Target House 200 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

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

· NEW LEADER! David Stremme used his 13th place finish in the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway to take the lead in the Raybestos® Rookie standings. Stremme leads Coy Gibbs by four points (211-207) entering the Target House 200 at North Carolina Speedway. Stremme took top Raybestos® Rookie honors for the fourth consecutive race and for the 13th time this season.

· Stremme qualified third for the Phoenix event, the best start by any Raybestos® Rookie in 2003.

· 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.

· 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 four times in four races for 37 laps (38.58 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).

· Shane Hmiel was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2002 Sam's Club 200 at North Carolina Speedway. Hmiel finished eighth and was the only first-year driver to finish in the top-10. Hmiel was also the only Raybestos® Rookie to finish on the lead lap.

· 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 six entering the Rockingham race. Other rookies to score top-10 finishes: Coy Gibbs (2), Blount (2), and Clanton (1).

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER           POINTS
David Stremme       211
Coy Gibbs           207 
Joey Clanton        176
Chad Blount         172
Jason White         142
Regan Smith         139 
Chase Montgomery    114 
Damon Lusk          100
Chris Bingham        86 

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