|
|
| Busch Grand National Series |
|
|
In-Car Radios | Silly Season | Forum | Photo Gallery | Newsletter | In the Pits
Autolite Platinum 250 - Raybestos Rookie Notes NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDERS - BUSCH SERIES · Scott Wimmer was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway. Wimmer placed 12th, the only rookie to complete all 147 laps. He collected highest finishing rookie honors for the fifth time this season and the first time he has been the top rookie in consecutive races. · Wimmer's good run at Darlington moved him closer in the Raybestos Rookie Contender standings. He chopped three points off Greg Biffle's lead as the series moves to Richmond International Raceway for the Autolite/Fram 250. Biffle leads Winner by 108 points (318-210) entering Friday's race. · Raybestos Rookie Contender Jamie McMurray was the highest qualifying rookie at Darlington, taking the 12th starting position in time trials. McMurray has been the highest qualifying rookie twice this season, both times at Darlington. · No Raybestos Rookie Contender led a lap in either race at Darlington this season. The last time a first year driver led at Darlington was P.J. Jones in the Suncom 200 in March 2000. · Wimmer was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Hardee's 250 in May at Richmond. Wimmer placed seventh, the only freshman to complete all 250 laps.. He was also the only rookie to lead at least one lap in the race. Wimmer held the top spot once for seven laps. Greg Biffle was the highest qualifying rookie, taking the eighth starting position but he was sidelined by an accident in the race after 193 laps and finished 37th. The rest of the class: Tim Sauter (23rd), Jamie McMurray (26th), Larry Foyt (27th), David Donohue (36th) and Marty Houston (38th, accident). · 2000 Raybestos Rookie Champion Kevin Harvick was the highest finishing rookie in last year's Autolite/Fram 250. Harvick finished third and was one of three rookies to finish on the lead lap. Jimmie Johnson (12th) and Ron Hornaday (17th) were the others. Harvick was also the highest qualifying rookie, taking the ninth starting position in time trials. A total of nine Raybestos Rookies qualified for the race and seven were running at the finish. Jay Sauter was 36th after an accident and Michael Ritch was credited with 42nd after being sidelined with engine problems. · Biffle is beginning to rewrite the record book for Raybestos Rookies in the Busch Series. With eight races remaining in the season, Biffle has set an all time record for most laps led by a rookie (825) and most races led (17). 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. Biffle has 11 top-five finishes and needs just one more to tie Steve Park with most top-fives in a single season by a rookie. · All four Raybestos Rookie Contenders entered in the South Carolina 200 qualified for the race on their speed. · Raybestos Rookie Contenders Biffle, Wimmer, McMurray, and Foyt have started all 25 Busch Series races entering the Autolite/Fram 250. · 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 ($867,775) 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 ($958,210). · Biffle has led 1,072.30 miles (825 laps) in 17 races this season. He has led a total of 38 times entering Friday's race at Richmond. Biffle ranks second on the miles leaders chart behind Kevin Harvick, who has led 1,189.14 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 Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the fourth time this season he has accomplished the feat. He led the race once for 107 laps. Biffle also led the most laps in Busch Series races at California, Nashville, and Charlotte. · 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. · 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 318 Scott Wimmer 210 Jamie McMurray 180 Larry Foyt 160 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 Food City 250 Scott Wimmer, sixth South Carolina 200 Scott Wimmer, 12th
In-Car Radios | Silly Season | Forum | Photo Gallery | Newsletter | In the Pits
©Copyright 2001 Race 2 Win |