#42-Juan Pablo Montoya was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 10 Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. Montoya finished 20th and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the sixth time this season. Montoya leads David Ragan by six points (152-146) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 17 Citizen’s Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Reed Sorenson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2006 Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan, claiming a fifth-place finish in a rain shortened event. Since 1975, only five Raybestos Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the June race at Michigan: 1979: Joe Millikan, fourth 1993: Jeff Gordon, second 2002: Ryan Newman, third 2004: Kasey Kahne, second 2006: Reed Sorenson, fifth. Only twice since 1975 have two or more Raybestos Rookies have led the spring race at Michigan. In 2004, Brendan Gaughan (once for 13 laps) and Scott Riggs (once for one lap) led the race. Prior to 2004, the most recent race where two Raybestos Rookies led a lap was in 1986 with Alan Kulwicki (once for one lap) and Michael Waltrip (once for two laps). The most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the Citizens Bank 400 is 25 by Jimmie Johnson in 2002. The only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole in 38 previous Citizens Bank 400 races at Michigan is Loy Allen. Allen grabbed the top starting position for 1994 race.(Camp & Assoc/Raybetos PR), for standings and histry, see my 2007 Rookies page.(6-14-2007)
