#77-Sam Hornish Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the October 11 Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Hornish Jr. scored a 22nd-place finish and took top rookie honors for the eighth time this season. He was the top Raybestos Rookie in both races this season at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. His 13th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 is the best by a freshman driver this season. Regan Smith leads Sam Hornish Jr. by two points (191-189) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering Martinsville. Smith was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 30 Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville. He has been the top Raybestos Rookie in four of the five short track races this season. Only one Raybestos Rookie has won a pole for the Subway 500 since 1974: Ryan Newman (2002). A Raybestos Rookie has finished on the lead lap in each of the past SEVEN consecutive Subway 500 races at Martinsville. The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Tony Stewart (1999) and Jimmie Johnson (2002). More than one Raybestos Rookie has posted victories in their rookie season only three times: Morgan Shepherd and Ron Bouchard (one each in 1981), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two) and Matt Kenseth (2000), Jimmie Johnson (three) and Ryan Newman (2002).(Camp & Assoc/Raybestos), see rookie standings, history and more on my 2008 Rookies page.(10-16-2008)
