Aaron's 312 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDERS - NASCAR BUSCH SERIES

· David Stremme was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race at the Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Stremme finished ninth, scoring his sixth top-10 finish, and took Raybestos® Rookie honors for the 10th time this season. He has been the top rookie in each of the last two races entering the Aaron's 312 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

· CLOSING IN: Stremme has closed to within 16 points (205-189) of Coy Gibbs in the race for Raybestos® Rookie of the Year.

· A STREAK IN DANGER: A Raybestos® Rookie has won a race in each of the past three seasons, dating back to 2000: Kevin Harvick (2000, three wins), Ron Hornaday (2000, two wins), Greg Biffle (2001, five wins), and Scott Riggs (2002, two wins). Other first year drivers to score a win in their first season: Steve Park 1997, three wins), Johnny Benson (1994, one win) and Hermie Sadler (1993, one win).

· ALSO IN JEPORADY: A Raybestos® Rookie has won at least one pole position in each of the past three seasons, dating back to 2000. In fact, a Raybestos® Rookie has won at least one pole position in four of the past five seasons: Steve Park (1997), Andy Santerre (1998), Kevin Harvick (2000), Greg Biffle (2001), Scott Riggs and Shane Hmiel (2002). Kenny Wallace (1989) has the record for most poles by a Raybestos® Rookie, winning three in his first season.

· Stremme and Chad Blount share the best qualifying run by a Raybestos® Rookie this season. Stremme started seventh at the Funai 250 at Richmond while Blount took the seventh starting position at the 1-800-PITSTOP.COM 300 at California Speedway.

· Four Raybestos® Rookies have led at least one lap in the Busch Series in 2003: Blount, Stremme, Clanton and Gibbs. Blount has led once in one race for 56 laps (74.48 miles) while Stremme has led three times in three races for 35 laps (35.50 miles). Clanton has held the top spot once in one race for two laps (2.00 miles), while Gibbs has led once in one race (1.50 miles).

· Scott Riggs was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2002 Aaron's 312 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Riggs finished fourth, collecting one of eight top-five finishes that he would log during the 2002 season. He also led the race twice for a total of 12 laps.

· Johnny Sauter also had a good day at Atlanta, grabbing a 10th place finish, one of six top-10 finishes he would score during the 2002 season.

· Brian Vickers turned in a solid performance, collecting a 12th place finish. Vickers also led the race once for nine laps. He and Riggs were the only first-year drivers to lead a lap in the Atlanta race.

· Clanton is also the most recent Raybestos® Rookie to score a top-five finish in the Busch Series. He finished fifth in July at Pikes Peak.

· David Stremme (2), Joey Clanton (1), and Chad Blount (1) are the only Raybestos® Rookies to score top-five finishes this season. Stremme also has more top-10 finishes this season than any other Raybestos® Rookie. He has five entering the Kansas race. Other rookies to score top-10 finishes: Coy Gibbs (2), Blount (2), and Clanton (1).

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER           POINTS
Coy Gibbs           205
David Stremme       189
Joey Clanton        175
Chad Blount         171
Jason White         142
Regan Smith         139 
Chase Montgomery    115 
Damon Lusk          100
Chris Bingham        86     

HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE BY RACE

EVENT                        HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Koolerz 300                  Chad Blount, 11th  
Rockingham 200               Coy Gibbs, 14th 
Sam's Town 300               Coy Gibbs, 14th 
darlingtonraceway.com 200    Coy Gibbs, 14th 
Channellock 250              Chase Montgomery, 22nd 
O'Reilly 300                 Chad Blount, fifth
Aaron's 312                  Coy Gibbs, ninth
Pepsi 300                    David Stremme, seventh
californiaspeedway.com 300   Coy Gibbs, 13th 
Hardee's 250                 David Stremme, 14th 
Charter Pipeline 250         David Stremme, 14th 
Goulds Pumps 200             David Stremme, sixth
CARQUEST 300                 Coy Gibbs, 24th 
MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 Regan Smith, 16th 
Trace Adkins Chrome 300      David Stremme, third
Meijer 300                   David Stremme, 10th 
GNC Live Well 250            David Stremme, third
Winn-Dixie 250               Joey Clanton, 11th
Tropicana Twister 300        Joey Clanton, 14th 
New England 200              Damon Lusk, 18th 
TrimSpa Dream Body 200       Joey Clanton, fifth
Kroger 200                   David Stremme, 17th 
Cabela's 250                 Damon Lusk, 12th 
Food City 250                Coy Gibbs, 22nd 
Winn-Dixie 200               Joey Clanton, 22nd  
Funai 250                    David Stremme, 13th 
Stacker 200                  Coy Gibbs, 18th 
Mr. Goodcents 300            Coy Gibbs, 21st 
Little Trees 300             David Stremme, 14th 
Sam's Town 250               Davis Stremme, ninth

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