#37-Kevin Conway was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 7 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, posting a 31st-place finish. Conway leads #46-Terry Cook by 29 points (33-4) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the March 21 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The most recent Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at Bristol: Kevin Harvick in the 2001 Food City 500 (17 races). In fact, Harvick led the most laps in the event (three times for 137 laps). The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the Food City 500 came in 1979 when Dale Earnhardt scored his first career win. Since Earnhardt’s victory, only three drivers have finished in the top-five in the spring race: 1981: Morgan Shepherd, fourth; 1989: Dick Trickle, fifth; 2003: Greg Biffle, fifth. Tony Stewart is the only RaybestosÃÂî Rookie to win the pole at Bristol in his rookie season. Stewart took the top spot in the 1999 Sharpie 500 (August race). He also holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie, holding the top spot once for 225 laps. For rookie standings, history and more, see my 2010 Rookies page.(3-20-2010)
