|
|
| Busch Grand National Series |
|
|
In-Car Radios | Silly Season | Forum | Photo Gallery | Newsletter | In the Pits
NAPA Auto Care 250 - Raybestos Rookie Notes NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDERS - BUSCH SERIES · Greg Biffle was the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie Contender in the CarQuest Auto Parts 250 at Gateway International Raceway. He finished fourth and collected Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the 15th time in 20 Busch Series races entering Saturday's NAPA Autocare 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. · Biffle won the pole for the CarQuest 250, 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 was also the only rookie to lead at least one lap in the CarQuest 250. He led twice for a total of 55 laps. · Scott Wimmer had a good night at Gateway International Raceway. Wimmer completed all 200 laps and finished 10th behind race winner Kevin Harvick. The finish was Wimmer's fourth top-10 of the season. · Jamie McMurray had a good night at Gateway International Raceway. McMurray finished 11th, his best finish since a 10th place effort in the Outback Steakhouse 300 at Kentucky Speedway. · Biffle maintains a commanding lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings. He holds a 107-point advantage (298-191) over second place Scott Wimmer. · Biffle is second is Busch Series points, 158 behind leader Kevin Harvick. He holds a 20-point advantage over third place Jason Keller. · All four Raybestos Rookie Contenders entered in the CarQuest 250 qualified for the race. The only freshman that failed to finish the race was Larry Foyt, who was sidelined by an accident. He finished 32nd after completing 55 laps. · Biffle, Wimmer, McMurray, and Foyt are the only Raybestos Rookie Contenders who have started all 20 Busch Series races entering NAPA Autocare 250 at Pikes Peak. · Ron Hornaday was the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie Contender in the 2000 NAPA Autocare 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Hornaday placed ninth in last year's event, one lap down to race winner Jeff Green. Jason Leffler was the highest qualifying rookie, taking the seventh position in time trials. A total of 10 Raybestos Rookie Contenders started the race and all 10 were running at the finish: Hornaday (fourth), Kevin Harvick (11th), Jimmie Johnson (18th), Leffler (24th), Ricky Hendrick (26th), Jay Sauter (27th), Ashton Lewis (29th), Jason Schuler (30th), Michael Ritch (32nd), and P.J. Jones (40th). Sauter was the only rookie to lead at least one lap in the race. He led the race once for 19 laps and was one of six drivers to lead the event. · Biffle's three Busch Series wins this season ties him for most victories by a Raybestos Rookie in the series. Steve Park (1997) and Kevin Harvick (2000) all won three races in their first season in the Busch Series. · Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle are tied for most wins in the Busch Series entering the Pikes Peak race. Each driver has visited victory lane three times. · Biffle has taken home more in earnings this season ($723,007) than any other Raybestos Rookie Contender. In fact, Biffle's total places him third overall in the Busch Series in the money won category behind defending series champion Jeff Green ($765,265) and Jason Keller ($723,175). · Biffle has more top-five finishes (nine) and top-10s (14) than any other Raybestos Rookie Contender. His 13 top-10s place him third overall in the series behind Kevin Harvick (16) and Jeff Green (15). · Biffle has led 951.63 miles (660 laps) in 14 races this season. He has led a total of 32 times entering Saturday's race at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Biffle ranks second on the miles leaders chart behind Kevin Harvick, who has led 1,113.94 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 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 298 Scott Wimmer 191 Jamie McMurray 166 Tim Sauter 152 Larry Foyt 146 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
In-Car Radios | Silly Season | Forum | Photo Gallery | Newsletter | In the Pits
©Copyright 2001 Race 2 Win |