Will the Top-35 determine the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year?

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 12:21pm CDT

Latest Nascar News And Info! By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.

This is the question that has went unasked thus far in 2008. It’s time, past time actually, to ask it.

Currently, the best Rookie in the Owners Points is Sam Hornish Jr. He currently sits in 35th for 2008, as we head into race #6 where this years points take effect. Next up is Martinsville, and there are guys behind him with a lot more experience at this track. Considering the finesse it takes, this track has a habit of kicking Rookies to the curb. The odds of Hornish Jr. overcoming this are ones I wouldn’t take in any bookie joint in the land.

Behind Sam Hornish Jr. comes the rest of the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates.

Dario Franchitti is in 38th, just 37 points back, with Regan Smith nipping at his heels and just 2 points behind him in 39th.

Then we have Patrick Carpentier bringing up the rear, 186 points out of 35th (46th overall) and just 2 starts out of 5 possible this season. Stick a fork in their Top-35 efforts. They’re done.

What begs to be asked is that whether or not the Top-35 will be the deciding factor in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year winner for 2008. I’ll bet it does. It already has.

For those who are unfamiliar with how this all works out, here’s the description from the NASCAR.com Rookie Standings Page:

“Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates earn points based on their best 17 finishes of the season. Points are earned through entry points, competition points based on finish, top 10 bonus points, bonus points based on three segments of the season and a panel of voters at the completion of the season.”

2008 Rookie Standings by Owner Points
After Food City 500
Rank	Car #	Driver	Distance From 35th
35th	#77	Sam Hornish Jr.	0
38th	#40	Dario Franchitti	Behind 37pts
39th	#01	Regan Smith	Behind 39pts
46th	#10	Patrick Carpentier	Back 186pts

You will notice that it says “their best 17 finishes of the season“.

If driver A makes 30 races, and the next driver makes 20 races, didn’t driver A just get a 10 race advantage by having the opportunity to have more races to select their best 17 finishes from?

Sam Hornish Jr. is in 35th right now. What’s also not taken into consideration is that at least for a race or two, quite possibly more, Michael McDowell will be in the #00 for Michael Waltrip Racing when David Reutimann takes over the #44 at Martinsville.

Not that it’s likely, but the possibility (however slim) is there that just by him keeping it in the Top-35 he could literally run away with the Rookie of the Year, and missing the first 5 races of the year. Then again, it could be Hornish that does the same. Based solely on nothing more than having had 17 races to choose from, when other drivers may have much less.

While those races are not the only factor, they make up most of it. That being the case, the better the odds and the more races you have under your belt, the better you’re going to come out in the wash.

Now the question is, is this a fair way to judge the performance of the rookie class? Sure, you have to make a race to compete, which is part of the whole process. However, if someone makes just 12, but runs really well (better than someone barely keeping it in the Top-35) then how does that play out?

What we have here is yet another fiasco waiting to happen, and it’s on the verge of exploding. Nothing against Sam Hornish Jr., or any other rookie for that matter, however there is room for improvement in the overall system.

I don’t know what the answer is, honestly. There are so many possibilities, and none that can be implemented mid-stream in the season.

Should you go back to a 2 day qualifying session with provisionals? Maybe lock in the Top-20 as well?

How about increase the field? Where did 42 plus one past champion, to make 43 spots come from anyway? Why not add a couple starting spots, and make it an even 46, 48, or even 50? Surely there is enough room for everyone. OK, Martinsville and Bristol might be a tick on the tight side, but it can be done.

Right now, there are enough teams that are trying to run full time that opening even 3 more spots would help. There wouldn’t be a worry of “field fillers”, although some at the very back of the Top-50 in points now could be considered flirting with that concept. However, that’s not by lack of effort, it’s from a lack of funding, brought on by the whole Top-35 deal.

I have no answer to the problem, but there has to be a solution that works out for everyone involved. Whether that’s more spots, less lock-in’s, provisionals, or whatever the case may be.

One thing I do know, however, is that Saturday’s at Richmond (and Bristol) sure are boring when there isn’t a thing going on at the track before the sun goes down, the lights come up, and the show begins.

Daytona 500: 27 Days and Counting

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday January 21, 2008
11:14pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Mark Martin

2007 Stats
- Organization: Ginn/DEI
- Car Number: 01
- Crew Chief: Ryan Pemberton
- Sponsor: US Army
- Points: 27th :: 2960 :: -3763
- Starts: 24
- Poles: 0
- Wins: 0
- Top 5’s: 5
- Top 10’s: 11
- Winnings: $4,097,200
2008 Preview
- Organization: DEI
- Car Number: 8
- Crew Chief: Tony Gibson
- Sponsor: US Army

Mark Martin’s first part-time season was one littered with buzz and talk.

After coming out of the gates at Daytona, and subsequent races, the buzz was how could Mark walk away from his best start in years, and an obvious chance to competitively compete for the Cup. Yet, as he said all along, he watched Bristol from Florida, and kept true to his schedule.

Last summer, along with Regan Smith, he was the beneficiary of Ginn selling his operation to DEI. While other teammates were left in a lurch, Mark was (for obvious reasons) transferred to DEI ownership and the #01 kept right on rolling along.

Finally, last fall, the long anticipated answer to the question of “Who will replace Dale Jr?” was announced. Mark Martin, along with Aric Almirola for 12 events, would be behind the wheel of the #8 US Army Chevrolet.

Being honest here, it was one of the best things DEI could do. There are few names that could pilot that ride after Dale Jr’s exit, and Mark Martin is definitely towards the top of that short list. Mark has long been a fan favorite, with very few fans showing a dislike for him. This can only help to move the whole organization, as well as the #8 team, into the Junior-less era.

Note: information is accurate as of date published. Check Thunder Lounge for additional updates and information.

Daytona 500: 50 Days and Counting

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday December 28, 2007
11:08am CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

In the first of a 50 post series, we’re going to review the Top-50 drivers as they finished in the final 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series points, and highlight their efforts for 2008 as we move to the Sprint Cup series.

Without further ado, we start with our 50th place driver, Regan Smith.

Regan Smith

2007 Stats
- Organization: Ginn Racing/DEI
- Car Number: 01
- Crew Chief: Ryan Pemberton
- Sponsor: US Army
- Points: 50th :: 519 :: -6207
- Starts: 7
- Poles: 0
- Wins: 0
- Top 5’s: 0
- Top 10’s: 0
- Winnings: $648,051
2008 Preview
- Organization: DEI
- Car Number: 01
- Crew Chief: Doug Richert
- Sponsor: Unknown (Rumored Coors)
- Rookie of the Year Candidate

2007 saw Regan Smith under the tutaledge of Mark Martin, and running a total of only 7 Cup races. This safely kept him in line to compete for the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

In 2007 Regan Smith was also part of the Ginn Fiasco, that saw Boby Ginn essentially calling it quits and selling his teams off to DEI. While Smith’s future was in limbo for a short while, he has come through the wash and most likely in a better position than had Ginn not sold out. With the closing of Ginn Racing, and the subsequent purchase by DEI, Regan Smith will now be in his own ride full-time in 2008. His mentor, Mark Martin, will not be far away as he splits the now vacated #8 ride with rookie Aric Almirola.

Note: information is accurate as of date published. Check Thunder Lounge for additional updates and information.

Will the Top-35 determine the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year?

Daytona 500: 27 Days and Counting

Mark Martin

2007 Stats

2008 Preview

Daytona 500: 50 Days and Counting

Regan Smith

2007 Stats

2008 Preview

Recent NASCAR Articles

Current Points

Top Commentors