#11-Denny Hamlin finished 15th in the September 9 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway to clinch a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Hamlin is the first Raybestos Rookie to qualify for the Chase. He is fifth in the Nextel Cup Series championship standings, 20 points behind leader #17-Matt Kenseth. #11-Hamlin led the Richmond race once for 19 laps, the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the event. #07-Clint Bowyer was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race at Richmond, scoring a 12th-place finish. He took top rookie honors for the sixth time this season. A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top 15 in all 26 races this season. #48-Jimmie Johnson owns the best points finish by a Raybestos Rookie, placing fifth in the championship standings in 2002. Hamlin leads Bowyer by 44 points (251-207) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the September 17 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.(Raybestos PR), See standings, history, more notes on the 2006 Rookies page.(9-14-2006)
