David Reutimann won 2004 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in the Craftsman Truck Series. He clinched the honors in fine style at the season ending Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, winning the pole position and scoring a fourth-place finish. The pole was the second of Reutimann’s 25-race career. Reutimann took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the 10th time this season.
Reutimann officially captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors by 67 points (273-206) over Tracy Hines.
Reutimann led the most laps of any Raybestos Rookie this season. He led five times in four races for 37 laps (62.97 miles). Other Raybestos Rookies to lead a lap this season: Shane Sieg (twice in two races for 2.83 miles) and Tracy Hines (once in one race for two laps, 2.50 miles).
Reutimann finished the season 14th in Craftsman Truck Series points, 50 behind 13th-place Shane Hmiel and 60 ahead of 15th-place Jon Wood.
Reutimann won his first career Bud Pole at the Easy Care 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The pole came in just his second career start and marks the second consecutive season a Raybestos Rookie has won a pole. Reutimann becomes the second driver for Darrell Waltrip Motorsports to win a pole, joining Rich Bickle who took the top starting spot at Martinsville Speedway in 1997.
Joining Reutimann on the front row at Atlanta was fellow Raybestos Rookie Robert Huffman. The Atlanta race was the first time in the history of the Craftsman Truck Series that two Raybestos Rookies have started from the front row.
The greatest margin of victory in the final Raybestos Rookie standings is 138 points, set by Carl Edwards in 2003.
The record for most Bud Poles set by a rookie is four, shared by Greg Biffle (1998) and Kurt Busch (2000).
The record for most top-five finishes is 13, which is shared by Busch and Edwards. Ricky Hendrick (2001) holds the mark for most top-10 finishes: 19.
Busch holds the record for best championship finish (2nd), most wins (four), and most money won ($745,632).
The record for quickest win by a Raybestos Rookie is held by Tony Raines. In 1997, Raines scored his first career Craftsman Truck Series win in just his fifth career start.
The record for most top-10 finishes by a Raybestos Rookie is 19, by Ricky Hendrick in 2001.
Three drivers from Roush Racing have won Raybestos Rookie of the Year while competing in the Craftsman Truck Series: Carl Edwards (2003), Greg Biffle (1998) and Kurt Busch (2000).
Kenny Irwin was the first Raybestos Rookie to win a race in the Craftsman Truck Series. Irwin won two races on his way to capturing 1997 Raybestos Rookie of the Year.
Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER STANDINGS
DRIVER, POINTS
#17-David Reutimann 273
#88-Tracy Hines 206
#12-Robert Huffman 202
#38-Brandon Whitt 201
#8-Chase Montgomery 185
#07-Shane Sieg 176
#02-Kelly Sutton 121
#08-Ken Weaver 89
#63-Chris Wimmer 86
Shelby Howard 58
#29-Brad Keselowski 55
HIGHEST FINISHING Raybestos ROOKIES BY RACE
EVENT HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Florida Dodge Dealers 250 David Reutimann, ninth
Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 200 David Reutimann, third
Kroger 250 David Reutimann, eighth
UAW/GM Ohio 250 Tracy Hines, fifth
Infineon 200 Robert Huffman, 12th MBNA America 200 Robert Huffman, 11th
O’Reilly 400K David Reutimann, third
O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 Tracy Hines, 14th
Black Cat Fireworks 200 Shane Sieg, eighth
O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 Kevin Love, 11th
Built Ford Tough 225 David Reutimann, ninth
Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 200 David Reutimann, ninth
Line-X Spray-On Truck Bedliners 200 Robert Huffman, ninth
Power Stroke Diesel 200 Tracy Hines, ninth
Toyota Tundra 200 Robert Huffman, eighth
O’Reilly 200 David Reutimann, 11th
Kroger 200 Robert Huffman, sixth
Sylvania 200 David Reutimann, fifth
Las Vegas 350 Brandon Whitt, 13th
American Racing Wheels 200 David Reutimann, sixth
Silverado 350K Brandon Whitt, 15th
Kroger 200 Robert Huffman, 10th
Chevy Silverado 150 Brandon Whitt, 20th
Darlington 200 Robert Huffman, ninth
Ford 200 David Reutimann, fourth
(Camp and Assoc./Raybestos PR)(11-26-2004)
