2015 NASCAR Cup Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings

Updated 11-23-2015

Rookie of the Year Pages by Season / Year:
2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
All-Time NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year Winners / Stats / Records page

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SCORING SYSTEM

The scoring system to determine the Sunoco Rookie of the Year varies from NASCAR’S point system for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. The following is a breakdown of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year scoring system:

” A 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point system is used for scoring finishing positions by the rookies. The highest-finishing rookie in each race earns 10 points, the second-highest, nine points, etc.

” Of the 36 races, only the top 17 are counted in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie race.

” In order to be eligible for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award, a driver must attempt to qualify in at least eight events out of the first 20 events.

” Attempting to qualify for a race earns the rookies one bonus point, which is a bonus that is available for all 36 events.

” Bonus points are awarded for a finish in the top 10. A rookie who wins a race is awarded 10 points, second place gets nine and so on down the line with a 10th-place effort earning one point.

” Following the final race of the season, the highest-ranking rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship receives 10 bonus points. The second-highest rookie earns nine points, third receives eight, etc.

” During the final weekend of the season, a Sunoco Rookie of the Year panel meets and rewards favorable conduct in the following categories: Conduct with NASCAR officials in the garage and pit areas; conduct and awareness on track; personal appearance and relationship with the media. The panel rates each driver, with scoring ranging from a maximum of 10 to a minimum of 1. Total points will be averaged from each panel member’s ballot. The points derived from the panel will be added to the entry, competition, and bonus points after the final race of the season to determine the overall Sunoco Rookie of the Year winner.
(NASCAR.com)(1-31-2015)

 

Rookie Stripes

rookies will be noted on the car they drive by a yellow stripe on the rear bumper of the car.
sometimes a driver not up for the Rookie of the Year award may have yellow stripes on tracks they have not competed on in the past
or if NASCAR decides the driver doesn’t have enough experience.

2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings

 

Car#-Driver, Races Attempted/Races Run; Attempt Pt + Race Rookie Pts + Bonus Pts + Final Bonus = Total Rookie Pts
Jayski.com calculations using the last know rules (see above):
#34/#55-Brett Moffitt, 28/28; 28 + 169 + 0 + 151 = 348 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
#83-Matt DiBenedetto(A), 27/27; 27 + 166 + 0 + 150 = 343
#23/#26-Jeb Burton, 36/28; 36 + 153 + 0 + 154 = 343
#33-Alex Kennedy, 13/13; 13 + 111 + 0 + 131 = 255 (part-time)
#66-Tanner Berryhill, 1/0; 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 1 (one attempt)
(A) = added to ROTY starting Talladega in May
(thru 11-23-2015)
below from the Official Results when released, usually on Monday
#34/#55-Brett Moffitt, 348
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, 343
#23/#26-Jeb Burton, 343
#33-Alex Kennedy, 255
#66-Tanner Berryhill, 1 (not listed on results as of Pocono in Aug)

HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE BY RACE
Race, Highest-Finishing Rookie (finish), points awarded
1) Daytona 500, none qualified for race
2) Atlanta, #26-Burton (35th), 11
3) Las Vegas, #26-Burton (40th), 11
4) Phoenix, #26-Burton (34th), 11
5) Auto Club, #55-Moffitt (22nd), 11
6) Martinsville, #55-Moffitt (28th), 11
7) Texas, #55-Moffitt (29th), 11
8) Bristol, #55-Moffitt (17th), 11
9) Richmond, #55-Moffitt (29th), 11
10) Talladega, #83-DiBenedetto (18th), 11
11) Kansas, #83-DiBenedetto (25th), 11
12) Charlotte, #34-Moffitt (31st), 11
13) Charlotte, #34-Moffitt (28th), 11
14) Pocono, #34-Moffitt (30th), 11
15) Michigan, #34-Moffitt (33rd), 11
16) Sonoma, #33-Kennedy (25th), 11
17) Daytona, #83-DiBenedetto (26th), 11
18) Kentucky, #34-Moffitt (32nd), 11
19) New Hampshire, #34-Moffitt (33rd), 11
20) Indianapolis, #83-DiBenedetto (32nd), 11
21) Pocono, #83-DiBenedetto (29th), 11
22) Watkins Glen, #83-DiBenedetto (26th), 11
23) Michigan, #83-DiBenedetto (30th), 11
24) Bristol, #34-Moffitt (30th), 11
25) Darlington, #83-DiBenedetto (25th), 11
26) Richmond, #34-Moffitt (35th), 11
27) Chicago, #34-Moffitt (31st), 11
28) New Hampshire, #34-Moffitt (27th), 11
29) Dover, #83-DiBenedetto (34th), 11
30) Charlotte, #83-DiBenedetto (29th), 11
31) Kansas, #83-DiBenedetto (30th), 11
32) Talladega, #83-DiBenedetto (40th), 11
33) Martinsville, #23-Burton (37th), 11
34) Texas, #34-Moffitt (30th), 11
35) Phoenix, #83-DiBenedetto (28th), 11
36) Homestead, #34-Moffitt (31st), 11

Best Finishing Rookies, Times:
Brett Moffitt, 17
Matt DiBenedetto, 13
Jeb Burton, 4
Alex Kennedy, 1
Races with no rookie, 1 (Daytona 500)

 

2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Race-by-Race Results

 

  • Homestead Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 37th, 10 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify (DNQ), 1 rookie point
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Ty Dillon in the car
    (11-22-2015)
  • Phoenix(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 36th, 10 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Ryan Ellis in the car
    (11-15-2015)
  • Texas(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 35th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
    (11-8-2015)
  • Martinsville(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 27th, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 33rd, 9 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 35th, 8 rookie points
    (11-1-2015)
  • Talladega(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 40th, 11 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify (DNQ), 1 rookie point
    #34-Brett Moffitt, not entered, Josh Wise in the car
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Travis Kvapil in the car
    (10-25-2015)
  • Kansas(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 37th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
    (10-18-2015)
  • Charlotte(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 34th, 9 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 41st, 8 rookie points
    (10-11-2015)
  • Dover(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 34th, 11 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 38th, 10 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 42nd, 9 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 43rd/last, 8 rookie points
    (10-4-2015)
  • New Hampshire(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 27th, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 33rd, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, BJ McLeod in the car
    (9-27-2015)
  • Chicago Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 38th, 10 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
    (9-20-2015)
  • Richmond(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 35th, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 36th, 10 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
    (9-12-2015)
  • Darlington Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 25th, 11 rookie points
    #23-Jeb Burton, finished 31st, 10 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 36th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Mike Bliss in the car
    (9-6-2015)
  • Bristol(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 33rd, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify (DNQ), 1 rookie point
    #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Mike Bliss in the car
    (8-22-2015)
  • Michigan(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 33rd, 10 rookie point
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 34th, 9 rookie point
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Travis Kvapil in the car
    (8-16-2015)
  • Watkins Glen Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 26th, 11 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 28th, 10 rookie point
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 39th, 9 rookie point
    #34-Brett Moffitt, did not race, Chris Buescher in the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
    (8-9-2015)
  • Pocono(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 35th, 9 rookie point
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 38th, 8 rookie point
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
    (8-2-2015)
  • Indianapolis Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 11 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 34th, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify, 1 rookie point
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Brian Scott in the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
    (7-26-2015)
  • New Hampshire Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 33rd, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 25th, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 41st, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Derek White in the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
    (7-19-2015)
  • Kentucky Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 32nd, 11 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 40th, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 41st, 9 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 42nd, 8 rookie points
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, not entered
    (7-11-2015)
  • Daytona(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 26th, 11 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 27th, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 35th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Brian Scott in the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, not entered
    (7-5-2015)
  • Sonoma Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 25th, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 29th, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 32nd, 9 rookie points
    #34-Brett Moffitt, not entered, Justin Marks ran the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, not entered
    (6-28-2015)
  • Michigan Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 33rd, 11 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 37th, 10 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Ty Dillon in the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
    (6-14-2015)
  • Pocono Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 33rd, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
    (6-7-2015)
  • Dover Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 9 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Brian Scott in the car
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
    (5-31-2015)
  • Charlotte Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
    #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 34th, 10 rookie points
    #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 36th, 9 rookie points
    #26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify, 1 rookie point
    #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
    (5-24-2015)
  • Kansas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-DiBenedetto, finished 25th, 11 rookie points
    #34-Moffitt, 34th, 10
    #26-Burton, 42nd, 9
    #33-Kennedy, didn’t race
    (5-3-2015)
  • Talladega Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #83-DiBenedetto, finished 18th, 11 rookie points (1st race as a candidate)
    #26-Burton, Did not qualify, 1
    #55/#34-Moffitt, didn’t race
    #33-Kennedy, didn’t race
    (5-3-2015)
  • Richmond Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #55-Moffitt, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
    #23-Burton, 38th, 10 [DNQ’d in the #26, replaced Yeley in the #23]
    #33-Kennedy, 39th, 9
    (4-26-2015)
  • Bristol Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #55-Moffitt, finished 17th, 11 rookie points
    #33-Kennedy, 33rd, 10
    #26-Burton, 42nd, 9
    (4-19-2015)
  • Texas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #55-Moffitt, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
    #33-Kennedy, 37th, 10
    #26-Burton, DNQ, 1
    (4-11-2015)
  • Martinsville Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #55-Moffitt, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
    #26-Burton, 29th, 10
    #33-Kennedy, 33rd, 9
    (3-29-2015)
  • Auto Club Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #55-Moffitt, finished 22nd, 11 rookie points (1st race as a candidate)
    #26-Burton, 39th, 10
    (3-22-2015)
  • Phoenix Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #26-Burton, finished 34th, 11 rookie points
    #33-Kennedy, 38th, 10 (1st race as a candidate)
    #66-Berryhill, DNQ, 1 (1st race as a candidate)
    (3-15-2015)
  • Las Vegas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #26-Burton, finished 40th, 11 rookie points
    (3-8-2015)
  • Atlanta Sunoco Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #26-Burton, finished 35th, 11 rookie points
    (3-1-2015)
  • Daytona Sunoco Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #26-Burton, did not qualify (DNQ), 1 attempt point
    (2-22-2015)
  • NOTES: the rule used to be that once a driver ran more then seven races in a season,
    they were not eligible for Rookie of the Year,
    but the rules changed when NASCAR required drivers to declare which series to accrue points for during the season.
    So since Danica Patrick didn’t run for Sprint Cup Series points in 2012, she ran for rookie of the year in 2013.
    Trevor Bayne had not ran for Sprint Cup points but NASCAR ruled he ran enough Sprint Cup races not to be allowed to run for rookie of the year in 2015

 

Current Season News and Notes

 

  • Moffitt named NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year: Lost in the shuffle of all that transpired in Sunday night’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, #34-Brett Moffitt was named the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year for 2015. Moffitt competed in 31 of the 36 Sprint Cup Series events this season, driving for Michael Waltrip Racing and Front Row Motorsports throughout the year. Moffett made his first start of the season, eighth of his career, at Atlanta Motor Speedway last March 1, driving the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. In that event, Moffitt started 22nd and finished eighth for a career-best and what turned out to be his highest finish of the season. “Atlanta was definitely the highlight of my year,” Moffitt said Sunday at Homestead. “Going into 2015, that was the one race I had on my schedule with Michael Waltrip Racing, and they gave me the opportunity. Michael, the folks at Aaron’s and Rob Kauffman (who owned MWR with Michael Waltrip) believed in me enough to fill in for Brian (Vickers) that race, and to go out there and finish eighth place was huge. You know, the time I didn’t even know what I was doing behind the wheel of a race car it seemed like.”
    Moffitt would pilot the #55 MWR Toyota until Richmond in April. Once David Ragan took over driving duties at MWR, Moffitt returned to Front Row Motorsports for the remainder of the 2015 season. “As a rookie, being with Front Row Motorsports was a really good home,” he said. “I learned a lot throughout the year, getting to race with 43 of the best drivers in the world is a learning curve, especially I have very limited XFINITY and truck experience, so a lot of these tracks were the first time for me. Just being able to get on the racetrack, being around them, trying to learn from them, it’s added up to a lot.” With only one scheduled race at the start of the season — Atlanta with MWR — Moffitt did not declare himself eligible for the Rookie of the Year award until later in the season, when it became apparent he would run the majority of the season. “Once we reached a point where I knew I was going to do at least seven races and wouldn’t be eligible in 2016 to run for Rookie of the Year, at that point we said, why not sign up for it and hope things work out, and they did,” he said. “And that’s really where Bob and everyone at Front Row Motorsports kind of made this happen, and they stuck their neck out on the line and hired a rookie, and it paid off.”
    Despite a consistent year that ended in with the rookie title, Moffitt’s 2016 plans are still up in the air. “Right now my slate is empty,” he said. “I mean, we’re working hard, but it’s hard to secure the funding to be able to run in any of the top three series. If anything would come forward, I’d be more than willing to work with any series, whether it was truck, XFINITY or another Cup ride.”(FoxSports), see Rookie Standings, History, Stats and more on the 2015 Rookie of the Year page.(11-24-2015)