Cabela's 250 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

· David Stremme was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race at the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Stremme finished 17th and took top rookie honors for the eighth time this season. He was also the top-qualifying rookie, grabbing the seventh starting spot in time trials.

· Coy Gibbs enjoys a commanding lead in the chase for Raybestos® Rookie of the Year entering the Cabela's 250 at Michigan International Speedway. Gibbs holds a 48-point advantage (192-144) over Joey Clanton and David Stremme, who are tied for second. 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.

· 2002 Raybestos® Rookie of the Year Scott Riggs was the top rookie in last year's Cabela's 250. Riggs placed sixth, scoring one of 13 top-10 finishes he would log during the season. He also led the race three times for five laps and was highest qualifying rookie, taking the third starting position. Riggs was the only Raybestos® Rookie to lead a lap in the race.

· Kasey Kahne also had a good day at Michigan, coming away with a 10th place finish, his best effort of the 2002 season.

· 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           192
Joey Clanton            144
David Stremme       144
Regan Smith         139
Chad Blount         130
Jason White           90
Chris Bingham         86
Damon Lusk                        82
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 

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