Race 2 Win: EA Sports 500 - Raybestos Rookie Notes

Winston Cup Series

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

EA Sports 500 - Raybestos Rookie Notes

Jamie McMurray was the top Raybestos Rookie in the MBNA American 400 at Dover International Speedway. McMurray placed sixth, his ninth top-10 finish of the 2003 season. He took top Raybestos Rookie honor for the 14th time this season and has been the highest finishing rookie in seven of the last eight races, including the last five consecutive.

McMurray adds to his lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings for the fourth consecutive race. He holds a 19-point advantage (257-238) over Greg Biffle entering the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Biffle finished seventh at Dover, his sixth top-10 finish of the 2003 season, and scored his best finish since he placed fourth in the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway (five races ago).

McMurray made his Winston Cup debut one year ago in the EA Sports 500 at Talladega. Qualifying for the race was rained out, giving McMurray the fifth starting position. He held his own in the race, collecting a 26th place finish.

The Dover race was the second time this season TWO Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 in a Winston Cup race. The other event was the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, where McMurray finished fourth and Biffle placed tenth.

DID YOU KNOW? At least one Raybestos Rookie has led a lap in each of the past four EA Sports 500 races (fall events) at Talladega: Tony Stewart (1999), Mike Bliss, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Stacy Compton (2000), Jason Leffler (2001), and Ryan Newman (2002).

A STREAK IN DANGER: A Raybestos Rookie has won at least one pole position in each of the past seven consecutive seasons, dating back to 1996. Ryan Newman, who won six in 2002, holds the record for most poles in a rookie season. No Raybestos Rookie has won a pole position this season entering the race at Dover.

Biffle has led more miles than any other Raybestos Rookie entering the EA Sports 500: eight times in six races for 245.97 miles (136 laps). At least one Raybestos Rookie has led a lap in 12 races this season.

ONE YEAR AGO: Ryan Newman was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2002 EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Newman finished seventh and led the race twice for three laps. Jimmie Johnson had a tough afternoon, parking his car with engine failure 15 laps from the end of the event. Johnson was credited with a 37th place finish.

With Biffle's win in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, a Raybestos Rookie has now won at least one race in each of the last five seasons dating back to Tony Stewart's win at Richmond International Raceway in September, 1999. Other freshman drivers to win: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Richmond, 2000), Matt Kenseth (Charlotte, 2000), Kevin Harvick (Atlanta, 2001), Ryan Newman (New Hampshire 2002), and Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races). The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).

The way to the Winston Cup championship is to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Since 1979, FIVE Raybestos Rookie of the Year drivers have won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), and Tony Stewart (1999).

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 (three wins in 2002).

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER               POINTS
Jamie McMurray          257
Greg Biffle             238
Casey Mears             185
Tony Raines             184 
Jack Sprague            158
Larry Foyt              127
  
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 
Dodge/Save Mart 350          Jamie McMurray, 20th            
Pepsi 400                    Greg Biffle, first
Tropicana 400                Jamie McMurray, eighth
New England 300              Greg Biffle, 20th 
Pennsylvania 500             Tony Raines, 16th 
Brickyard 400                Jamie McMurray, third
Sirius @ The Glen            Jamie McMurray, 22nd 
GFS Marketplace 400          Greg Biffle, fourth
Sharpie 500                  Jamie McMurray, third
Mountain Dew Southern 500    Jamie McMurray, fourth
Chevy Rock and Roll 400      Jamie McMurray, 19th 
Sylvania 300                 Jamie McMurray, 10th 
MBNA America 400             Jamie McMurray, sixth

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