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