dale Earnhardt (once for one lap) 1982: Mark Martin (once for one lap) 1986: Alan Kulwicki (once for one lap) 1993: Jeff Gordon (once for one lap) 2003: Greg Biffle (once for one lap)
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the June race at Michigan (since 1975): 1975: Ritchie Panch, sixth 1977: Sam Sommers, eighth 1979: Joe Millikan, fourth 1979: Dale Earnhardt, sixth 1980: Jody Ridley, sixth 1980: Kyle Petty, seventh 1981: Ron Bouchard, 10th 1982: Geoffrey Bodine, ninth 1993: Jeff Gordon, second 1994: Joe Nemechek, seventh 1999: Tony Stewart, ninth 2000: Kevin Harvick, 10th 2002: Ryan Newman, third
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 176
Scott Wimmer 136
Brian Vickers 134
Brendan Gaughan 128
Scott Riggs 121
Johnny Sauter 117
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(6-14-2004)
POST DOVER / PRE POCONO
· Scott Riggs was the Raybestos Rookie of the race in the MBNA 400 "A Salute to Heroes" June 6 at Dover International Speedway. Riggs finished fifth, his best finish in 13 career NEXTEL Cup Series races. Riggs took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time in 2004.
· The Dover race is the first time this season where two or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10: Riggs and Scott Wimmer, who placed ninth. Wimmer scored his third top-10 finish in 23 career NEXTEL Cup starts and racked up his second top-10 of the 2004 season. Wimmer's finish at Dover is his best since he placed 13th at Bristol, seven races ago.
· Both Kasey Kahne (once for 36 laps) and Brian Vickers (once for seven laps) led at Dover, the FIFTH race this season where two or more Raybestos Rookies have led at least one lap. The other races: Las Vegas (Kahne and Vickers), Texas (Kahne and Sauter), Talladega (Wimmer and Vickers), and California (Kahne, Gaughan, and Vickers).
· Kasey Kahne remains the leader in the chase for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. He has a 40-point lead over Wimmer (166-126) entering the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway.
· DID YOU KNOW? All six Raybestos Rookies will be making their first career Pocono start.
· Kahne enters the race at Pocono 12th in the NEXTEL Cup championship standings, seven behind 11th-place Jamie McMurray and 71
behind 10th-place Ryan Newman. He is the only Raybestos Rookie in the top 20 in the championship standings.
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the Coca-Cola 600, Kahne has led 20 times in seven
races for a total of 517.31 miles (334 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (four times in
four races for 42 laps, 68.48 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for
two laps, 2.03 miles), Brendan Gaughan (once in one race for one lap, 2.0 miles), and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50
miles).
· Kahne is 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.
POCONO Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Greg Biffle was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Pocono 500, claiming a 20th place finish.
· Since 1975, only one Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-five in the June race at Pocono: Jimmie Johnson, who placed third in 2002. Johnson also owns the best start by a freshman driver in the June event at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track. He claimed the second
starting position for the 2002 race.
· Only once since 1975 have two or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 in the June race at Pocono. In 1981 Tim Richmond
finished ninth and Ron Bouchard placed 10th.
· Since 1989, only three Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the June race at Pocono: Larry Pearson (once for two laps in 1989), Jimmy Hensley (twice for five laps in 1992), and Tony Stewart (once for one lap in 1999).
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the June race at Pocono (since 1975):
1975: Bruce Hill, eighth
1977: Ricky Rudd, seventh
1979: Joe Millikan, sixth
1980: Kyle Petty, seventh
1981: Tim Richmond, sixth
1981: Ron Bouchard, 10th
1982: Geoffrey Bodine, eighth
1989: Larry Pearson, ninth
1987: Davey Allison, first
1992: Jimmy Hensley, ninth
1999: Tony Stewart, sixth
2002: Jimmie Johnson, third
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 166
Scott Wimmer 126 [I have 128]
Brian Vickers 123
Brendan Gaughan 121
Johnny Sauter 117
Scott Riggs 111 [I have 112]
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(6-9-2004)
POST COCA-COLA 600 / PRE DOVER
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Kahne finished 12th and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the sixth time this season. Kahne leaves Charlotte with a 42-point lead (158-116) over Brian Vickers and Scott Wimmer in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway.
· Kahne led the Charlotte race once for five laps and was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead at least one lap in the Coca-Cola 600. This
is the sixth race of the season that Kahne has led at least one lap.
· Kahne enters the race at Dover 11th in the NEXTEL Cup championship standings, 78 behind 10th-place Kevin Harvick. He is the only
Raybestos Rookie in the top-20 in the points chase.
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the Coca-Cola 600, Kahne has led 18 times in five
races for a total of 473.81 miles (293 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (three times in three races for 35 laps, 31.32 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles), Brendan Gaughan (once in one race for one lap, 2.0 miles), and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
DOVER Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 MBNA 400 at Dover. McMurray finished 13th, the only first-year driver to finish on the lead lap.
· Only two Raybestos Rookies have won the spring race at Dover: Jimmie Johnson and Davey Allison, who both scored their second career wins at Dover. Johnson won the 2002 race while Allison captured the 1987 event.
· Only three Raybestos Rookies have led the most laps in the spring race at Dover: Johnson (four times for 187 laps), Allison (six times
for 212 laps), and Tony Stewart in 1999 (three times for 127 laps).
· DID YOU KNOW? The most Raybestos Rookies to finish in the top-10 in the MBNA 400 at Dover is THREE in 1979: Dale Earnhardt (fifth), Terry Labonte (sixth), and Joe Millikan (eighth).
· Two Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in just two other spring races at Dover. In 2000, Matt Kenseth finished second and Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed a 10th-place finish. In 2002, Johnson won the race while Ryan Newman grabbed a fifth-place finish.
· The best start by a Raybestos Rookie in the spring race at Dover is second by Morgan Shepherd in 1981.
· Top-five finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the spring race at Dover (since 1975): 1979: Dale Earnhardt, fifth 1982: Mark
Martin, fifth 1987: Davey Allison, first 1999: Tony Stewart, fourth 2000: Matt Kenseth, second 2002: Jimmie Johnson, first
2002: Ryan Newman, fifth
· Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies in the spring race at Dover (since 1975): 1975: Bruce Hill, eighth 1979: Dale Earnhardt, fifth
1979: Terry Labonte, sixth 1979: Joe Millikan, eighth 1980: Jody Ridley, sixth 1981: Morgan Shepherd, sixth 1983: Sterling Marlin,
10th 1985: Ken Schrader, 10th 1987: Davey Allison, first 1992: Jimmy Hensley, eighth 1997: Mike Skinner, ninth 1999: Tony
Stewart, fourth 2000: Matt Kenseth, second 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr., 10th 2002: Jimmie Johnson, first 2002: Ryan Newman, fifth
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999),
and Matt Kenseth (2000).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races) and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne 158
Scott Wimmer 116
Brian Vickers 116
Brendan Gaughan 115
Johnny Sauter 108
Scott Riggs 95
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(6-2-2004)
POST RICHMOND / PRE COCA-COLA 600
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Vickers finished eighth, the first top-10 finish of his 16-race NEXTEL Cup Series career (his previous best effort was 12th at Texas). Vickers
is tied with Brendan Gaughan for second in the Raybestos Rookie standings, 39 behind leader Kasey Kahne (148-108) entering the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
· Vickers led the Chevy American Revolution 400 once for 32 laps, the third consecutive race where Vickers has led at least one lap. Vickers took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time in 2004.
· Vickers won his first career Bud Pole at Richmond. His lap of 129.983 mph broke Ward Burton's previous track record of 127.389 mph. Vickers first pole came in his 16th career start and first NEXTEL Cup race at Richmond. He became the ninth different pole winner in the last nine races at Richmond and is the seventh different pole winner of the 2004 season. Vickers was the only Raybestos Rookie to start inside the top-10.
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has won four of the 11 Bud Pole positions this season entering the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. Kasey Kahne has three poles (Las Vegas, Darlington, and California) while Vickers has one (Richmond).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the Coca-Cola 600, Kahne has led 18 times in five races for a total of 473.81 miles (293 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Brian Vickers (three times in three races for 35 laps, 31.32 miles), Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles), Brendan Gaughan (once in one race for one lap, 2.0 miles), and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
· Kahne enters the race at Charlotte 11th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 89
points behind tenth place Elliott Sadler and 103 behind ninth place Kurt Busch. No other Raybestos Rookie ranks in the top 20.
· Johnny Sauter is the only Raybestos Rookie that has been running at the finish of all 11 races this season.
CHARLOTTE Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Greg Biffle was the Raybestos Rookie of the race in the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Biffle finished 16th in the
race and led the event once for one lap.
· Matt Kenseth is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the Coca-Cola 600. Kenseth captured the 2000 600-mile race by .573-seconds over
Bobby Labonte.
· TWO or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-five in the Coca-Cola 600 only once. In 2000, Kenseth won the race while Dale
Earnhardt Jr. placed fourth.
· Two or more Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in the Coca-Cola 600 three times since 1975: 1981: Morgan Shepherd (sixth) and Elliott Forbes-Robinson (tenth). 1993: Jeff Gordon (second) and Bobby Labonte (eighth). 2000: Matt Kenseth (first) and Dale
Earnhardt Jr. (fourth).
· Jimmie Johnson is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. Johnson took the top starting spot
for the 2002 race.
· Only two Raybestos Rookies have led the most laps in the Coca-Cola 600: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Jimmie Johnson (2002).
· Only once since 1975 have THREE Raybestos Rookies led a lap in the same 600-mile race. In 1993, Jeff Gordon (once for three laps),
Bobby Labonte (twice for four laps), and Rich Bickle (once for one lap).
· DID YOU KNOW? At least one Raybestos Rookie has led at least one lap in each of the last FIVE 600-mile races at Charlotte: 1999: Tony Stewart (three times for 13 laps)
2000: Matt Kenseth (twice for 31 laps)
2000: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (five times for 124 laps)
2001: Kevin Harvick (once for one lap)
2002: Jimmie Johnson (five times for 250 laps)
2003: Greg Biffle (once for one lap)
· Raybestos Rookies who have scored top-10 finishes in the Coca-Cola 600 (since 1975): 1977: Sam Sommers, ninth 1980: Kyle
Petty, seventh 1981: Morgan Shepherd, sixth; Elliott Forbes-Robinson, 10th 1993: Jeff Gordon, second and Bobby Labonte, eighth 1995: Ricky Craven, tenth 1999: Tony Stewart, fourth 2000: Matt Kenseth, first; Dale Earnhardt Jr., fourth 2001: Kevin Harvick, second
2002: Jimmie Johnson, seventh
· Raybestos Rookies who have scored top-five finishes in the Coca-Cola 600 (since 1975): 1993: Jeff Gordon, second 1999: Tony
Stewart, fourth 2000: Matt Kenseth, first; Dale Earnhardt Jr., fourth 2001: Kevin Harvick, second
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999). Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(5-25-2004)
PRE ALL-STAR RACE
· Two Raybestos Rookies are eligible for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge: Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers. Both drivers are
eligible through their respective car owners.
· This is just the second time in the history of the race that two or more Raybestos Rookies have qualified for this special event. Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson both competed in the 2002 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
· Only two Raybestos Rookies have won the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002).
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has qualified for the each of the last SEVEN consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge races. The streak began in 1998 with the late Kenny Irwin, who finished 13th driving for car owner Robert Yates.
· Only once in the history of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge have TWO Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-five. In 2002, Ryan Newman won the race while Jimmie Johnson finished fifth.
· Jamie McMurray was the only Raybestos Rookie to start the 2003 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. He started 23rd and finished 22nd after being eliminated after the first segment.
· The first Raybestos Rookie to compete in the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge was Davey Allison in 1987. Allison started third
and finished 12th, completing 134 of the 135 laps.
· Jeff Burton was the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 finish in the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. Burton finish sixth
in 1994 driving the Raybestos sponsored Ford for Stavola Brothers Racing.
· Tony Stewart was the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish in the NASCAR All-Star Challenge. He placed second behind race
winner Terry Labonte.
· The best start by a Raybestos Rookie NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge is third, by Davey Allison (1987) and Kevin Harvick (2001).
· At least one Raybestos Rookie has qualified for nine of the 20 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star races.
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(5-17-2004)
POST CALIFORNIA / PRE RICHMOND
· Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Gaughan finished sixth, his best career finish in 10 career NEXTEL Cup Series starts. Gaughan has been the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in each of the last two events and moves into the second place in the Raybestos Rookie standings, 37 points behind leader Kasey Kahne (138-101). Gaughan led the Auto Club 500 once for one lap (2.0 miles), the first time he has led in the NEXTEL Cup Series career.
· Kahne won his third Bud Pole of the season when he took the top starting spot for the Auto Club 500. Kahne is tied with Ryan Newman for most poles this season (no other driver has won more than one pole).
· The Raybestos Rookie class enjoyed their best performance in qualifying at California Speedway. Four of the top six spots were held by first-year drivers: Kahne, Scott Riggs (fourth), Gaughan (fifth), and Brian Vickers (sixth).
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie. Entering the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Kahne has led 18 times in five races for a total of 473.81 miles (293 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Brian Vickers (twice in two races for three laps, 7.32 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles), Brendan Gaughan (once in one race for one lap, 2.0 miles) and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50 miles).
· Kahne is 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.
· Kahne enters the race at Richmond 11th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 41
points behind tenth place Elliott Sadler and 56 behind ninth place Bobby Labonte. No other Raybestos Rookie ranks in the top 20.
· Johnny Sauter is the only Raybestos Rookie that has been running at the finish of all 10 races this season.
RICHMOND Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Tony Raines was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 spring race at Richmond, claiming a 14th place finish. Raines was one of three Raybestos Rookies to finish on the lead lap: Greg Biffle (17th) and Jamie McMurray (22nd) were the others.
· Biffle was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead at least one lap at Richmond in 2003. He led the September race once for two laps.
· Since 1975, only one Raybestos Rookie has won the spring race at Richmond: Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000. Earnhardt Jr. led the race just once covering the final 31 laps and officially scored his second career win by .159 second over Terry Labonte.
· Only once since 1975 have TWO or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 in the Chevy American Revolution 400. In 1979, Joe
Millikan finished sixth followed by Terry Labonte, who claimed an eighth place finish.
· Only one Raybestos Rookie has won the pole at Richmond since 1975: Morgan Shepherd. Shepherd won took the top starting spot for
the 1981 Chevy American Revolution 400.
· Since 1980, only five Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the spring race at Richmond: Tommy Houston (once for 10 laps in 1980), Morgan Shepherd (once for 150 laps in 1981), Dick Trickle (once for one lap in 1989), Earnhardt Jr. (once for 31 laps in 2000), and Ryan
Newman (twice for 48 laps in 2002).
· Only three Raybestos Rookies that have scored top-five finishes in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond (since 1975): 1981:
Morgan Shepherd, fourth 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr., first 2002: Ryan Newman, second
· Seven Raybestos Rookies have scored top-10 finishes in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond (since 1975): 1979: Joe
Millikan, sixth, and Terry Labonte, eighth 1989: Larry Pearson, sixth 1993: Jeff Gordon, sixth 1998: Kenny Irwin, ninth 2000:
Dale Earnhardt Jr., first 2002: Ryan Newman, second
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999),
and Matt Kenseth (2000).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne, 138
Scott Wimmer, 101
Brian Vickers, 100
Johnny Sauter, 92
Brendan Gaughan, 92
Scott Riggs, 80
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(5-11-2004)
POST MARTINSVILLE / PRE TALLADEGA
· Brian Vickers was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Vickers placed 13th and took top Raybestos Rookie honors for the first time this season. He and Brendan Gaughan (17th) were the only Raybestos Rookie to finish on the lead lap.
· Gaughan scored the best finish of his eight-race NEXTEL Cup Series career at Martinsville. His previous best effort was a 19th place finish in the Daytona 500. Gaughan was the top qualifying Raybestos Rookie, grabbing the 11th starting position in time trials.
· Kasey Kahne led once for one lap at Martinsville, the first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the spring race there since Ron Hornaday led once for 24 laps in 2001. Kahne holds a 34-point lead (111-77) over Scott Wimmer in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.
· Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos Rookie and has led at least one lap in each of the last two races. Entering the Aaron's 499, Kahne has led 13 times in four races for a total of 319.81 miles (216 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Scott Wimmer (once in one race for five laps, 12.50 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps 2.03 miles), and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50 miles).
· Kahne is 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 (two races ago) six times for 148 laps.
· Kahne enters the race at Talladega ninth in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, 160 behind leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is three points behind eighth place Rusty Wallace and 44 behind seventh place Jeff Gordon. No other Raybestos Rookie ranks in the top 20.
· Johnny Sauter is the only Raybestos Rookie that has been running at the finish of all seven races this season.
TALLADEGA Raybestos ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Tony Raines was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Aaron's 499 at Talladega. Raines finished 16th, completing all 188
laps of the race. No Raybestos Rookie led a lap in the race.
· The late Davey Allison is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the Aaron's 499 at Talladega. He won the 1987 event by .78 second over
Terry Labonte. Allison also led the most laps in the race, leading six times for 108 of the 178 laps (the event was shortened by 10 laps
due to darkness). He the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most lap in the April race and holds the record for most laps led by a rookie in the April race at Talladega.
· Since Allison's win in 1987, a Raybestos Rookie has finished inthe top-five in the Aaron's 499 just twice: Tony Stewart (fifth) in
1999 and Kurt Busch (third) in 2001.
· DID YOU KNOW? At least one Raybestos Rookie finished in the top-10 in four consecutive Aaron's 499 races at Talladega from 1979 through 1982: Joe Millikan (fifth) and Terry Labonte (ninth) in 1979, Lake Speed (seventh) and Jody Ridley (tenth) in 1980, Tim Richmond (sixth) in 1981, and Mark Martin (tenth) in 1982.
· Only once since 1969 has TWO or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 in consecutive spring races at Talladega: Joe Millikan (fifth) and Terry Labonte (ninth) in 1979, Lake Speed (seventh) and Jody Ridley (tenth) in 1980.
· Top-five finishes by a Raybestos Rookie in the Aaron's 499 (since 1975): 1979: Joe Millikan, fifth 1987: Davey Allison, first 1999:
Tony Stewart, fifth 2001: Kurt Busch, third
· Top-10 finishes by a Raybestos Rookie in the Aaron's 499 (since 1975): 1977: Sam Sommers, 10th 1979: Joe Millikan, fifth 1979:
Terry Labonte, ninth 1980: Lake Speed, seventh 1980: Jody Ridley, 10th 1981: Tim Richmond, sixth 1982: Mark Martin, 10th 1984:
Phil Parsons, seventh 1987: Davey Allison, first 1994: Steve Grissom, 10th 1996: Johnny Benson, 10th 1999: Tony Stewart, fifth
2001: Kurt Busch, third
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne, 111
Scott Wimmer, 77
Brian Vickers, 71
Johnny Sauter, 66
Brendan Gaughan, 65
Scott Riggs , 61
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(4-19-2004)
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDERS - NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES PRE MARTINSVILLE/POST TEXAS
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Kahne finished
second, his fourth top-five and fourth top-10 of the 2004 season. He stretched his lead in the Raybestos® Rookie standings to 32 points
(102-70) over Scott Wimmer entering the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
· A Raybestos® Rookie has finished in the top-five in five of the seven NEXTEL Cup Series races this season entering Sunday's race at
Martinsville.
· Kahne enters the race at Martinsville seventh in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, 130 behind leader Kurt Busch. He is just 21 behind sixth place Jimmie Johnson and holds a five-point advantage over eighth place Kevin Harvick. No other Raybestos® Rookie ranks in the top-20.
· Kahne led the most laps for the first time in his seven-race NEXTEL Cup Series career at Texas, holding the top spot six times for
148 laps. Entering the Martinsville event, Kahne has led 12 times in three races for 319.28 miles (215 laps). Other freshman drivers to
lead at least one lap this season: Scott Wimmer (once in one race for five laps, 12.50 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two
laps 2.03 miles), and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap,1.50 miles).
· Johnny Sauter is the only Raybestos® Rookie that has been running at the finish of all seven races this season.
· Kahne won the pole in his first ever start at the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway, his second career Bud Pole in his first five NASCAR NEXTEL Cup starts and one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to accomplish the feat. No other driver has won more than two. He joins Mark Martin, Dick Hutcherson, Bob Burdick, and John Kieper and became the eighth different Bud Pole winner in the last eight qualifying sessions at Darlington.
MARTINSVILLE RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Since 1975, Morgan Shepherd is the only Raybestos® Rookie to win the Advance Auto Parts 500 since 1975. He won the 1981 event, outlasting the late Neil Bonnett to score his first NEXTEL Cup Series win. Shepherd led the most laps in the race (three times for 203) and is the only Raybestos® Rookie to lead the most laps in the spring race at Martinsville. Two other Raybestos® Rookies scored top-10 finishes that same day: Ron Bouchard (ninth), and Mike Alexander (10th).
· The most Raybestos® Rookies to finish in the top-10 in the spring race at Martinsville is FOUR. In 1979, Joe Millikan placed (fifth)
followed by Harry Gant (sixth), Dale Earnhardt (seventh), and Terry Labonte (ninth).
· At least one Raybestos® Rookie finished in the top-10 in four consecutive Advance Auto Parts 500 races from 1979 through 1982.
Completing the streak were Jody Ridley (seventh) and Slick Johnson (ninth) in 1980 and Mark Martin (seventh) in 1982.
· The most recent Raybestos® Rookie to score a top-10 finish in the Advance Auto Parts 500 is Jeff Gordon, who placed eighth in 1993.
· The best finish by a Raybestos® Rookie since Shepherd's win in 1981 was Dick Trickle, who placed third place in 1989. Trickle also
led the race once for seven laps.
· Since 1975, Tony Stewart is the only Raybestos® Rookie to win the pole for the Advance Auto Parts 500. Stewart won the pole, the first of his career, in 1999.
· The most recent Raybestos® Rookie to finish on the lead lap in the spring race at Martinsville was Andy Houston in 2001. Houston placed 17th, the final car to complete all 500 laps of the race.
· The most recent Raybestos® Rookie to lead a lap in the spring race was Ron Hornaday in 2001. Hornaday led twice for 24 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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2004).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos® Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
DRIVER POINTS
Kasey Kahne 102
Scott Wimmer 70
Johnny Sauter 60
Brian Vickers 60
Brendan Gaughan 55
Scott Riggs 53
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(4-12-2004)
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDERS - NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES PRE DARLINGTON/POST DARLINGTON
· Kasey Kahne was the RAYBESTOS Rookie of the Race in the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kahne finished third, his third consecutive finish of third or better in the last three races. He padded his lead in the RAYBESTOS Rookie standings by 23 points over Scott Wimmer (65-42).
· Kahne enters the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway fourth in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, 123 behind leader Matt Kenseth. He is 33 points behind third place Dale Earnhardt Jr. and holds a seven-point advantage over fifth place Jeff
Gordon. Kahne is the only RAYBESTOS Rookie in the top-20 in NEXTEL Cup points.
· Kahne and Scott Wimmer are the only RAYBESTOS Rookies to score a top-five and a top-10 finish. Kahne has three top-fives and three top-10s while Wimmer has one top-five and one top-10.
· Johnny Sauter and Brendan Gaughan are the only RAYBESTOS Rookies that have been running at the finish of all four races this season.
· DID YOU KNOW? Since 1975, the best finish by a RAYBESTOS Rookie in the spring race at Darlington is fifth, by Ryan Newman in 2002. During that same time span, the best qualifying effort by a RAYBESTOS Rookie was third, which is shared by Newman and Kevin Harvick (2001).
· A RAYBESTOS Rookie has finished in the top-10 in each of the last SIX NEXTEL Cup races: Tony Raines (sixth at Rockingham, November 2003), Jamie McMurray (ninth at Homestead, November 2003), Scott Wimmer (third at Daytona, February, 2004), and Kasey Kahne (second at Rockingham, February 2004, second at Las Vegas in March of 2004, and third at Atlanta in March 2004).
· The Atlanta race was the fourth consecutive event where a RAYBESTOS Rookie has finished in the top-three. Scott Wimmer was
third at Daytona and Kahne finished second at Rockingham and Las Vegas plus third at Atlanta.
· Since 1987, SEVEN RAYBESTOS Rookies have posted a top-five finish in the spring race at Atlanta: Harvick, Jimmie Johnson (third in 2002), Dick Trickle (third in 1989), Jeff Burton (fourth in 1994), Davey Allison (fifth in 1987), and Kenny Irwin (fifth in 1998).
· Kahne and Scott Riggs are the only RAYBESTOS Rookies to lead a lap this season. Kahne has led twice in one race for 43 laps while Riggs led once on one race for one lap. Both freshman drivers led the same race: Las Vegas.
· Wimmer was the RAYBESTOS Rookie of the Race in the Daytona 500, grabbing a third place finish. He scored the best finish by a
first-year driver since Jeff Gordon placed fifth in 1993 and was the only RAYBESTOS Rookie to place inside the top-15.
DARLINGTON RAYBESTOS ROOKIE TIDBITS
· The most recent RAYBESTOS Rookie to lead a lap in the spring race at Darlington is Matt Kenseth. Kenseth led once for three laps on his way to a sixth place finish in 2000.
· Since 1980, TWO or more RAYBESTOS Rookies have finished in the top-10 in the spring race at Darlington only twice: Lake Speed
(eighth) and Jody Ridley (10th) in 1980 and Newman and Jimmie Johnson (sixth) in 2002.
· From 1979 until 2000, only five RAYBESTOS Rookies led a lap in Darlington's spring race: Kenseth, Mike Skinner (once for eight laps
in 1997), Jeff Gordon (once for one lap in 1993), Bob Schact (once for two laps in 1992), and Dale Earnhardt (once for four laps in 1979).
RAYBESTOS Rookies have led back to back spring races at Darlington just once in the sport's modern era (1992 and 1993).
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 won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2004).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a RAYBESTOS Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne, 65
Scott Wimmer, 42
Johnny Sauter, 34
Brian Vickers, 34
Brendan Gaughan, 33
Scott Riggs, 30
HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS ROOKIES BY RACE
EVENT, HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Daytona 500, Scott Wimmer, third
Subway 400, Kasey Kahne, second
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, Kasey Kahne, second
Golden Corral 500, Kasey Kahne, third
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(3-17-2004)
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDERS - NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES PRE ATLANTA/POST ATLANTA
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kahne finished second, 3.426 seconds behind winner Matt Kenseth. He used his good finish to take the lead in the chase for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Kahne leads Scott Wimmer by 12 points (46-34) entering the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
· The Las Vegas race was the third consecutive event where a Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-three. Scott Wimmer was
third at Daytona and Kahne finished second at Rockingham and Las Vegas.
· Kahne won the pole for the Las Vegas event, the ninth consecutive season a Raybestos Rookie has won a pole position. Kahne's first career pole came in just his third career start, tying Mark Martin and Ryan Newman for the quickest that a driver has won a Bud Pole in the modern era.
· Three Raybestos Rookies earned top-10 starts at Las Vegas: Kahne, Vickers (third) and Brendan Gaughan (eighth).
· A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in each of the last FIVE NEXTEL Cup races: Tony Raines (sixth at Rockingham, November 2003), Jamie McMurray (ninth at Homestead, November 2003), Scott Wimmer (third at Daytona, February, 2004), and Kasey Kahne (second at Rockingham, February 2004 and second, Las Vegas in March of 2004).
· At least one Raybestos Rookie has now finished in the top-10 in four of the last five races at Las Vegas: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (10th) in
2000, Kevin Harvick (eighth) and Ron Hornaday (ninth) in 2001, and Ryan Newman (fourth) and Jimmie Johnson (sixth) in 2002.
· Kahne became the first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap this season. He held the top spot twice for 43 laps.
· Scott Riggs led the Las Vegas race once for one lap, the first time in his NEXTEL Cup career that he has led a lap.
· Wimmer was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Daytona 500, grabbing a third place finish. He scored the best finish by a
first-year driver since Jeff Gordon placed fifth in 1993 and was the only Raybestos Rookie to place inside the top-15.
· DID YOU KNOW? The late Kenny Irwin holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the spring race at Atlanta. In 1998, Irwin led five times for 112 laps.
ATLANTA RAYBESTOS ROOKIE TIDBITS
· Kevin Harvick scored a memorable win as a Raybestos Rookie in the 2001 Golden Corral 500. He beat Jeff Gordon by just .006 seconds to capture his first NEXTEL Cup Series victory in just his third career start.
· Since 1987, SIX Raybestos Rookies have posted a top-five finish in the spring race at Atlanta: Harvick, Jimmie Johnson (third in
2002), Dick Trickle (third in 1989), Jeff Burton (fourth in 1994), Davey Allison (fifth in 1987), and Kenny Irwin (fifth in 1998).
· TWO Raybestos Rookies have finished in the top-10 in the spring race at Atlanta Motor Speedway three times: Jody Ridley (sixth) and Slick Johnson (10th) in 1980, Dick Trickle (third) and Hut Stricklin (eighth) in 1989, and Jimmie Johnson (third) and Ryan Newman (10th) in 2002.
· From 1978 until 1982, at least one Raybestos Rookie finished in the top-10 in the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a
streak of five consecutive races: Connie Saylor (eighth in 1978), Joe Millikan (eighth in 1979), Jody Ridley (sixth) and Slick Johnson
(sixth and 10th, respectably, in 1980), Morgan Shepherd (eighth in 1981), and Jim Sauter (10th in 1982).
· Raybestos Rookies Robby Gordon (1997) and Johnny Benson (1996) scored their first career Bud Poles in back to back spring races at Atlanta. Gordon won the pole in his 11th career start while Benson took the top spot in just his fourth career start.
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE HISTORY
· The way to the Winston Cup championship is to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Since 1979, six Raybestos Rookie of the Year
drivers have won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999),
and Matt Kenseth (2004).
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
DRIVER, POINTS
Kasey Kahne, 46
Scott Wimmer, 34
Johnny Sauter, 27
Brendan Gaughan, 27
Brian Vickers, 24
Scott Riggs, 21
HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS ROOKIES BY RACE
EVENT, HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Daytona 500, Scott Wimmer, third
Subway 400, Kasey Kahne, second
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, Kasey Kahne, second
Raybestos is a registered trademark licensed to Brake Parts Inc. by Raybestos Products Company(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(3-9-2004)
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDERS - NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES PRE LAS VEGAS/POST ROCKINGHAM
· Kasey Kahne was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway. Kahne finished second, 0.010 seconds behind winner Matt Kenseth, the fourth closest finish since electronic scoring was introduced in 1993. He started third in the race, the best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie this season.
· Kahne posted the best finish ever by a Raybestos Rookie in the 40-year history of the North Carolina Speedway. The previous best effort was a fifth place effort by Jamie McMurray in the 2003 Subway 400.
· A Raybestos Rookie has finished no worse than sixth in the last three races at Rockingham: McMurray, Tony Raines (sixth in November 2003), and Kahne.
· The Subway 400 is Kahne's best career NEXTEL Cup finish and it came in just his second career start. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time in 2004. He trails Scott Wimmer by two points (28-26) in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.
· Wimmer was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Daytona 500, grabbing a third place finish. He scored the best finish by a first-year driver since Jeff Gordon placed fifth in 1993 and was the only Raybestos Rookie to place inside the top-15.
· DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in each of the last four NEXTEL Cup races: Tony Raines (sixth at Rockingham, November 2003), Jamie McMurray (ninth at Homestead, November 2003), Scott Wimmer (third at Daytona, February, 2004), and Kasey Kahne (second at Rockingham, February 2004).
LAS VEGAS RAYBESTOS ROOKIE TIDBITS
· The best start by a Raybestos Rookie is second (Ryan Newman 2002 and Scott Pruett 2000).
· First top-10 finish: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (10th place finish in 2000).
· First Raybestos Rookie to lead at least one lap: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (four times for 42 laps in 2000).
· First time two or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10: Kevin Harvick and Ron Hornaday in 2001. Harvick finished eighth while Hornaday placed ninth. NOTE: Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson also finished in the top-10 in 2002. Newman placed fourth ahead of Johnson, who finished sixth.
· First time two or more Raybestos Rookies led at least one lap: 2002, when Newman led three times for 49 laps and Johnson led once for six laps.
· Most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie: 49 (Newman in 2002).
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE HISTORY
· The way to the Winston Cup championship is to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Since 1979, six Raybestos Rookie of the Year drivers have won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2004).
· A Raybestos Rookie has won a Bud Pole position in each of the last eight seasons, dating back to 1996.
· 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
DRIVER, POINTS
Scott Wimmer 28
Kasey Kahne 26
Johnny Sauter 19
Brendan Gaughan 17
Brian Vickers 15
Scott Riggs 14
HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS ROOKIES BY RACE
EVENT, HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Daytona 500, Scott Wimmer, third
Subway 400, Kasey Kahne, second
(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(2-29-2004)
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER RACE QUOTES FOR THE SUBWAY 400 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACE AT NORTH CAROLINA SPEEDWAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2004.
KASEY KAHNE IN THE #9 DODGE DEALERS/UAW DODGE WAS THE RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE RACE AT ROCKINGHAM. HE FINISHED SECOND, 0.010 SECONDS BEHIND RACE WINNER MATT KENSETH. Notes: Kahne posted the best finish ever by a Raybestos Rookie in the history of North Carolina Speedway. The previous best effort was a fifth place effort by Jamie McMurray in the 2003 Subway 400. This is Kahne's best career NEXTEL Cup finish and it came in just his second career start. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time in 2004. "I was doing all I could with this UAW Dodge Dealers Dodge. I could get little runs on [Matt] Kenseth at times but it was real hard. He was running high and I was running pretty high. I just tried to set him up for down here [turns one and two]. I knew that was my only spot to pass him was down here so we did what we could and just about got her. WHICH TURN WOULD KENSETH GAIN ON YOU MOST? "He was probably better on entry in both ends but I just waited a little longer and was better on the exit. We were better on the exit of the corner. It was close. It made it a close race. All these guys do a great job: Ray Evernham has given me a great opportunity and these Evernham Engines run great. It was a fun race. Tommy Baldwin [crew chief] made a lot of good changes and we fought our way through the field all day long. It was just nice to finish second." DID YOU THINK YOU WON THE RACE? "I didn't know if I won or not. It was too close to call, actually. For a second I thought that Matt was going to win and then I kind of got a burst of speed and pulled a little bit lower. I don't know if that helped or hurt but it definitely was close. I haven't seen the replay but it was definitely really close." HOW INCREDIBLE WAS IT TO RUN SO WELL TODAY? 'I was just trying to control myself and stay calm and not overdrive the corner. That's the biggest thing: you can overdrive the corner so easy on older tires. I didn't want to overdrive the corner and I had Tommy telling what was going on and Michael Landis spotting all day. I had a lot of good people and a lot of help and just took it to the final corner and tried to make something happen." YOU DROVE A GREAT RACE ALL DAY. "I don't think we had too many scratches. It tried going three-wide once with Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip and kind of got sandwiched between them so I backed out and got back a couple of laps later. But it was definitely a fun race and definitely a big learning curve for me. I thought the race was over about halfway through." TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON THAT FINAL LAP. "Don't overdrive turns one and two. Three and four was where I wanted to make the move and I just didn't want to overdrive one and two and at the same time I had to watch Jamie McMurray right behind me. There's a lot going on but we were able to run good through one and two and tried to challenge Matt off of turn four."
TOMMY BALDWIN, CREW CHIEF, #9 DODGE DEALERS/UAW DODGE:
"It was good. This was really his first race because Daytona doesn't really count as far as racing is concerned. We'll take it. We tested real good here and we tested real good in Vegas so hopefully we can gain some momentum here and head to Vegas in a couple of weeks." ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT YOU RAN SO WELL ALL DAY? "That's why we hired him [smiles]. Ray saw he had that talent there and put him behind the wheel. We ran a lot of laps and tested for a day and we knew what we had. We had a good practice yesterday and basically all week was good. You really can't take anything away from what we did all week. Like I said, we'll take this momentum and run with it." THE WAY THE SCORING MONITOR CYCLED OUT, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE A LAP DOWN AND THEN YOU PITTED AND RESTARTED SECOND. "That was when the caution came out. When the caution comes out the field is froze and we already took that lap on pit road so that allowed us to get back on the lead lap. It's just a new rule with what NASCAR has. It benefited us, definitely, and we're not going to complain about that." DO YOU WORRY ABOUT LOSING A LAP ON PIT ROAD WITH A CAUTION FALLING AT THE WRONG TIME? "We knew that we were going to have to pit with the 17 in order to beat him. If we stayed out a lap or two laps longer we would have been three more seconds behind just because of tire wear. The last run was too short of a run to gain it back, I thought. We figured we'd take a shot and pit the same time the 17, have a good stop, and get right on his bumper and run the last 40-45 laps." WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY TO PULL OFF THE WIN? "Our pit stops weren't very good today but this is their first time. We didn't get but one pit stop in Daytona so this is our first day. We'll be doing some practice this week." HOW MANY CHANGES HAS THIS TEAM HAD OVER THE WINTER? "A couple of the main ingredients are still here. We've got a new tire guy, new mechanics, new crew chief, new driver, and new engine tuner. Probably two-thirds of our people on the road are fairly new to the 9 car. A couple of them worked with me in the past. Everyone in the shop is pretty much the same. They've done a great job preparing this car for this race." HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS RUN TODAY FOR THIS TEAM? "It's good. It shows how solid of an organization Evernham Motorsports has and how strong these Dodges are and how good our new little driver is [smiles]. We'll take this and move forward."
SCOTT WIMMER, #22 CATERPILLAR DODGE:
"That's not too bad of a day. We had trouble on one pit stop and got a bad set of tires there towards the end that wouldn't run. Our car got real loose and we had to pit a little bit earlier and like everybody else got caught with that caution. The Caterpillar guys did a great job. I think we had a shot at a top-10 but ended up a little short. We'll take the points and move on to Vegas." ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THIS RUN? "I ran this race back last year and we couldn't even keep up. We weren't very competitive and today we were competitive. We were in the top-10 and ran real strong up in the top-10. We just needed to get a little bit better. It won't take long. It's still a lot of learning for me and the crew but we're doing good and hopefully we'll get it in the next few weeks."
JOHNNY SAUTER, #30 AOL CHEVROLET:
"It started out pretty good. We were decent, just biding our time and I started making recommendations for the chassis and we started going the wrong way and finally got it back at the end of the day. We got screwed on a pit stop where we pitted and the caution came out three laps later and caught us a couple laps down. We stayed on the lead lap for most of the day and I'm not going to complain. The AOL Chevy was good, we finished, and we'll go on." ON FAN SUPPORT AT NORTH CAROLIONA SPEEDWAY. "I don't know why anybody wouldn't want to come here. I think Rockingham is one of the best places that we race at: side-by-side racing and passing. Heck, it's a better show than you can go see anywhere. If I was a fan and going to a racetrack, I'd be coming here versus Daytona or a restrictor plate race or something like that."
PETER SOSPENZO, CREW CHIEF, #25 GMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES CHEVROLET:
"I think we learned a lot for the next race here, that's for sure. We were pretty good in practice yesterday and then we were real tight to start the race. I don't understand why we were but that's the way we ended up starting. We definitely didn't have a 16th place
car but at the end we did. We were running good at the end, our last third of the race. We were happy to get out of here with a 16th place finish when it looked like we were going to be in the low 30's or something like that. We'll take it, move on the Vegas, and hopefully move up in the points. It's nice to have a decent finish when you have a bad day." WERE YOU PLEASED WITH THE NEW TIRE COMPOUND? "I think the new tires are fine. It definitely seems like the Dodges have an advantage right now. We'll see a little bit more of it at Vegas and Atlanta but it certainly seems like they have an advantage over everybody else right now." We still have some things that we have to do with the team. IS IT A DOWNFORCE ISSUE? "I think it's a downforce issue, yep. I think when NASCAR made all these rules changes it didn't hurt the Dodges as much as it hurt the Chevrolets and the Fords. We'll see how things go. I'm sure they'll take them to the wind tunnel probably after Atlanta and we'll see where everybody is at."
BRENDAN GAUGHAN, #77 KODAK EASY SHARE DODGE:
"This is a fun place. What I like about NEXTEL Cup racing is that the length of it means that if you have a problem at the start you can still battle. We were almost back on the lead lap there. We would have been the Lucky Dog for about 50 laps. The guys didn't give up. They had great pit stops. We all said the Raybestos battle this year would be pretty nasty and a second and a third by a couple of rookies so far-both in Dodges by the way-that's a heck of a start to a season. We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole in the Raybestos battle, dug ourselves a hole in the points battle, but we've got Vegas coming up. We've got a bunch of good tracks for me personally and we'll get the Kodak Dodge up front." WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO OTHER RACES THIS SEASON? "No quit. In the NEXTEL Cup Series, you can't stop running. We were at one point two laps down or almost three laps down or something and we just battled our way to a bunch of laps back. We would have been the Lucky Dog at one point. You can never give up. There's enough cautions, there's enough laps that you can adjust on it and you've got a good team. They can make adjustments and make adjustments and make adjustments and help you and get your Dodge handling better and in the end you can have a decent racecar. You just can't quit in this stuff."
SCOTT RIGGS, #10 VALVOLINE CHEVROLET:
"The car just wasn't very good. We kept working on it and working on it, but it just stayed tight the whole race. Then we had to replace the battery and the replacement was dead. It just wasn't our day. I really hate it for the guys. The Valvoline Chevrolet ran good in practice and qualified okay, but when it came race time nothing clicked for us."
(from Raybestos / Camp and Assoc PR)(2-29-2004)