#00-Michael McDowell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the May 10 Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway. McDowell scored a 28th-place finish and captured top rookie honors for the first time this season. #10-Patrick Carpentier led the race at Darlington twice for four laps and was the only rookie driver to lead a lap in the event. Carpentier became the first driver to lead at Darlington since Kasey Kahne in 2004. #01-Ragan Smith leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by two points (107-105) over #77-Sam Hornish Jr. entering the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Matt Kenseth is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the Coca-Cola 600. Kenseth captured the 2000 race by .573-seconds over Bobby Labonte. Jimmie Johnson is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the pole in 48 previous Coca-Cola 600 races. Johnson took the top starting spot for the 2002 race.(Camp and Assoc/Raybestos), see more rookie notes, history and standings on my 2008 Rookies Page.(5-22-2008)
