Officials with Affinia Group today announced an increase in the year-end payout to Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Nextel Cup Series. The driver who wins Raybestos Rookie of the Year will take home a check for $65,000, a $15,000 increase from 2006. The company will also increase year-end cash prizes to $25,000 and $12,000 for the Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, respectively. Six drivers will compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007: David Ragan, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Reutimann, AJ Allmendinger, Brandon Whitt and Paul Menard. The 2007 season is the 10th consecutive year Raybestos brand Brakes will support the Rookie of the Year programs in all three major NASCAR series. Raybestos brand Brakes returns for the 13th consecutive year as an associate sponsor with Robert Yates Racing’s #38 M&M’s Ford driven by David Gilliland. Additionally, Raybestos brand Brakes will remain the Official Brakes of NASCAR. AND Members of the Nextel Cup Series Raybestos Rookie class will have several chances to claim extra prize money in 2007. The Raybestos Rookie of the Race normally earns $1,500 but that number jumps to $5,000 in seven designated races, beginning with Sunday’s Daytona 500. Other events where freshman drivers will earn extra cash for being the top Raybestos Rookie are Las Vegas (March 11), Martinsville (April 1), Darlington (May 12), Infineon (June 24), Chicagoland (July 15), and Bristol (August 25).(Raybestos PR)(2-15-2007)
