Dodge/Save Mart 350 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

· Jamie McMurray was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Sirius 400 at Michigan International Speedway. McMurray placed 14th and took top finishing rookie honors for the fifth time in 2003. He padded his lead to five points (162-157) over Greg Biffle in the Raybestos® Rookie standings. McMurray was the only Raybestos® Rookie to finish on the lead lap.

· The Michigan race marked the second consecutive Winston Cup race where a Raybestos® Rookie has led for the first time this season. Greg Biffle led once for one lap (2.00 miles). He joins McMurray (six times for 41 laps in one race, 82.00 miles), Larry Foyt (once for five laps in one race, 12.50 miles), and Casey Mears (once for one lap in one race, 2.50 miles) as Raybestos® Rookies that have led a lap this season.

· Ryan Newman and Kenny Irwin own the best finishes by a Raybestos® Rookie in the last five races at Infineon Raceway. Both drivers placed ninth (Newman in 2002, Irwin in 1998).

· DID YOU KNOW? Tony Stewart and Jerry Nadeau hold the best qualifying performances by a Raybestos® Rookie since 1998 at Infineon Raceway. Both drivers started second (Stewart in 1999, Nadeau in 1998).

· McMurray ranks 22nd in Winston Cup points, best of any Raybestos® Rookie. He is 18 points ahead of Biffle, who is 23rd in the series standings.

· For the second consecutive race, Jack Sprague was the top qualifying Raybestos® Rookie. He started 18th at Michigan and took top qualifying rookie honors for the fourth time this season and three times in the last four races.

· 2002 Raybestos® Rookie of the Year Ryan Newman was the top rookie in last year's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Newman finished ninth after starting 17th and was the only first year driver to finish inside the top-10.

· Jimmie Johnson was the highest qualifying Raybestos® Rookie in the race, taking the 15th position in time trials. His luck soured in the race, however, as his car suffered rear end failure just six laps from the end of the race. He was credited with a 35th place finish.

· A Raybestos® Rookie has posted multiple victories five times in NASCAR Winston Cup history: Davey Allison (two wins in 1987), Tony Stewart (three wins in 1999), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two wins in 2000), Kevin Harvick (two wins in 2001), and Jimmie Johnson (two wins in 2002).

· A Raybestos® Rookie Contender has won at least one race in each of the last four seasons dating back to Tony Stewart's win at Richmond in September, 1999. Other freshman drivers to win: Earnhardt Jr. (Richmond, 2000), Matt Kenseth (Charlotte, 2000), Harvick (Atlanta, 2001), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Johnson (Charlotte and both 2002 Dover races). The record for most wins by a Raybestos® Rookie is held by Stewart, who won three races in 1999.

· A Raybestos® Rookie has won at least one pole position in each of the past seven consecutive seasons, dating back to 1996. The record for most poles in a rookie season is held by Ryan Newman, who won six in 2002.

    
RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER               POINTS
Jamie McMurray          162
Greg Biffle             157
Casey Mears             136
Jack Sprague            134 
Tony Raines             126
Larry Foyt               77
Hideo Fukuyama           11
 
HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS® ROOKIES BY RACE

EVENT                        HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Daytona 500                  Jack Sprague, 14th 
Subway 400                   Jamie McMurray, fifth
UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400     Casey Mears, 15th 
Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500      Greg Biffle, 13th 
Carolina Dodge Dealers 400   Greg Biffle, 12th 
Food City 500                Greg Biffle, fifth
Samsung/RadioShack 500       Jamie McMurray, 10th 
Aaron's 499                  Tony Raines, 16th 
Virginia 500                 Greg Biffle, 18th 
Auto Club 500                Jamie McMurray, fifth
Pontiac Excitement 400       Tony Raines, 14th 
Coca-Cola 600                Greg Biffle, 16th 
MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 Jamie McMurray, 13th 
Pocono 500                   Greg Biffle, 20th 
Sirius 400                   Jamie McMurray, 14th            

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