Clint Bowyer was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the April 22 Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Bowyer finished fifth, his first top-five in nine career NEXTEL Cup Series starts. He led for the first time in his NEXTEL Cup Series career, holding the top spot three times for 21 laps. Bowyer took top rookie honors for the second time this season. Bowyer qualified eighth at Phoenix, the best qualifying effort of his NEXTEL Cup career. Bowyer took the lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings over Denny Hamlin at Phoenix. He enjoys an eight-point lead (85-77) over Hamlin entering the April 30 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, The Subway Fresh 500 is the second consecutive race where TWO or more Raybestos Rookies led at least one lap: Bowyer and J.J. Yeley, who led once for one lap. The 2002 Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway is most recent NEXTEL Cup Series race where TWO Raybestos Rookies finished inside the top five. Jimmie Johnson finished fourth ahead of Ryan Newman, who placed fifth. 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, holding the top spot six times for 108 of the 178 laps (the event was shortened by 10 laps due to darkness). Allison remains the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most laps in the Aaron’s 499 and holds the record for most laps led by a rookie in the spring race at Talladega. Since Allison’s win in 1987, a Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-five in the Aaron’s 499 just twice: Tony Stewart (fifth in 1999) and Kurt Busch (third in 2001). Only one Raybestos Rookie has won the pole position in 35 previous Aaron’s 499 races at Talladega Superspeedway: Jimmie Johnson (2002).(Raybestos PR), for many more notes, standings and more, see my Rookie Page.(4-28-2006)
