#00-Michael McDowell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 8 Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. McDowell logged a 27th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the second time in the last four Sprint Cup Series races. #01-Regan Smith holds a three-point lead (137-134) over #77-Sam Hornish Jr. in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 15 LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Smith started fourth at Pocono, his best qualifying effort in Sprint Cup Series races and equaled the best qualifying run by a Raybestos Rookie in 14 races this season (#10-Patrick Carpentier started fourth in the May race at Richmond). Three Raybestos Rookies have guaranteed starting positions at Michigan: Smith, McDowell and Hornish Jr. #40-Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier must qualify for the race on speed. A Raybestos Rookie has finished inside the top-10 in three of the last four consecutive June races at Michigan. The most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the LifeLock 400 is 25 by Jimmie Johnson in 2002. The only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole in 39 previous LifeLock 400 races at Michigan is Loy Allen. Allen grabbed the top starting position for 1994 race.(Camp & Assoc/Raybestos), see full report, history, standings and more on my 2008 Rookies page.(6-12-2008)
