Gas and Go
A NASCAR BLOG BY David Exum
Rookie Cup drivers wanted for 2010 season
It's hard to believe that the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season might be void of rookie drivers.
As the 2009 season reaches its conclusion, race teams have yet to announce any freshmen drivers for next year, and I think this is a sure sign of how our country's economy has impacted NASCAR.
Brad Keselowski, who will be racing for Penske Racing in 2010, has made too many Cup starts this season to be eligible to compete as a rookie next year. The allotted number of starts a driver can make and keep his rookie status is seven.
The Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award is pretty prestigious and an important measuring stick for the future of the sport.
NASCAR's top series has had one or more rookies racing for the coveted award since 1957. The award's first year was 1954, but it took a two-year hiatus after Blackie Pitt put together five top-10 finishes to become the top rookie.
Richard Petty is the first notable rookie on the list. Petty won the award in 1959 after six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 22 starts. Petty, by the way, was 22 at the time.
It's also pretty neat that Tony Stewart has the most wins of any rookie rookie driver with three in 1999 when he also finished fourth in the standings. Denny Hamlin, who won the top rookie award in 2006, is the only first-year driver to finish third in the final standings.
While it doesn't appear IndyCar driver Danica Patrick would jump right into a Cup ride and become a 2010 rookie candidate, it sure would be nice if guys such as Colin Braun, Matt Crafton or Timothy Peters could be part of next year's rookie class.
David Exum
Hailing from Boston, David Exum has covered NASCAR since 1996. He is in his first season with SceneDaily.com.
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Comments
3 responses to "Rookie Cup drivers wanted for 2010 season". Post a Comment.
tinynascarfan said:
Oct 26, 2009 at 9:59 AMwith rousch cutting down to 4 cars, sorenson out, mears probably gone, mcmurray jumping to the 1 car while truex takes over the 55, Stremme gone but Kesoloski taking over, who knows what hall of fame is doing but i bet it is with bobby labonte, regan and the 78 car going full time(they picked a good year i think), i wonder about the wood brothers, here are the numbers i have, 3 drivers probably gone from the cup series, with 1 replacement, so either petty downsizes and sells his top 35 spot along with childress, and i assume rousch will sell his, the top 38 in owner standings will get in the first 5 races next year, Braun Racing will probably run Leffler or sorenson and buy one of those starting spots, i hope jack sells his to the wood brothers( i would think so since they are the only ford team now), that takes us to one spot that probably wont get sold, which will lock in both scott speed and john andretti for the first 5 races. MY POINT IS: if we have a full time running rookie next year they will come from a start n park team, someone will be smart enough to sign up for the raybestos program and put a rookie in their car for most of the races next year. it is a bigger paycheck and the rookie probably would do it for a shot at qulifying and his rookie check plus a lot less than what a veteran driver would want, all you have to find is a rookie who qualifies well. Justin alsgaier probably not because of association with penske, Michael Annett(a very real possiblilty),Danny O'Quin Jr (another candidate,always seems to make the nationwide show), how about Eric Darnell,Scott Lagase Jr, or my choice if i owned a start n park team: Trevor Bayne, he has really impressed me qulifiying. and i havent even looked in the truck series or the east/west series or arca series, but i think this will happen, to much money in the rookie program for it not to.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportphillipwafford said:
Oct 26, 2009 at 12:51 PMthats just what nascar needs another snotty nosed brat running aground
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This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Oct 26, 2009 at 5:06 PMThe RoY award is meaningless. Matt Crafton, Tim Peters, and Colin Braun need to stay permanently in the Trucks because that series needs more in the way of stars - Danica Patrick needs to go the hell away.
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This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report