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