New England 200 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

· Joey Clanton finished 14th in the Tropicana Twister 300 at Chicagoland Speedway and took Raybestos® Rookie of the Race honors for the second consecutive race. He also took top rookie honors July 4 in the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Clanton was also the highest qualifying rookie at Chicagoland, earning the 23rd starting position in time trials.

· Coy Gibbs enjoys a commanding lead in the chase for Raybestos® Rookie of the Year entering the New England 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Gibbs holds a 45-point advantage (178-133) over Regan Smith. Gibbs ranks 16th in Busch Series points, best of any Raybestos® Rookie.

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

· Shane Hmiel led a strong performance by the 2002 Raybestos® Rookie class at New Hampshire International Speedway. Hmiel won his first career Bud Pole and was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race, posting a strong fourth place finish.

· 2002 Raybestos® Rookie of the Year Scott Riggs also had a good run at New Hampshire. He started ninth and finished seventh, giving the class two members who finished inside the top-10.

· Hmiel and Riggs each led a lap in the race. Hmiel paced the field once for 11 laps while Riggs held the top spot once for four laps. Of the five drivers who led the race, two were Raybestos® Rookie Contenders.

· 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           178
Chad Blount         133
Regan Smith         127
David Stremme       115
Joey Clanton        101
Chris Bingham        82
Damon Lusk           68
Chase Montgomery     66     
Jason White          57         
  
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   

©Copyright 2003 Race 2 Win