Race 2 Win: Ford 300 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

Busch Series

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Ford 300 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

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

Paul Menard was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Bi-Lo 200 at Darlington Raceway. Menard finished 12th and took top rookie honors for second time this season.

Leading Raybestos® Rookie Kyle Busch led the Darlington race once for 12 laps, the fifth-consecutive race where he has led at least one lap. He has led 1,105 laps this season, the most laps led by a Raybestos® Rookie since the program was created in 1989. Entering the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch has led 41 times in 20 races for a total of 1,386.39 miles, the most of any driver in the Busch Series this season.

Busch has led the most laps in SEVEN races this season, most recently at Phoenix. A Raybestos® Rookie had led the most laps in EIGHT races in 2004. Busch has led the most laps: Nashville-June, Richmond, Texas, Charlotte, Chicagoland, and Michigan.

Busch enters the Ford 300 257 points behind leader Martin Truex Jr. in the Busch Series championship standings.

Busch is tied with Greg Biffle for most wins by a Raybestos® Rookie in the Busch Series since the program was created in 1989. Biffle won five races for car owner Jack Roush in 2001.

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIES AT HOMESTEAD

The best finish by a Raybestos® Rookie in nine Busch Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway is third by Greg Biffle in 2001.

Only once since the Busch Series began competing at Homestead have TWO Raybestos® Rookie finished in the top-five. In 2001, Biffle placed third just ahead of fellow Raybestos® Rookie Scott Wimmer, who grabbed a fourth place finish.

Scott Wimmer is the most recent Raybestos® Rookie to lead at least one lap in a Busch Series race at Homestead. Wimmer led the 2001 race once for 11 laps.

The best start by a Raybestos® Rookie at Homestead is second (Steve Park in 1997 and Brian Vickers in 2002).

Top-five finishes by Raybestos® Rookies at Homestead: 2001: Greg Biffle, third 2001: Scott Wimmer, fourth

Top-10 finishes by Raybestos® Rookies at Homestead: 1997: Matt Kenseth, sixth 2000: Jimmie Johnson, sixth 2001: Greg Biffle, third 2001: Scott Wimmer, fourth

David Stremme was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Ford 300. Stremme finished 14th, the only Raybestos® Rookie to finish on the lead lap.

MORE NOTES

Busch owns the record for most poles by a Raybestos® Rookie in the Busch Series. Entering the race at Darlington, he has won five poles: Nazareth, Texas, Darlington, and Richmond and Phoenix. Kenny Wallace, who won three poles in 1989, held the previous mark.

Busch scored back-to-back wins for the first time in his career this season when he won the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park then backed up his victory one week later by taking the checkered flag in the Cabela's 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

Busch maintains a commanding lead in the Raybestos® Rookie standings over Clint Bowyer (341-201) entering the race at Homestead.

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE RECORDS

David Stremme was the 2003 Raybestos® Rookie of the Year. Stremme started just 18 of the 34 races, a record number for fewest starts for a driver to win Raybestos® Rookie of the Year. He was the top rookie finisher in 16 of those starts. He was the only Raybestos® Rookie to score three top-three finishes and had more top-10 finishes (seven) than any other first-year driver. He led six races for a total of 86 laps.

2001 Raybestos® Rookie of the Year Greg Biffle holds or shares SEVEN all-time rookie of the year records: most wins (five), most top-fives (16), most top-10s (21), most money won ($1,623,546), most points (4,509), most laps led (948) and most races led (19).

The best championship finish by a Raybestos® Rookie: third place by Steve Park (1997) and Kevin Harvick (2000).

Hermie Sadler was the first Raybestos® Rookie to win a race, at Rougemont, North Carolina, in 1993.

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER       POINTS
Kyle Busch   341
Clint Bowyer   201
Paul Menard     189
J.J. Yeley   181  
Billy Parker     74
   
HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE BY RACE

EVENT               HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Hershey's Kisses 300 Kyle Busch, 24th           
Goody's Headache Powder 200 Kyle Busch, seventh
Sam's Town 300 Kyle Busch, 15th 
Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Kyle Busch, 17th
Sharpie Professional 250 Kyle Busch, third
O'Reilly 300 Kyle Busch, second
Pepsi 300 Clint Bowyer, fourth
Aaron's 312 Kyle Busch, fourth
Stater Bros. 300 Kyle Busch, seventh
Charter 250 Kyle Busch, fifth
Funai 250 Kyle Busch, first
Goulds Pumps 200 Kyle Busch, 10th 
Carquest Auto Parts 300 Kyle Busch, first
MBNA America 200 Kyle Busch, fifth
Federated Auto Parts 300 Clint Bowyer, third
Meijer 300 Kyle Busch, first
Alan Kulwicki 250 Clint Bowyer, 10th 
Winn-Dixie 250 Kyle Busch, 11th 
Tropicana Twister 300 J.J. Yeley, ninth
Siemens 200 Paul Menard, 18th 
Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 250 Clint Bowyer, ninth
Kroger 200 Kyle Busch, first
Cabela's 250 Kyle Busch, first
Food City 250 Kyle Busch, third
Target House 300 Kyle Busch, ninth
Emerson Radio 250 Kyle Busch, fifth
Stacker 200 Kyle Busch, ninth
Mr. Goodcents 300 J.J. Yeley, sixth
SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 300 Kyle Busch, fifth
Sam's Town 250 Clint Bowyer, fourth
Aaron's 312 Kyle Busch, second
Bashas' Supermarkets 200 Kyle Busch, second
Darlington 200 Paul Menard, 12th

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