Race 2 Win: Kroger 200 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

Busch Series

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Kroger 200 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

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

Clint Bowyer was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race at the Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Bowyer finished fourth, his third top-five and fifth top-10 finish of the 2004 season.

Kyle Busch maintains a commanding lead in the Raybestos® Rookie standings over Paul Menard (280-167) entering the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Busch is second in the Busch Series championship standings, 142 points behind leader Martin Truex Jr.

DID YOU KNOW? The only Raybestos® Rookie to win in 22 Busch Series races at Indianapolis Raceway Park is Ron Hornaday, who won the 2000 Kroger 200.

DID YOU KNOW? Only twice since the Busch Series began competing at Indianapolis Raceway Park has a Raybestos® Rookie led the most laps in a race. Greg Biffle led 107, the most ever by a first-year driver, in 2001 while Scott Riggs held the top spot for 94 laps in 2002.

Busch has led the most miles and laps of any Busch Series driver entering the race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He has led 25 times in 13 races for 713 laps (912.38 miles). Other Raybestos® Rookies that have led a lap this season are Clint Bowyer, J.J. Yeley, and Billy Parker. Bowyer has held the top spot five times in two races for 108 laps (144.63 miles), Yeley has led twice in once race for 25 laps (37.50 miles), while Parker led once in one race for five laps (10.00 miles).

A Raybestos® Rookie has led the most laps in six of the 21 races this season. Busch has led the most laps in FIVE races (Nashville-June, Richmond, Texas, Charlotte, and Chicagoland) while Clint Bowyer led the most laps at Nashville (April).

Busch owns the record for most poles by a Raybestos® Rookie in the Busch Series. Entering the Kroger 200, Busch has captured four poles: Nazareth, Texas, Darlington, and Richmond. Kenny Wallace, who won three poles in 1989, held the previous mark.

Busch won the Funai 250 at Richmond International Raceway from the pole, becoming the first Raybestos® Rookie to win from the Bud Pole since the program was established in 1989.

Busch is the only Raybestos® Rookie to start every Busch Series race this season.

INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE TIDBITS

David Stremme was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Stremme was credited with a 17th place finish.

A Raybestos® Rookie has finished in the top-five in two of the past three races at IRP: Johnny Sauter (fourth in 2002) and Greg Biffle (second in 2001).

The most Raybestos® Rookies to finish inside the top-10 at IRP is three in 2000: Ron Hornaday (first), Jason Leffler (fourth), and Kevin Harvick (eighth).

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 SEVEN all time records by the rookie of the year: 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 280
Paul Menard 167
Clint Bowyer 136
J.J. Yeley 122
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, tenth
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

News and Results | Point Standings | 2004 Schedule | 2003 Schedule and Results | 2002 Schedule and Results