| Drivers face countless decisions throughout | | | | |
| their racing careers. The first decision | | | | NASCAR Craftsman Trucks |
| comes in getting involved in the sport. From | | | | |
| there, many key decisions have to be made, | | | | Todd Kluever gained plenty of notoriety by |
| including when to move to the next level. | | | | prevailing in the famous "Gong Show" test |
| | | | session put on by Jack Roush. He impressed |
| There are plenty of considerations, often | | | | the parties enough to earn the seat of the |
| numbering as many as the individuals | | | | number 50 truck and put himself into position |
| considering it. Once the decision has been | | | | to move up the driver development ladder. |
| made, it's like starting all over. You're a | | | | Kluever backed his supporters with a podium |
| rookie . . . again. | | | | finish early in the year. The graduate of the |
| | | | ASA ranks appears to be the odds-on favorite |
| A rookie driver faces a certain amount of | | | | for the NCTS rookie honors. |
| scrutiny. There's the somewhat ego-deflating | | | | |
| yellow bumper or other such designation that | | | | Shige Hattori is driving the Germain/Arnold |
| this driver is different from the rest. In | | | | Toyota, becoming the first Japanese driver to |
| many cases, that rookie could have as much | | | | be a regular in the series. Sean Murphy, who |
| experience as many without the designation, | | | | has European racing experience and recently |
| but until there's a better system, this will | | | | competed with Florida-based Late Models and |
| have to do. | | | | Super Late Models, is in the hunt in 2005. |
| | | | Regan Smith, a USAR Hooters Pro Cup graduate, |
| The stepladder to the top requires a driver | | | | and Jason Rudd are also listed as rookie |
| to face rookie status on more than a few | | | | hopefuls. |
| occasions. Of course, that is generally | | | | |
| followed by the fearsome "sophomore jinx," | | | | In its third year of existence, this |
| but we're getting ahead of ourselves on that. | | | | Michigan-based series had 22 rookies on the |
| | | | roster in 2004. One of those rookies, Bobby |
| As the '05 season starts to take shape, the | | | | Stremme, became the series champion when it |
| rookie class is looking very good in many | | | | was all said and done. |
| areas. There are the rare series where no | | | | |
| rookies compete, but for the most part, | | | | The '05 listing is healthy again with many |
| rookie drivers are a vivid part of the | | | | drivers seeing the value of this racing |
| scenery. | | | | group. By April 1, at least 15 drivers had |
| | | | made their desires known to become the Pat |
| NASCAR Nextel Cup | | | | Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year. |
| | | | |
| The '05 class is a bit smaller than some | | | | The list includes second-generation racer |
| years, but it is certainly big on talent and | | | | Brian Campbell. The 2000 Berlin (MI) Speedway |
| the ability to grab headlines. Early season | | | | Super Stock Rookie of the Year is the son of |
| leaders have been Kyle Busch and Travis | | | | Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame member Fred |
| Kvapil, who carry the yellow bumper after | | | | Campbell. |
| spending time in other high-profile series. | | | | |
| Busch came to the Nextel Cup ranks from a | | | | Brent Downey competed on the now-dormant ASA |
| year in NASCAR Busch Series racing while | | | | National Tour and will come out as a rookie |
| Kvapil has been a NASCAR Craftsman Truck | | | | in this series. Travis Dassow will use his |
| Series champion. Other designated rookies | | | | experience at the Slinger Super Speedway to |
| include Eric McClure (who has dabbled in the | | | | his advantage as he goes touring in 2005. Dan |
| Busch ranks and ran with the ARCA series), | | | | Jung will pick up a limited schedule for last |
| and Stanton Barrett, who has had periodic | | | | season for a full-year onslaught. Brett |
| starts through the last few years. | | | | Piontek will come from the Mid-American Stock |
| | | | Car Series Top Five in 2004 for this year's |
| Kyle Busch established himself as the clear | | | | efforts. Ohio driver Scott Leach was the |
| favorite by capturing a pole position in the | | | | youngest driver to win a track championship |
| Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Driving | | | | at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway. Chase |
| for Hendrick Motorsports, Busch is setting | | | | Austin of Eudora, Kansas, will contest as |
| out to get Rookie of the Year honors and to | | | | part of the Hendrick Motorsports Driver |
| become the first Hendrick driver to win it | | | | Development Program with help from Butch |
| since Jeff Gordon in 1993. Kvapil takes over | | | | Miller. I-70 (MO) Speedway Rookie of the Year |
| the ride at Penske Motorsports that was | | | | Garrett Stonum is expected to venture out. |
| vacated when former Truck series rival | | | | Young Nebraska racer Josh Krug, an invitee to |
| Brendan Gaughan was relieved of his seat. | | | | the Roush Gong Show, will join the ASA in |
| | | | 2005. Mansfield (OH) Motorsports Speedway |
| Past rookie honors have gone to Kasey Kahne, | | | | Late Model regular Joey Dennewitz, |
| Jamie McMurray, and Ryan Newman. | | | | Independence, Missouri's Rod Cordon, former |
| | | | Rockford (IL) Speedway rookie Ryan Carlson, |
| NASCAR Busch Series | | | | and Midvale (OH) Modified champ Dusty Woodie |
| | | | can be counted among the drivers expected at |
| The competition is higher in sheer numbers, | | | | most events. |
| but there are those trying to break from the | | | | |
| pack early. Carl Edwards has won a race in | | | | The young guns will be well-represented with |
| Atlanta and then backed it up by winning a | | | | 14-year-old Keeton Hanks and 15-year-old |
| Nextel Cup event, in a reversal of the | | | | Jesse Smith expected to see action. |
| "Nextel Cup stars winning Busch races" trend. | | | | |
| Edwards has lurked at the top of the point | | | | USAR Hooters Pro Cup |
| standings early, but he is not the only | | | | |
| rookie to win a Busch race in the first | | | | An increase in the Miller Lite Rookie program |
| handful. Reed Sorenson captured the Nashville | | | | for this series has continued to yield |
| event after sitting on the pole. These two | | | | top-quality racers. A payoff of $75,000 in |
| rookies make it difficult for the rest of the | | | | 2004 was increased to $90,000, and the entry |
| class. Edwards is driving for Roush Racing | | | | forms started flying in. |
| while Sorenson is a product of the Ganassi | | | | |
| Driver Development program. Both drivers have | | | | 2004 Snowball Derby champion Steve Wallace |
| short-track backgrounds--Edwards raced dirt | | | | will attempt to take money from his father's |
| in his native Missouri and once placed a | | | | sponsor during the 2005 Southern Division |
| display ad to get a ride. Sorenson is a | | | | races with the series. Wallace, son of Nextel |
| second-generation racer who came from Legends | | | | Cup great Rusty Wallace, has his program |
| and a successful ASA campaign to get the | | | | backed by crewchief Barry Dodson. Michael |
| shot. | | | | Waltrip Motorsports has brought an entry with |
| | | | Ken Butler III behind the wheel of the |
| There are a few other drivers that bear | | | | Aaron's Dream Machine. Chase Pistone, |
| watching in a healthy rookie class for the | | | | grandson of Tiger Tom Pistone, started his |
| Busch Series. Blake Feese came from the | | | | rookie effort by winning the pole in the |
| open-wheel ranks and ARCA as part of the | | | | first race. The team is expected to hit its |
| Hendrick Driver development program. Denny | | | | stride and will prove formidable throughout |
| Hamlin made his name in the Pacific Northwest | | | | the year. |
| before relocating to North Carolina and | | | | |
| driving for Joe Gibbs. Ryan Hemphill came | | | | Altogether, there were 17 rookies contesting |
| from Pennsylvania to run ASA, then ARCA, and | | | | the first two races. Andrew Rogers was head |
| now pilots the Biagi Motorsports entry. | | | | of the pack, thanks in part to his runner-up |
| Michel Jourdain is a veteran open wheeler who | | | | finish in the series' second race. Michael |
| ran over 150 races on the CART Series and | | | | Faulk, fresh from a Top-10 run in the NASCAR |
| finished Third in the point standings while | | | | AutoZone Southeast Series, has cast his lot |
| driving for Bobby Rahal. Brent Sherman earned | | | | with the series. North Carolina racer Kirk |
| honors in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2004 | | | | Leone has joined Georgians Dwayne Buggay and |
| before making the move to Busch. Tyler Walker | | | | Wayne Willard for a shot at the stakes. Jake |
| came to fendered racing from World of Outlaws | | | | Hobgood, a veteran of the former NASCAR |
| Sprint competition and USAC action. Jon Wood | | | | Goody's Dash Series, is hoping to shake some |
| is a graduate of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck | | | | of the '04 misfortune that aborted his |
| ranks. | | | | attempt to run for rookie honors last year. |