Winn-Dixie 250 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

· David Stremme was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the GNC Live Well 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. He finished third, his second top-five and third consecutive top-10 finish of the season. Stremme has now racked up five top-10 finishes in eight races this season, most of any Raybestos® Rookie. Stremme has taken top finishing rookie honors in seven of the eight events where he has competed, including the last three consecutive races. He was the only first year drivee to lead a lap in the race (once for two laps). Stremme was the only Raybestos® Rookie to complete all 250 laps at Milwaukee.

· Stremme was also the top qualifying Raybestos® Rookie at Milwaukee, earning the fourth starting position. Stremme's qualifying run was the best by a Raybestos® Rookie this season.

· Coy Gibbs leads the chase for Raybestos® Rookie of the Year standings entering the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway. He holds a 44-point advantage (171-127) over Blount. Gibbs ranks 17th in Busch Series points, best of any Raybestos® Rookie.

· Stremme and Blount are the only Raybestos® Rookies that have led a lap in the Busch Series this season. Blount has led once in one race for 56 laps (74.48 miles). Stremme has led twice in two races for 34 laps (34.00 miles).

· Blount was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the season opening Koolerz 300 at Daytona, grabbing an 11th place finish. He and Damon Lusk (21st) were the only first year drivers to finish on the lead lap. Blount was also the top-qualifying rookie for the race, claiming the ninth starting position in time trials.

· Johnny Sauter was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2002 Winn-Dixie 250. Sauter had a good run in the event, grabbing a sixth place finish. He also led the race once for one lap and was the only rookie to lead a lap in the race.

· Two other Raybestos® Rookies finished on the lead lap: Scott Riggs (15th) and Casey Mears (16th). Shane Hmiel was the only other rookie running at the finish of the race (34th). Accidents sidelined the cars of Kasey Kahne (25th) and Kerry Earnhardt (38th).

· A Raybestos® Rookie has won a race each season 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           171
Chad Blount         127
Regan Smith         126
David Stremme       115
Chris Bingham        82
Joey Clanton         79
Chase Montgomery     60     
Damon Lusk           57
Jason White          40         
  
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  

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