Food City 250 - Raybestos Rookie Notes

· Damon Lusk was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race at the Cabela's 250 at Michigan International Speedway. Lusk finished 12th, his best career Busch Series finish in 12 career starts. His previous best effort was 18th in July's New England 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway. He took Raybestos® Rookie of the Race honors for the second time in the last four races.

· Coy Gibbs enjoys a commanding lead in the chase for Raybestos® Rookie of the Year entering the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gibbs holds a 40-point advantage (193-153) over Joey Clanton. Gibbs ranks 16th in Busch Series points, best of any Raybestos® Rookie.

· Chad Blount owns the best qualifying run by a Raybestos® Rookie this season, a seventh place effort at California Speedway.

· Scott Riggs was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2002 Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, logging an 18th place finish. Riggs was also the top qualifying rookie at Bristol, claiming the second starting position.

· Six Raybestos® Rookies started the race and three were running at the finish: Riggs, Shane Hmiel (24th) and Johnny Sauter (33rd). An oil pump problem sidelined Kerry Earnhardt (31st), Brian Vickers (38th) was involved in an accident, and Casey Mears (40th) left the event early with engine problems.

· Three Raybestos® Rookies have led at least one lap in the Busch Series this season: Blount, Stremme, and Clanton. Blount has led once in one race for 56 laps (74.48 miles) while Stremme has led twice in two races for 34 laps (34.00 miles). Clanton has held the top spot once in one race for two laps (2.00 miles).

· 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).

· A Raybestos® Rookie has won at least one pole position in each of the past three seasons, dating back to 2000.

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER           POINTS
Coy Gibbs           193
Joey Clanton        153
David Stremme       144
Chad Blount         140
Regan Smith         139
Jason White          98
Damon Lusk           93
Chris Bingham        86
Chase Montgomery     70         
  
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 

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