NOTE: will not being doing separate pages anymore in 2025 for Rookies, Manufacturers or Poles;
these pages only get a few views a week, not worth the time
2024 NASCAR Cup SUNOCO Rookie of the Year Standings
Updated 11-10-2024
The SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SCORING SYSTEM
National Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year points system: Since the 2018 season, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point system mirrors the points structure that awards the season-long championship, including stage points and playoff points, with the eventual Sunoco Rookie of the Year earning the most points throughout the season.
As is the case with the season-long points structure, a race win earns a Sunoco Rookie 40 points and five playoff points. A second-place finish earns a Sunoco Rookie 35 points; a third-place finish nets 34 points, and so on. A Sunoco Rookie who wins a stage earns 10 points and one playoff point.
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year points system is in all three NASCAR national series – the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series.
The SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RULES:
NASCAR’s Rookie of the Year eligibility maintains that a driver must be competing for driver championship points and that the driver must not have started in more than seven events in any prior season in that series. Drivers who started more than seven Cup races “may be eligible for an exemption in the sole discretion of the Rookie Panel based on an evaluation of the driver’s resume, provided such driver meets all other eligibility criteria. The Rookie Panel will typically grant a waiver to drivers who slightly exceed the seven-race mark.
NASCAR’S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
1) Possess a valid current NASCAR Cup Series driver’s license; and
2) Elect on their NASCAR Competition Membership and License Application to accumulate NCS driver championship points; and
3) Have not have started in more than seven NCS championship events in any prior season; and
4) not have registered for the NCS Sunoco Rookie of the Year program in the past, unless the applicant registered only once, and that application was properly withdrawn. Under no circumstances can a rookie applicant have previously registered in the series two times. Drivers that started more than seven NCS Championship events may be eligible for an exemption in the sole discretion of the Rookie Panel based on an evaluation of the driver’s resume, provided such driver meets all other eligibility criteria.(2-9-2021)
ROOKIE ‘YELLOW‘ 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 a Rookie of the Year Candidate may have to run a yellow stripe if they not competed on that race track before.
or if NASCAR decides the driver doesn’t have enough experience.
No idea when this first started appearing on rookie cars, but have seen it on a car as early as 1970.
2024 SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
Carson Hocevar earns NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year: Carson Hocevar, driver of Spire Motorsports’ #77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, has been named the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year. The Portage, Mich., native earned the honors on the strength of one top-five, six top-10 and 13 top-15 finishes. In his first full-season at the controls of the No. 77 Chevrolet, Hocevar brought home a career best third-place finish in the Cup Series September visit to Watkins Glen International. Hocevar impressed throughout his rookie campaign, accumulating 686 points and being the top finishing rookie in 15 races on NASCAR’s senior circuit. He out-distanced his next closest competitor by a handsome 107-point advantage when the checkered flag fell on Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway. See full article HERE.(11-10-2024)
car#, driver, rookie/driver points, stage/duel pts, best finish of season, season standings
1) #77-Carson Hocevar, 686 POINTS (652 regular + 27 stage points + 7 points from Duel)
………best finish of 3rd at Watkins Glen on 9/15/24; 21st in points (penalized 25 pts at Nashville)
2) #4-Josh Berry, Ford, 579 POINTS (522 + 57 stage points(won a stage at Daytona), no points from Duel)
………best finish of 3rd at Darlington on 5/12/24 & at New Hampshire on 6/23/24; 27th in points
3) #71-Zane Smith, 505 POINTS (500 + 0 stage points + 5 points from Duel)
………best finish of 2nd at Nashville on 6/30/24; 29th in points
4) #15 RWR/#36 FRR-Kaz Grala, Ford, 206 POINTS (206 + 0 stage points, no points from Duel)
………best finish of 14th at Atlanta on 2/25/24; 35th in points: NOTE ran 24 of 36 races. 1 race in #36 and 23 races in #15.
(points also can include any points garnered from the Daytona Duel races, see below)
OF NOTE: John Hunter Nemechek ran for ROTY in 2020 and Daniel Hemric ran for ROTY in 2019 (and won it) are are not eligible in 2024
- Carson Hocevar fined $50,000, docked 25 driver points after Nashville: NASCAR officials issued penalties Tuesday for infractions in the Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series in last weekend’s events at Nashville Superspeedway. Carson Hocevar, driver of the Spire Motorsports #77 Chevrolet, was fined $50,000 and assessed a loss of 25 driver points for violating Sections 4.4B: NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options And Guidelines during Sunday’s Ally 400. Hocevar’s #77 Chevy made contact with Wood Brothers Racing’s #21 Ford driven by Harrison Burton under yellow, causing the latter to spin out.(NASCAR.com)(7/2/20204)
- NASCAR has released the list of approved drivers competing for the 2024 Rookie of the Year in all three national series:
Cup: #4-Josh Berry (SHR), #15/#36-Kaz Grala (RWR & FRR), #71-Zane Smith (Spire), #77-Carson Hocevar (Spire)
XFINITY: #2-Jesse Love (RCR), #4-Dawson Cram (JDM), #10-Shane van Gisbergeb (Kaulig), #15-Hallie Deegan (AM Racing), #42-Leland Honeyman (Young’s MS)
Trucks: #38-Layne Riggs (FRR), #46-Thad Moffitt (Faction46), #66-Conner Jones (Thorsport)
(Jayski)(2-13-2024)
HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE BY RACE
only includes rookies that are running for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and plan on running all 36 races
race, driver(times rookie of race), finish, points(stage points*)
1) Daytona 500, #71-Smith (1 race best rookie), finished 13th, 24 points
2) Atlanta, #15-Grala (1), 14th, 23
3) Las Vegas, #77-Hocevar(1), 15th, 22
4) Phoenix, #77-Hocevar(2), 15th, 22
5) Bristol, #4-Berry(1), 12th, 26*
6) Circuit of the Americas (Texas), #71-Smith(2), 19th, 18
7) Richmond, #4-Berry(2), 11th, 37*
8) Martinsville, #77-Hocevar(3), 17th, 20
9) Texas, #77-Hocevar(4), 10th, 27
10) Talladega, #4-Berry(3), 16th, 21
11) Dover, #4-Berry(4), 14th, 23
12) Kansas, #4-Berry(5), 15th, 22
13) Darlington, #4-Berry(6), 3rd, 34
14) Charlotte, #4-Berry(7), 10th, 33*
15) World Wide Technology (Gateway) Raceway (Illinois), #77-Hocevar(5), 8th, 32*
16) Sonoma, #71-Smith(3), 16th, 21
17) Iowa, #4-Berry(8), 7th, 45*
18) New Hampshire, #4-Berry(9), 3rd, 43*
19) Nashville, #71-Smith(4), 2nd, 35
20) Chicago Street Course, #71-Smith(5), 17th, 20
21) Pocono, #77-Hocevar(6), 17th, 20
22) Indianapolis, #77-Hocevar(7), 12th, 25
OLYMPICS two-week break
23) Richmond(2), #77-Hocevar(8), 8th, 31*
24) Michigan, #71-Smith(6), 7th, 30
25) Daytona(2), #77-Hocevar(9), 11th, 26
26) Darlington(2), #71-Smith(7), 23rd, 14
PLAYOFFS
27) Atlanta(2), #77-Hocevar(10), 16th, 21
28) Watkins Glen, #77-Hocevar(11), 3rd, 34
29) Bristol, #71-Smith(8), 16th, 21
30) Kansas(2), #71-Smith(9), 10th, 27
31) Talladega(2), #77-Hocevar(12), 14th, 23
32) Charlotte (ROVAL), #77-Hocevar(13), 12th, 25
33) Las Vegas(2), #71-Smith(10), 16th, 21
34) Homestead, #77-Hocevar(14), 9th, 37*
35) Martinsville(2), #4-Berry(10), 16th, 21
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE
36) Phoenix(2), #77-Hocevar(15), 18th, 19
NOTE: * means driver also garnered stage points
Highest Finishing Rookies, Times:
#77-Hocevar, 15
#71-Smith, 10
#4-Berry, 10
#15/#36-Grala, 1 (DNR/missed 12 races)
Races with no rookie, 0
2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Race-by-Race Results
* earned stage points in the race
FINAL 2024 Race
Phoenix Raceway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (11-10-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 15th, finished 18th, 19 points
#4-Josh Berry, 39th, 24th, 13
#15-Kaz Grala, 31st, 34th, 3
#71-Zane Smith, 28th, 39th, 1
PAST 2024 Races
Martinsville Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (11-3-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 11th, finished 16th, 21 points
#71-Zane Smith, 36th, 21st, 16
#77-Carson Hocevar, 27th, 25th, 12
#15-Kaz Grala, 33rd, 27th, 10
Homestead-Miami Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (10-27-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 15th, finished 9th, 37* (28 regular pts and 9 stage pts)
#4-Josh Berry, 12th, 11th, 26
#71-Zane Smith, 19th, 30th, 7
#15-Kaz Grala, 27th, 32nd, 5
Las Vegas Motor Speedway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (10-20-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 14th, finished 16th, 21 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 6th, 23rd, 14
#4-Josh Berry, 28th, 24th, 13
Kaz Grala, DNR
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (10-13-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, 20th, finished 12th, 25 points
#71-Zane Smith, 23rd, 19th, 18
#4-Josh Berry, started 36th, 22nd, 15
#15-Kaz Grala, 31st, 27th, 10
Talladega SuperSpeedway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (10-6-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 37th, finished 14th, 23 points
#71-Zane Smith, 39th, 21st, 21st
#4-Josh Berry, 19th, 36th, 1
Kaz Grala, DNR
Kansas Speedway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (9-29-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 15th, finished 10th, 27 points
#15-Kaz Grala, 34th, 31st, 6
#77-Carson Hocevar, 14th, 32nd, 11* (5 regular pts and 6 stage pts)
#4-Josh Berry, 29th, 38th/last, 1
Bristol Motor Speedway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (9-21-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 33rd, finished 16th, 21 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 7th, 18th, 19
#4-Josh Berry, 25th, 29th, 8
#15-Kaz Grala, 36th, 37th, 1
Watkins Glen International Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (9-15-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 29th, finished 3rd, 34 points
#71-Zane Smith, 19th, 5th, 32
#4-Josh Berry, 31st, 25th, 12
#15-Kaz Grala, 38th, 35th, 2
Atlanta Motor Speedway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (9-8-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 32nd, finished 16th, 21st points
#71-Zane Smith, 34th, 21st, 16th
#4-Josh Berry, 4th, 28th, 9th
Kaz Grala, DNR
Darlington Raceway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (9-1-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 26th, finished 23rd, 14 points
#4-Josh Berry, 15th, 31st, 12* (6 regular pts and 6 stage pts)
#77-Carson Hocevar, 2nd, 33rd, 4
#15-Kaz Grala, 35th, 34th, 3
Daytona International Speedway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (8-24-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 37th, finished 11th, 26 points
#71-Zane Smith, 30th, 13th, 24
#4-Josh Berry, 5th, 26th, 21* (won stage 1; 11 regular pts and 10 stage pts)
Kaz Grala, DNR
Michigan International Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (8-19*-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 27, finished 7th, 30 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 11th, 10th, 27
#4-Josh Berry, 16th, 22nd, 15
Kaz Grala, DNR
Richmond Raceway(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (8-11-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 19th, finished 8th, 31* points (29 regular pts and 2 stage pts)
#4-Josh Berry, 3rd, 14th, 24* (23 regular pts and 1 stage pts)
#71-Zane Smith, 20th, 23rd, 14
Kaz Grala, DNR
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (7-21-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 30th, finished 12th, 25 points
#71-Zane Smith, 27th, 17th, 20
#4-Josh Berry, 37th, 35th, 2
Kaz Grala, DNR
Pocono Raceway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (7-14-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 15th, finished 17th, 20 points
#4-Josh Berry, 5th, 20th, 17
#71-Zane Smith, 9th, 29th, 8
Kaz Grala, DNR
Chicago Street Course Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (7-7-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 30th, finished 17th, 20 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 13th, 24th, 20* points (13 regular pts and 7 stage pts)
#15-Kaz Grala, 40th, 26th, 11
#4-Josh Berry, 36th, 36th, 1
Nashville Superspeedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (6-30-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 36th, finished 2nd, 35 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 15th, 16th, 21
#4-Josh Berry, 2nd, 26th, 11
Kaz Grala, DNR
(NOTE: #77-Carson Hocevar was penalized 25 points for spinning out the #21 at Nashville)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (6-23-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 10th, finished 3rd, 43* points (34 regular pts and 9 stage pts)
#77-Carson Hocevar, 20th, 17th, 20
#15-Kaz Grala, 35th, 22nd, 15
#71-Zane Smith, 34th, 30th, 7
(Qualifying rained out, set by rules book)
Iowa Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (6-16-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 3rd, finished 7th, 45* points (30 regular pts and 15 stage pts)
#77-Carson Hocevar, 20th, 14th, 23
#71-Zane Smith, 26th, 31st, 6
#15-Kaz Grala, 28th, 33rd, 4
Sonoma Raceway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (6-9-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 20th, finished 16th, 21 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 13th, 17th, 20
#15-Kaz Grala, 36th, 23rd, 14
#4-Josh Berry, 32nd, 32nd, 5
World Wide Raceway(Gateway) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (6-2-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 20th, finished 8th, 32* points (29 regular pts and 3 stage pts)
#71-Zane Smith, 36th, 19th, 18
#4-Josh Berry, 29th, 36th/last, 1
Kaz Grala, DNR
Charlotte Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (5-26-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 13th, 10th, 33* points (27 regular pts and 6 stage pts)
#77-Carson Hocevar, 20th, 21st, 16
#71-Zane Smith, 25th, 33rd, 4
#15-Kaz Grala, 33rd, 34th, 3
Darlington Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (5-12-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 33rd, finished 3rd, 34 points
#15-Kaz Grala, 34th, 18th, 19
#77-Carson Hocevar, 21st, 26th, 11
#71-Zane Smith, 27th, 35th, 2
Kansas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (5-5-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 17th, finished 15th, 22 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 22nd, 24th, 13
#71-Zane Smith, 24th, 29th, 8
Kaz Grala, DNR
Dover Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (4-28-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 12th, finished 14th, 23 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 20th, 22nd, 15
#71-Zane Smith, 37th, 24th, 13
#15-Kaz Grala, 35th, 29th, 8
Talladega Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (4-21-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 29th, finished 16th, 21 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 35th, 17th, 20
#71-Zane Smith, 30th, 29th, 8
Kaz Grala, DNR
Texas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (4-14-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 16th, finished 10th, 27 points
#71-Zane Smith, 18th, 26th, 11
#15-Kaz Grala, 33rd, 27th, 10
#4-Josh Berry, 25th, 36th, 1
Martinsville Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (4-7-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 25th, finished 17th, 20 points
#4-Josh Berry, 7th, 25th, 15* (12 regular pts and 3 stage pts)
#15-Kaz Grala, 31st, 26th, 11
#71-Zane Smith, 24th, 31st, 6
Richmond Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (3-31-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 30th, finished 11th, 37* points (26 regular pts and 11 stage pts)
#77-Carson Hocevar, 25th, 27th, 10
#15-Kaz Grala, 35th, 31st, 6
#71-Zane Smith, 28th, 35th, 2
COTA Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (3-24-2024):
#71-Zane Smith, started 34th, finished 19th, 18 points
#77-Cason Hocevar, 18th, 22nd, 15
#15-Kaz Grala, 23rd, 27th, 10
#4-Josh Berry, 31st, 35th, 3* (2 regular pts and 1 stage pt)
Bristol Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (3-17-2024):
#4-Josh Berry, started 2nd, finished 12th, 26 (25 + 1 stage) points
#15-Kaz Grala, 33rd, 19th, 18
#77-Carson Hocevar, 35th, 27th, 10
#71-Zane Smith, 16th, 36/last, 1
Phoenix Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (3-10-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 10th, finished 15th, 22 points
#4-Josh Berry, 36th, 26th, 11
#71-Zane Smith, 28th, 29th, 8
#15-Kaz Grala, 32nd, 30th, 7
Las Vegas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (3-3-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 14th, finished 15th, 22 points
#4-Josh Berry, 26th, 20th, 17
#15-Kaz Grala, 32nd, 31st, 6
#71-Zane Smith, 24th, 36th, 1
Atlanta Speedway Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (2-25-2024):
#15-Kaz Grala, started 33rd, finished 14th, 23 points
#77-Carson Hocevar, 35th, 19th, 18
#4-Josh Berry, 14th, 29th, 8
#71-Zane Smith, 29th, 35th, 2
Daytona 500 Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (2-19-2024 rain delayed):
#71-Zane Smith, started 13th, finished 13th, 24 points
#4-Josh Berry, 30th, 25th, 12
#36-Kaz Grala, 26th, 38th, 1
#77-Carson Hocevar, 9th, 40th/last, 1
Daytona Duel 150 Qualifying Races Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points (2-15-2024):
#77-Carson Hocevar, started 20th, finished 4th in Duel #1, 7 points
#71-Zane Smith, started 18th, finished 6th in Duel #2, 5 points
#36-Kaz Grala, started 21st, finished 12th in Duel #2, 0 points
#4-Josh Berry, started 11th, finished 17th in Duel #2, 0 points
(top 10 finishers in each Duel gets points for 1-10 finishing spots (10 pts down to 1))
* earned stage points in the race
DNR = Did Not Race/Not Entered
DNQ = Did not qualify/Failed to make the race
TBD = To be determined