Race 2 Win: Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

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Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Raybestos® Rookie Notes

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDERS – NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES

Travis Kvapil was the Raybestos® Rookie of the race in the April 10 Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Kvapil finished 27th and took top rookie honors for the second consecutive race and for the third time in six races this season.

Kvapil trails Kyle Busch by five points (72-67) in the Raybestos® Rookie standings entering the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kvapil has led more miles (13.50) than any other Raybestos® Rookie this season. He has led twice in one race for nine laps. Busch has led twice in one race for two laps (four miles).

Raybestos® Rookies at Texas Motor Speedway

Kasey Kahne was the top Raybestos® Rookie in last year’s Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. He placed second, one-half car length (officially measured at .028 seconds) behind race winner Elliott Sadler.

DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos® Rookie has finished in the top-10 at Texas in each of the last SIX consecutive races:
1999: Tony Stewart, sixth, and Elliott Sadler, 10th
2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr., first
2001: Kurt Busch, fourth, and Kevin Harvick, seventh
2002: Jimmie Johnson, sixth
2003: Jamie McMurray, 10th
2004: Kasey Kahne, second

TWO or more Raybestos® Rookies have finished in the top 10 just twice in eight races at Texas: Tony Stewart (sixth) and Elliott Sadler (10th) in 1999; Kurt Busch (fourth) and Kevin Harvick (seventh) in 2001.

A Raybestos® Rookie has led at least one lap in five of the eight NEXTEL Cup races that have been held at Texas:
1997: Mike Skinner (once for 10 laps)
1999: Elliott Sadler (once for one lap)
2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (six times for 106 laps)
2000: Scott Pruett (once for 13 laps)
2002: Ryan Newman (once for two laps)
2004: Kasey Kahne (six times for 148 laps)
2004: Johnny Sauter (once for one lap)

TWO or more Raybestos® Rookies have led the same race at Texas twice in eight races: Earnhardt Jr. and Scott Pruett (2000), Kahne and Johnny Sauter (2004).

Only two Raybestos® Rookies have led the most laps at Texas: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Kasey Kahne (2004). Kahne holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos® Rookie at Texas, leading six times for 148 circuits.

Only once in eight races at Texas has a Raybestos® Rookie won the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored his first career NEXTEL Cup Series win by 5.920 seconds over Jeff Burton.

The best start by a Raybestos® Rookie at Texas is third (Kasey Kahne in 2004).

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 gone on to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999), and Matt Kenseth (2000).

At least one Raybestos® Rookie has won a Bud Pole in each of the last 10 years (1996-2005). There has been a first-time Bud Pole winner in each of the last 19 years (1987-2005).

RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS

DRIVER          POINTS
Kyle Busch        72
Travis Kvapil     67
Stanton Barrett   12
Eric McClure      11 

HIGHEST FINISHING RAYBESTOS® ROOKIES BY RACE

EVENT                    HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Daytona 500              Travis Kvapil, 19th 
Auto Club 500            Kyle Busch, 23rd 
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400  Kyle Busch, second
Golden Corral 500        Kyle Busch, 12th 
Food City 500            Travis Kvapil, seventh
Advance Auto Parts 500   Travis Kvapil, 27th

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