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Food City 250 - Raybestos Rookie Notes NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDERS - BUSCH SERIES · Jamie McMurray was the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie Contender in the NAPA Online.com 250 at Michigan International Speedway. McMurray finished 17th, on the lead lap, and collected Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time this season. · Larry Foyt was the highest qualifying Raybestos Rookie Contender at Michigan, the first time in 2001 he has taken home the honor. Foyt started fifth and ran well in the early stages of the event before finishing 18th, one of 19 cars to complete all 250 miles. · Raybestos Rookie point leader Greg Biffle had a bad day at Michigan. Biffle was involved in an accident just five laps into the race and was listed 43rd in the final finishing order. Biffle fell to third in the Busch Series points chase, 304 behind leader Kevin Harvick. · Despite his bad day at Michigan, Biffle remains in command of the Raybestos Rookie Contender points chase. He leads Scott Wimmer by 119 points (316-197) entering Saturday night's Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. · Biffle is beginning to rewrite the record book for Raybestos Rookies in the Busch Series. With 10 races remaining in the season, Biffle has set an all time record for most laps led by a rookie (802) and most races led (16). His three wins to date ties Biffle with Steve Park (1997) and Kevin Harvick (2000) for most wins ever by a rookie in a single season. · All four Raybestos Rookie Contenders entered in the NAPA Online.com 250 qualified for the race on their speed. · Raybestos Rookie Contenders Biffle, Wimmer, McMurray, and Foyt have started all 23 Busch Series races entering Friday's Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. · 2000 Raybestos Rookie Champion Kevin Harvick dominated last year's Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Harvick started on the pole and won the race by .223 second over Jason Keller, but the race wasn't that close. He led 241 of the 250 laps, the most laps led by any rookie in any Busch Series race in 2000. Jay Sauter, who finished seventh, was the only other freshman driver to finish in the top-10. Six Raybestos Rookies started the race and five were running at the end of the race. The rest of the class: Ron Hornaday (15th), Jimmie Johnson (23rd), and Michael Ritch (25th). Jason Leffler was sidelined by an accident after completing 211 laps. · Biffle won the pole for the CarQuest 250 at Gateway International Raceway, his second Bud Pole of the season. His lap of record was 33.999 seconds, 132.357 mph and remains the only Raybestos Rookie to win at least one pole position this season. He also nabbed the top starting spot for the ALLTEL 200 at Rockingham in February. · Biffle has taken home more in earnings this season ($827,350) than any other Raybestos Rookie Contender. In fact, Biffle's total places him second overall in the Busch Series in the money won category, trailing only defending series champion Jeff Green ($886,450). · Biffle has led 1,060.04 miles (802 laps) in 16 races this season. He has led a total of 37 times entering Friday's race at Bristol. Biffle ranks second on the miles leaders chart behind Kevin Harvick, who has led 1,143.83 miles. Other rookies to have led this season are Wimmer (78.92 miles), Foyt (4.50 miles), Donohue (2.45), and McMurray (1.50 miles). · Biffle led the most laps in the CarQuest 300 at Charlotte, the third time this season he has accomplished the feat. He led the race three times for 154 laps, 124 more than any other driver. Biffle also led the most laps in Busch Series races at California and Nashville. · McMurray qualified sixth at Milwaukee, his best qualifying effort of the season. Prior to his run at Milwaukee, McMurray's best run in time trials was ninth at both Darlington and Nazareth. · Wimmer's best finish this season is a third place effort at Nashville. He and Biffle are the only Raybestos Rookie Contenders to score top-five finishes in the Busch Series this season. Wimmer also led once for two laps at Nashville, the first time he had led a Busch Series race since the season opening event at Daytona in February. · McMurray led once for one lap at Texas, the first lap he has led in the Busch Series in 2001. McMurray is the fourth Raybestos Rookie Contender to lead at least one lap this season. · McMurray was the highest qualifying rookie at Darlington, the first time this season he has taken home the honors. He nailed down the ninth starting position during time trials and was the only Raybestos Rookie Contender to qualify in the top-10. · Marty Houston was the highest qualifying rookie at Texas. He nabbed the 12th starting position in time trials and backed up his run with a respectable performance in the race. Houston was credited with 25th in the final finishing order. · Houston scored his best finish of the season in the Cheez-It 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He stayed out of trouble and finished 14th at the checkered flag. Even more impressive was the fact that Houston started 39th in the race. · Wimmer was the highest qualifying Raybestos Rookie at Atlanta, the second time this season he has nabbed the honor. Wimmer started fourth in the Aaron's 312, edging Biffle who clocked in with the fifth quickest time. He was also the highest qualifying rookie in the NAPA 300 at Daytona. · Raybestos Rookie Contenders Wimmer and Foyt each led the season opening NAPA 300 at Daytona. Wimmer led once for 24 laps while Foyt held the top spot once for one lap. RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS DRIVER POINTS Greg Biffle 316 Scott Wimmer 197 Jamie McMurray 177 Larry Foyt 155 Tim Sauter 152 Marty Houston 123 David Donohue 90 HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS ROOKIE BY RACE EVENT HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE NAPA 300 Tim Sauter, 10th ALLTEL 200 Greg Biffle, third Sam's Town 300 Greg Biffle, second Aaron's 312 Greg Biffle, second SunCom 200 Greg Biffle, 11th Cheez-It 250 Tim Sauter, ninth Jani-King 300 Greg Biffle, seventh Pepsi 300 Greg Biffle, first Subway 300 Greg Biffle, ninth Auto Club 300 Greg Biffle, sixth Hardee's 250 Scott Wimmer, seventh CVS Pharmacy 200 Greg Biffle, 11th Nazareth 200 Greg Biffle, first CarQuest Auto Parts 300 Greg Biffle, sixth MBNA Platinum 200 Scott Wimmer, seventh Outback Steakhouse 300 Greg Biffle, second GNC Live Well 250 Greg Biffle, first GNC Live Well 200 Greg Biffle, second Hills Bros 300 Scott Wimmer, 13th CarQuest 250 Greg Biffle, fourth NAPA AutoCare 250 Greg Biffle, fifth Kroger 200 Greg Biffle, second NAPA Online.com 250 Jamie McMurray, 17th
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