The Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle for 2005 brings us a smaller than normal crop of rookies. Some are future superstars and some have limited chances for success. Who will be the 2005 Rookie of the Year?
The winners of this award over the last few years is a virtual who's who among NASCAR's young guns as Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray all scored wins in their rookie years while last years' winner Kasey Kahne only missed by inches a couple of times.
There are future superstars in this group too, but this isn't the hotly contested battle that we've seen in the past.
Chasing The Crown In Name Only
Road race ace Boris Said will officially lose his NEXTEL Cup rookie status this year but honestly doesn't have a shot. Nothing against Boris, I'm excited that he's getting a ride and hope he can work this into a full-time gig but it's highly unlikely that a driver scheduled to run only 10 or 12 races can win the title.
Boris does have a couple of things in his favor. First, I truly do believe that Boris has some potential as a stock car driver. Second, veteran crew chief Frank Stoddard has agreed to sit on the pit box for the team this year. Stoddard has a lot to offer an inexperienced driver and will really be an asset to the team.
Finally, Boris is slated to run Hendrick engines in the #36 MB2 car. A little Hendrick horsepower won't hurt his qualifying efforts any. Since only 8 cars get into the race on speed qualifying will be critical in Boris' efforts this year.
Underfunded And Inexperienced
Eric McClure will be taking on the NEXTEL Cup circuit this season in the Rabbe Racing #73. I find this whole team very interesting given Eric's top-level racing resume.
Eric has a grand total of one career NEXTEL Cup start and only started four Busch races in 2004. Given those stats you would assume that Eric is coming directly from the Truck series? You'd be wrong, Eric had zero Truck Series starts in 2004. Going back another year Eric posted one single Busch series start and one single ARCA start.
With credentials like these it's a little puzzling how Eric landed a NEXTEL Cup ride. Well, honestly it's not all that puzzling. This is Eric McClure, as in Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Eric grew up at the family race shop and, after graduating from college, is now getting his racing career started. I love the fact that his education came first, but shouldn't he be running for Rookie of the Year in the Busch series or the Trucks first?
Eric only places in front of Boris Said here because currently Eric is planning on running a full schedule while Boris is only slated to run 10 or 12 races. If Boris had a full-time ride he'd easily beat Eric in the final rookie standings (and he might anyway).
The winners of this award over the last few years is a virtual who's who among NASCAR's young guns as Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray all scored wins in their rookie years while last years' winner Kasey Kahne only missed by inches a couple of times.
There are future superstars in this group too, but this isn't the hotly contested battle that we've seen in the past.
Chasing The Crown In Name Only
Road race ace Boris Said will officially lose his NEXTEL Cup rookie status this year but honestly doesn't have a shot. Nothing against Boris, I'm excited that he's getting a ride and hope he can work this into a full-time gig but it's highly unlikely that a driver scheduled to run only 10 or 12 races can win the title.
Boris does have a couple of things in his favor. First, I truly do believe that Boris has some potential as a stock car driver. Second, veteran crew chief Frank Stoddard has agreed to sit on the pit box for the team this year. Stoddard has a lot to offer an inexperienced driver and will really be an asset to the team.
Finally, Boris is slated to run Hendrick engines in the #36 MB2 car. A little Hendrick horsepower won't hurt his qualifying efforts any. Since only 8 cars get into the race on speed qualifying will be critical in Boris' efforts this year.
Underfunded And Inexperienced
Eric McClure will be taking on the NEXTEL Cup circuit this season in the Rabbe Racing #73. I find this whole team very interesting given Eric's top-level racing resume.
Eric has a grand total of one career NEXTEL Cup start and only started four Busch races in 2004. Given those stats you would assume that Eric is coming directly from the Truck series? You'd be wrong, Eric had zero Truck Series starts in 2004. Going back another year Eric posted one single Busch series start and one single ARCA start.
With credentials like these it's a little puzzling how Eric landed a NEXTEL Cup ride. Well, honestly it's not all that puzzling. This is Eric McClure, as in Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Eric grew up at the family race shop and, after graduating from college, is now getting his racing career started. I love the fact that his education came first, but shouldn't he be running for Rookie of the Year in the Busch series or the Trucks first?
Eric only places in front of Boris Said here because currently Eric is planning on running a full schedule while Boris is only slated to run 10 or 12 races. If Boris had a full-time ride he'd easily beat Eric in the final rookie standings (and he might anyway).
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