Race 2 Win: Chevy American Revolution 400

Nextel Cup Series

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Chevy American Revolution 400 - Raybestos Rookie Notes

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS. ROOKIE CONTENDERS - NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES

Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos. Rookie of the Race in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Gaughan finished sixth, his best career finish in 10 career NEXTEL Cup Series starts. Gaughan has been the Raybestos. Rookie of the Race in each of the last two events and moves into the second place in the Raybestos. Rookie standings, 37 points behind leader Kasey Kahne (138-101). Gaughan led the Auto Club 500 once for one lap (2.0 miles), the first time he has led in the NEXTEL Cup Series career.

Kahne won his third Bud Pole of the season when he took the top starting spot for the Auto Club 500. Kahne is tied with Ryan Newman for most poles this season (no other driver has won more than one pole).

The Raybestos. Rookie class enjoyed their best performance in qualifying at California Speedway. Four of the top six spots were held by first-year drivers: Kahne, Scott Riggs (fourth), Gaughan (fifth), and Brian Vickers (sixth).

Kahne has led more miles and laps than any other Raybestos. Rookie. Entering the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Kahne has led 18 times in five races for a total of 473.81 miles (293 laps). Other freshman drivers to lead at least one lap this season: Scott Wimmer (twice in two races for seven laps, 17.82 miles), Brian Vickers (twice in two races for three laps, 7.32 miles), Johnny Sauter (twice in two races for two laps, 2.03 miles), Brendan Gaughan (once in one race for one lap, 2.0 miles) and Scott Riggs (once in one race for one lap, 1.50 miles).

Kahne is the only Raybestos. Rookie to lead the most laps in a NEXTEL Cup Series race this season. He led the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway six times for 148 laps.

Kahne enters the race at Richmond 11th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos. Rookie. He is 41 points behind tenth place Elliott Sadler and 56 behind ninth place Bobby Labonte. No other Raybestos. Rookie ranks in the top 20.

Johnny Sauter is the only Raybestos. Rookie that has been running at the finish of all 10 races this season.

RICHMOND RAYBESTOS. ROOKIE TIDBITS

Tony Raines was the Raybestos. Rookie of the Race in the 2003 spring race at Richmond, claiming a 14th place finish. Raines was one of three Raybestos Rookies to finish on the lead lap: Greg Biffle (17th) and Jamie McMurray (22nd) were the others.

Biffle was the only Raybestos. Rookie to lead at least one lap at Richmond in 2003. He led the September race once for two laps.

Since 1975, only one Raybestos. Rookie has won the spring race at Richmond: Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000. Earnhardt Jr. led the race just once covering the final 31 laps and officially scored his second career win by .159 second over Terry Labonte.

Only once since 1975 have TWO or more Raybestos. Rookies finished in the top-10 in the Chevy American Revolution 400. In 1979, Joe Millikan finished sixth followed by Terry Labonte, who claimed an eighth place finish.

Only one Raybestos. Rookie has won the pole at Richmond since 1975: Morgan Shepherd. Shepherd won took the top starting spot for the 1981 Chevy American Revolution 400.

Since 1980, only five Raybestos Rookies have led a lap in the spring race at Richmond: Tommy Houston (once for 10 laps in 1980), Morgan Shepherd (once for 150 laps in 1981), Dick Trickle (once for one lap in 1989), Earnhardt Jr. (once for 31 laps in 2000), and Ryan Newman (twice for 48 laps in 2002).

Only three Raybestos. Rookies that have scored top-five finishes in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond (since 1975): 1981: Morgan Shepherd, fourth 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr., first 2002: Ryan Newman, second

Seven Raybestos. Rookies have scored top-10 finishes in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond (since 1975): 1979: Joe Millikan, sixth, and Terry Labonte, eighth 1989: Larry Pearson, sixth 1993: Jeff Gordon, sixth 1998: Kenny Irwin, ninth 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr., first 2002: Ryan Newman, second

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE HISTORY

The way to the NASCAR NEXTEL championship is to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Since 1979, six Raybestos. Rookie of the Year drivers have won the title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).

A Raybestos Rookie has 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), Newman (New Hampshire 2002), Jimmie Johnson (California and both 2002 Dover races), and Greg Biffle (Pepsi 400 at Daytona 2003). The record for most wins by a Raybestos. Rookie is three, shared by Johnson (2002) and Stewart (1999).

RAYBESTOS ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER POINTS
Kasey Kahne 138
Scott Wimmer 101
Brian Vickers 100
Johnny Sauter 92
Brendan Gaughan 92
Scott Riggs 80

HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS. ROOKIES BY RACE

EVENT HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Daytona 500 Scott Wimmer, third
Subway 400 Kasey Kahne, second
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Kasey Kahne, second
Golden Corral 500 Kasey Kahne, third
Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 Kasey Kahne, 13th
Food City 500 Scott Wimmer, 13th
Samsung/RadioShack 500 Kasey Kahne, second
Advance Auto Parts 500 Brian Vickers, 13th
Aaron's 499 Brendan Gaughan, 13th
Auto Club 500 Brendan Gaughan, sixth

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