Erik Darnell (#99) was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the February 24 racetickets.com 200 at California Speedway. Darnell finished 11th and took top rookie honors for the second consecutive race. Darnell holds a 12-point lead (27-15) over Kyle Krisiloff in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the March 17 John Deere 200 at Atlanta. Sean Murphy was the Rookie of the Race in the 2005 John Deere 200, claiming a 13th-place finish on the lead lap. Murphy was the only first-year driver to lead a lap in the event. Raybestos Rookies David Reutimann and Robert Huffman made history in 2004 at Atlanta. Reutimann won the pole and Huffman grabbed the second starting spot, securing the first all-Rookie front row in the history of the Truck Series. The best finish by a Rookie in the spring race at Atlanta is third by Reutimann in 2004. He also led that race twice for eight laps. A Rookie has led a lap in each of the two previous spring races at Atlanta: Reutimann and Murphy, who led the March 2005 race at Atlanta once for one lap. Where they stand: Darnell 27; Krisiloff 15; Earnhardt 14; Miller 13; Richardson 13; Crocker 13; Almirola 12; Murphy 8; McCumbee 8; Kinser 6; Reid 4; Lagasse 4; Patton 1.(Raybestos PR)(3-13-2006)
