Meijer 300 presented by Oreo - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

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

· Clint Bowyer was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. Bowyer placed third, his best career finish in six career Busch Series starts. Bowyer scored his second top-five finish of the 2004 season. His other top-five also came at Nashville in the Pepsi 300 in April.

· Kyle Busch stretched his lead in the chase for Raybestos® Rookie of the Year to 103 points over Paul Menard (242-139) entering the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Busch is second in the Busch Series championship standings, 45 points behind leader Martin Truex Jr.

· A Raybestos® Rookie has led the most laps in four of the 14 races this season. Busch has led the most laps in three races (Richmond, Texas and Charlotte) while Clint Bowyer led the most laps at Nashville.

· Busch owns the record for most poles by a Raybestos® Rookie in the Busch Series. Entering the race at Kentucky, 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.

· Entering Saturday's race at Kentucky, Busch has led the most miles and laps of any Raybestos® Rookie. He has led 20 times for 639 laps (739.99 miles). Bowyer has held the top spot four times for 104 laps (138.32 miles). No other Raybestos® Rookie has led a lap this season.

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

KENTUCKY RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE TIDBITS

· David Stremme was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2003 Meijer 300 at Kentucky. Stremme finished 10th, completing all 200 laps of the race.

· The best finish by a Raybestos® Rookie at Kentucky is second by Greg Biffle in 2001.

· Scott Riggs is the only Raybestos® Rookie to win at pole at Kentucky Speedway. Riggs won the pole for the 2002 race.

· Riggs is the only Raybestos® Rookie to lead a lap at Kentucky since the series started competing there in 2001. In fact, he led the most laps in the 2002 race (four times for 91 laps).

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 242
Paul Menard 139
J.J. Yeley 91
Clint Bowyer 81
Donnie Neuenberger 55
Billy Parker 53
Stan Boyd 48
Travis Geisler 33
Rick Markle 19

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