Go to AutoRacing1's Home PageGo to AutoRacing 1's CART PageGo to AutoRacing1's NASCAR PageGo to AutoRacing 1's F1 PageGo to AutoRacing 1's Links PageGo to AutoRacing1's Race Schedules PageGo to AutoRacing1's Classified Ads PageGo to AutoRacing 1's Rumor's PageGo to AutoRacing1's Hot News PageGo to AutoRacing 1's Discussion ForumsGo to AutoRacing1's Racing Store PageGo to AutoRacing 1's CarTest PageAutoRacing Stock PricesGo to AutoRacing 1's Interviews PageContact the AutoRacing1 Webmaster



October 9, 2001

News and Notes From The Raybestos Rookie Contenders

Raybestos Rookie Contender Kevin Harvick collected Raybestos Rookie of 
the Race honors at the UAW-GM 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Harvick finished 
eighth, scoring his Busch finished ninth, scoring his 14th top-10 finish of 
the 2001 season. Harvick has now been the highest finishing rookie in 16 of 
his 28 Winston Cup starts this season. He was also the highest qualifying 
rookie at Charlotte, taking the 14th starting position in time trials. 

· Harvick surpassed the $3 million mark in earnings this season with his 
good run at Charlotte. Harvick's total entering this weekend's race at 
Martinsville is $3,058,759. Harvick needs $131,390 to break's the current 
rookie earnings record, currently held by Tony Stewart. Stewart won 
$3,190,149 on his way to being crowned Raybestos Rookie of the Year in 1999.

· Harvick continues to enjoy a comfortable lead in the Raybestos Rookie 
standings. He leads Busch by 67 points (293-226) entering Sunday's Old 
Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

· Four Raybestos Rookie Contenders qualified for the race at Charlotte on 
their time: Harvick (14th ), Casey Atwood (29th ), Jason Leffler(33rd ), and 
Ron Hornaday (35th). Busch used a provisional and started 43rd in the race.

· Three of the five Raybestos Rookies at Charlotte were running at the 
finish of the race in Kansas. In addition to Harvick, Busch finished 22nd 
and Atwood was credited with 24th. Two rookies failed to finish: Hornaday 
(38th, engine) and Leffler (43rd , accident). 

· Busch is the only Raybestos Rookie Contender that has started all 29 
Winston Cup races this season entering the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville 
Speedway. 

· No Raybestos Rookie led a lap in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte.

· Atwood and Busch are the only Raybestos Rookies entered at Martinsville 
that have experience in more than one Winston Cup race at the .526-mile 
Virginia Speedway. Both have two Winston Cup starts at Martinsville under 
their belts and both competed in last year's fall race. Atwood finished 25th 
while Busch placed 40th.

· Mike Bliss was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2000 Old Dominion 
500, finishing 28th after starting 26th. Dave Blaney was the highest 
qualifying Raybestos Rookie, claiming the 21st position in first round time 
trials. No rookie led a lap in the event. 

· Andy Houston was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in April's Virginia 500 
at Martinsville. He started 30th but finished 17th, the final car to 
complete all 500 laps. Casey Atwood was the highest qualifying rookie, 
claiming the 14th position in time trials. Ron Hornaday started 43rd but was 
the only Raybestos Rookie to lead laps at Martinsville, holding the top spot 
twice for 24 laps.