Raybestos Rookie Denny Hamlin scored his first NEXTEL Cup Series victory June 11 in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. The win came in his 21st career start. Hamlin’s previous best finish was second at Richmond (race number 10). He took Raybestos Rookie of the race honors for the fifth consecutive race and for the eighth time in 14 races this season. Hamlin holds a 26-point edge (164-138) over Clint Bowyer in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 18 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Hamlin became the first Raybestos Rookie to win in 57 races at Pocono Raceway. At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-15 finish in all 14 races this season. Hamlin is the first Raybestos Rookie to win from the pole since Jimmie Johnson in the September 2002 at Dover International Speedway. Since 1975, only FOUR Raybestos Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the June race at Michigan.(Raybestos PR), see much more notes on my Rookies Page.(6-15-2006)
