Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates are awarded points based on entry, competition, top-10 bonus points, and voting panel points. Points are awarded based on his/her best 17 races in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action, 16 events in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, or 14 events in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Points during competition are awarded based on the following:

* Attempting to qualify for a race earns the rookies one (1) bonus point.

* A 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point system is used for scoring finishing positions. The highest-finishing rookie in each race earns 10 points, the second-highest, nine points, etc.

* Bonus points are awarded for a finish in the top 10. A rookie who wins a race is awarded 10 points, second place gets nine points and so on down the line with a tenth place finish earning one point.

In addition to the above, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year panel will meet during the final weekend of the season and reward favorable conduct in the following categories: conduct with NASCAR officials; conduct and awareness on track; personal appearances and relationship with the media. The panel rates each driver on a scale of 10 to one with 10 being the maximum. The points will then be averaged and added to the entry, competition, and bonus points after the final race.

The scoring system to determine the Rookie of the Year varies from NASCAR'S point system for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. The following is a breakdown of the Rookie of the Year scoring system:

" A 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point system is used for scoring finishing positions by the rookies. The highest-finishing rookie in each race earns 10 points, the second-highest, nine points, etc.

" Of the 36 races, only the top 17 are counted in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie race.

" In order to be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award, a driver must attempt to qualify in at least eight events out of the first 20 events.

" Attempting to qualify for a race earns the rookies one bonus point, which is a bonus that is available for all 36 events.

" Bonus points are awarded for a finish in the top 10. A rookie who wins a race is awarded 10 points, second place gets nine and so on down the line with a 10th-place effort earning one point.

" Following the final race of the season, the highest-ranking rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship receives 10 bonus points. The second-highest rookie earns nine points, third receives eight, etc.

" During the final weekend of the season, a Rookie of the Year panel meets and rewards favorable conduct in the following categories: Conduct with NASCAR officials in the garage and pit areas; conduct and awareness on track; personal appearance and relationship with the media. The panel rates each driver, with scoring ranging from a maximum of 10 to a minimum of 1. Total points will be averaged from each panel member's ballot. The points derived from the panel will be added to the entry, competition, and bonus points after the final race of the season to determine the overall Rookie of the Year winner.(NOTE: the bonus points do not seem to calculate out using this method and it is not explained)

rookies will be noted on the car they drive by a yellow stripe on the rear bumper of the car.
sometimes a driver not up for the Rookie of the Year award may have yellow stripes on tracks they have not competed on in the past
or if NASCAR decides the driver doesn't have enough experience.

Car#-Driver, Races Attempted/Races Run; Attempt Pt + Race Rookie Pts + Bonus Pts = Total Rookie Pts
My calculations using the last know rules (see above):
#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 36/36; 36 + 170 + 12 = 218
#10-Danica Patrick, 36/36; 36 + 159 + 3 = 198
#32-Timmy Hill, 19/19; 19 + 142 + 0 = 161
(thru 11-17-2013)
What NASCAR reports on the official race report - usually posted Monday:
#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 253 rookie points (35 bonus pts)
#10-Danica Patrick, 232 rookie points (34)
#32-Timmy Hill, 189 rookie points (28)
(includes the final bonus points awarded by panel after the final race of the season)
(thru 11-18-2013)
NOTE: Looks like if a rookie starts and parks, they get one (1) point total for the race, haven't seen rules posted in a few years

HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE BY RACE
Race, Highest-Finishing Rookie (finish), points awarded
Daytona 500, #10-Patrick (8th), 14
Phoenix, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (16th), 11
Las Vegas, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (18th), 11
Bristol, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (16th), 11
Auto Club, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (20th), 11
Martinsville, #10-Patrick (12th), 11
Texas, #10-Patrick (28th), 11
Kansas, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (11th), 11
Richmond, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (16th), 11
Talladega, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (13th), 11
Darlington, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (18th), 11
Charlotte, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (14th), 11
Dover, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (13th), 11
Pocono, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (26th), 11
Michigan, #10-Patrick (13th), 11
Sonoma, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (27th), 11
Kentucky, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (17th), 11
Daytona, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (11th), 11
New Hampshire, #17-Stenhouse Jr.(34th), 11
Indianapolis, #17-Stenhouse Jr.(25th), 11
Pocono, #32-Hill (27th), 11
Watkins Glen, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (18th), 11
Michigan, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (19th), 11
Bristol, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (18th), 11
Atlanta, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (16th), 11
Richmond, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (10th), 12
Chicago, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (8th), 14
New Hampshire, #17-Stenhouse Jr (24th), 11
Dover, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (17th), 11
Kansas, #32-Hill (28th), 11
Charlotte, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (13th), 11
Talladega, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (3rd), 19
Martinsville, #10-Patrick (17th), 11
Texas, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (16th), 11
Phoenix, #17-Stenhouse Jr. (12th, 11
Homestead, #10-Patrick (20th), 11
(X) = no rookie award mentioned on final official race report
Best Finishing Rookies, Times:
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 28
Danica Patrick, 6
Timmy Hill, 2
Races with no rookie, 0

NOTES: the rule used to be that once a driver ran more then seven races in a season,
they were not eligible for Rookie of the Year,
but the rules changed when NASCAR required drivers to declare which series to accrue points for during the season.
So since Danica Patrick didn't run for Sprint Cup Series points in 2012, she can still run for rookie of the year in 2013.
Supposedly, Trevor Bayne, could run for rookie of the year in 2014 as he has never ran for Sprint Cup points
even thou he has won a Sprint Cup Series race, the 2011 Daytona 500

• Strong Sprint Cup Series Rookie class shaping up: The leading candidate for 2014 Sprint Cup Series looks to be #3-Austin Dillon, although relative stock-car newcomer #42-Kyle Larson is expected to be at the least his biggest challenger. #51-Justin Allgaier (not yet announced), #7-Michael Annett, Parker Kligerman, Cole Whitt (both at Swan Racing, two cars #30 and unknown #) and possibly #93-Alex Bowman (tested at Charlotte in a BK Racing Toyota) are will all be Cup rookies in 2014. This year's top rookie, two-time defending Nationwide Series champion #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., finished 19th in the final Cup standings.(Sporting News)(12-15-2013)

• Stenhouse Jr. is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year: Though #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. didn't enjoy as much success as he might have liked in 2014, his performance was strong enough to secure Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Stenhouse, who finished 22nd Sunday, beat out girlfriend #10-Danica Patrick for the recognition as top rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. "It means a lot, looking at all the other names that have won this award," Stenhouse said. "It definitely wasn't the season that we wanted, but we slowly but surely got a little bit better throughout the season. I was proud of what we did, of getting better, qualifying better, having runs up front, leading laps throughout this year. I thought we had a chance at winning some races there, at least being in contention. I was proud of those moments. All in all, it was a huge learning experience. Thankful we made it through; it's behind us now. We can move on to next year, look on improving every spot at every track that we can in the final points standings."(NASCAR Wire Service)(11-18-2013)

• Patrick, Stenhouse Jr. Headline Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award Battle: As teams make final preparations to start the 2013 race season, NASCAR announced today the lineup of 2013 Contingency Program sponsors for all three national series. Not since 2006, when Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. battled for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, has there been this much attention focused on the rookie title. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Timmy Hill and Danica Patrick, all eligible for 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, enter this season with high expectations. Stenhouse, the two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, and Hill won the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Patrick finished the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series 10th in points. "This year's Sunoco Rookie class is going to be truly exciting to watch," said Andrew Kabakoff, Sunoco Brand Manager. "We are proud to support NASCAR's rising stars and wish them the best of luck as we look forward to a very exciting season of racing."
  The Coors Light Pole Award is another key contingency partner that will undoubtedly receive a lot of attention this season. Danica Patrick's pole victory in Daytona placed the award in the spotlight this week, as did the season-opening Sprint Unlimited, where the field was set by 2012 Coors Light Pole winners and past champions of the event. The Coors Light Pole Award is presented to the fastest eligible qualifier in each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. "We are proud of the strong lineup of NASCAR Contingency Program sponsors across our three national series this year, and are enthused by the excitement surrounding the intense competition for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award," said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president, Partnership Marketing. "NASCAR contingency sponsors and teams display a level of collaboration and teamwork that is unmatched in sports and continues to be one of the major reasons companies choose to partner with NASCAR."
  The NASCAR Contingency Program strives to build strong relationships with high­ quality, performance­ driven brands that are leaders in their respective categories, and award money to NASCAR teams via per ­race and year-­end awards. Competitors become eligible for prize money by displaying sponsor decals on the front fender of their race cars and trucks. In some instances, use of a sponsor product is also required.(NASCAR)(2-23-2013)

• Danica vs. Ricky for Rookie of the Year: For the first time since 2006, when Denny Hamlin beat out Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and a host of others, there's a legitimate rookie of the year battle. It's not a deep class, but the intrigue of two-time Nationwide Series champion #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. going against former IndyCar star #10-Danica Patrick will draw a lot of attention.(ESPN), the rule used to be once a driver ran more then seven races in a season, they were not eligible for Rookie of the Year, but the rules changed when NASCAR required drivers to declare which series to accrue points for.(1-11-2013)

• ROOKIE HISTORY
  

  * Joey Logano won 2009 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Logano captured top rookie honors 26 times in 36 races and officially claimed the honor by 33 points (270-237) over Scott Speed. At 19 years of age, Logano became the youngest driver to win Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

  * Logano scored his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (race #17). The victory came in his 20th career start. He finished the season with one win, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes and placed 20th in the final series championship standings.

  * Logano is the THIRD driver from Joe Gibbs Racing to win Rookie of the Year, joining Tony Stewart (1999) and Denny Hamlin (2006).

  · Did You Know? Joey Logano is the most recent Rookie to win a Sprint Cup Series race, capturing the 2009 LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ahead of second-place Jeff Gordon (56 races ago).

  · Did You Know? The most recent Rookie to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series is Patrick Carpentier. Carpentier captured the top starting spot for the 2008 LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (92 races ago).

  * Did You Know? The most recent Rookie to score a top-five finish is Logano, who placed third in the 2009 AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (41 races ago).

  * Regan Smith (2008) became the first Rookie of the Year in the 52-year history of the program without a DNF (did not finish). He was running at the finish in all 34 starts he made and captured top rookie honors over Sam Hornish Jr. by just seven points (236-229).

  · The 2008 season marked the first time in NASCAR's modern-era (since 1972) that THREE drivers shared the lead in the Rookie standings. After the second race of the season, Sam Hornish, Jr., Dario Franchitti and Regan Smith were all tied at the top of the standings.

  * Ryan Newman holds the all-time Rookie record for most poles (6), most top-fives (14) and most top-10s (22).

  * Denny Hamlin is the only Rookie to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup since the program was created in 2004.

  * The record for most earnings by a Rookie Hamlin holds the record for most earnings by a Rookie ($6.6 million in 2006).

  * The record for most wins by a Rookie is THREE, shared by Tony Stewart (1999) and Jimmie Johnson (2002).

  * A Rookie has posted multiple victories SEVEN times in NASCAR Sprint Cup:
  1987: Davey Allison, two
  1999: Tony Stewart, three
  2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr., two
  2001: Kevin Harvick, two
  2002: Jimmie Johnson, three
  2005: Kyle Busch, two
  2006: Denny Hamlin, two

  * More than one Rookie has posted victories during their first season only three times:
  1981: Morgan Shepherd (one) and Ron Bouchard (one)
  2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two) and Matt Kenseth (one)
  2002: Jimmie Johnson (three) and Ryan Newman (one)

  * The way to the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship is to win Rookie of the Year. Since 1979, six Rookie of the Year drivers have gone on to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup title: Dale Earnhardt (1979), Rusty Wallace (1984), Alan Kulwicki (1986), Jeff Gordon (1993), Tony Stewart (1999, 2005) and Matt Kenseth (2000).

  * The longest streak for a Rookie to be in the top-10 in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings during the sport's modern-era is 60 races (2001 MBNA Platinum 400 through 2002 Ford 400).(1-11-2011)

  ---

• Logano first Rookie to win in 71 races: Rookie #20-Joey Logano rallied from a lap down and stretched his fuel mileage to perfection to win the rain shortened LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Sunday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Logano scored his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in just his 20th start and his first in two starts at New Hampshire. He became the first Rookie [Keselowski is not a Rookie Candidate] to win in 71 races, dating back to Juan Pablo Montoya's victory at Infineon Raceway in 2007. He joined Ryan Newman (2002) as the only Rookies to win in 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire. He won in just his second start at New Hampshire and led the race just once, covering the final 10 laps. Logano leads Scott Speed by 31 points (199-168) in the overall Rookie standings. Logano scored his first top-five and fourth top-10 of the 2009 season.(PR)(6-29-2009)

• NASCAR to implement rookie orientation program: NASCAR will implement a one-day rookie orientation seminar next February for newcomers to its three national touring series. The annual program will be designed for rookies and drivers 22 and under, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Wednesday. It will focus on NASCAR rules and policies as well as the adjustment to competing on the national stock-car circuit. "It's something we've been looking at for the last two or three years," Poston said. "We looked at what all the other leagues do, and one thing we realized is all the other leagues do this, and there seems to be a lot of benefit both for the league and their participants." The program will include University of Central Florida professor Dr. Richard Lapchick of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports to address professional and personal conduct and Aegis Laboratories' Dr. David Black to address the NASCAR substance-abuse policy. NASCAR Chairman Brian France also would be one of the presenters with other NASCAR executives, NASCAR's medical liaisons, series directors, veteran drivers and track operators. "We want to do this to touch base with drivers that are new to the national series and make sure that they have an opportunity at their very start to get face-to-face with NASCAR executives, to understand the sport and who we are," Poston said. "It's really to welcome to the national series, welcome them to the sport and also to answer any questions that they have." NASCAR has an 18-year-old age limit for its three national touring series and has toyed with the idea of increasing the age minimum for the Sprint Cup Series. Poston said that is still under consideration.(SceneDaily)(11-4-2009)

• 1957 Ken Rush
• 1958 Shorty Rollins (1)
• 1959 Richard Petty
• 1960 David Pearson
• 1961 Woody Wilson
• 1962 Tom Cox
• 1963 Billy Wade
• 1964 Doug Cooper
• 1965 Sam McQuagg
• 1966 James Hylton
• 1967 Donnie Allison
• 1968 Pete Hamilton
• 1969 Dick Brooks
• 1970 Bill Dennis
• 1971 Walter Ballard
• 1972 Larry Smith
• 1973 Lennie Pond - Darrell Waltrip
• 1974 Earl Ross (1)
• 1975 Bruce Hill
• 1976 Skip Manning
• 1977 Ricky Rudd
• 1978 Ronnie Thomas
• 1979 Dale Earnhardt (1) - Joe Millikan, Terry Labonte, Harry Gant
• 1980 Jody Ridley (1)
• 1981 Ron Bouchard (1), Tim Richmond
• 1982 Geoffrey Bodine
• 1983 Sterling Marlin
• 1984 Rusty Wallace - Phil Parsons
• 1985 Ken Schrader - Eddie Bierschwale, Don Hume
• 1986 Alan Kulwicki - Michael Waltrip, Chet Fillip, Pancho Carter, Kirk Bryant, Davey Allison [listed 4 races], Derrike Cope [2 races], Jerry Cramer [3 races], Rick Baldwin [2 races], Jonathan Edwards [2 races], Wayne Slark [1 race]
• 1987 Davey Allison (2) - Dale Jarrett, Steve Christman, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope
• 1988 Ken Bouchard - Ernie Irvan, Brad Noffsinger, Jimmy Horton
• 1989 Dick Trickle - Hut Stricklin, Larry Pearson, Jimmy Spencer, Rick Mast, Ben Hess, Chad Little
• 1990 Rob Moroso - Jack Pennington, Jerry O'Neil, Jeff Purvis
• 1991 Bobby Hamilton - Ted Musgrave, Stanley Smith, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
• 1992 Jimmy Hensley - Dave Madar III, Andy Belmont
• 1993 Jeff Gordon - Bobby Labonte, Kenny Wallace, P.J. Jones
• 1994 Jeff Burton - Joe Nemechek, Steve Grissom, Loy Allen, John Andretti, Jeremy Mayfield, Mike Wallace, Ward Burton
• 1995 Ricky Craven - Robert Pressley, Randy LaJoie, Steve Kinser, Davy Jones
• 1996 Johnny Benson - Stacy Compton [listed as a candiate for 1 race], Randy MacDonald [3 races]
• 1997 Mike Skinner - David Green, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon
• 1998 Kenny Irwin - Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, Steve Park
• 1999 Tony Stewart (3) - Elliott Sadler, Buckshot Jones
• 2000 Matt Kenseth (1) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2), Dave Blaney, Scott Pruett, Stacy Compton, Mike Bliss
• 2001 Kevin Harvick (2) - Kurt Busch, Casey Atwood, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday Jr, Andy Houston
• 2002 Ryan Newman (1) - Jimmie Johnson (3), Carl Long, Shawna Robinson
  
• 2003 Jamie McMurray - Greg Biffle (1), Tony Raines, Casey Mears, Jack Sprague, Larry Foyt
  
• 2004 Kasey Kahne - Brendan Gaughan, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer, Scott Riggs, Johnny Sauter
  
• 2005 Kyle Busch (2) - Travis Kvapil, Stanton Barrett, Mike Garvey, Eric McClure
  
• 2006 Denny Hamlin (2) - Clint Bowyer, Martin Trux Jr., David Stremme, Reed Sorenson, Brent Sherman
  
• 2007 Juan Pablo Montoya (1) - David Ragan, Paul Menard, David Reutimann, A.J. Allmendinger
  
• 2008 Regan Smith - Sam Hornish Jr., Michael McDowell, Patrick Carpentier, Dario Franchitti
  
• 2009 Joey Logano (1) - Scott Speed, Max Papis, Dexter Bean
  
• 2010 Kevin Conway (0) - Terry Cook
  
• 2011 Andy Lally (0) - no other drivers ran for the award
  
• 2012 Stephen Leicht (0) - Josh Wise
  

  some Notes:
  (NOT a 2002 candidate but won - Jamie McMurray (1) and ran and won ROTY in 2003)
  (NOT a 2009 candidate but won - Brad Keselowski (1), didn't run for the award in 2009 or 2010)
  race wins during rookie year in parens()
  rest of rookie class listed if known

Driver, Rank, Year
James Hylton, 2nd, 1966
Denny Hamlin, 3rd, 2006
Shorty Rollins, 4th, 1958
Tony Stewart, 4th, 1999
Jimmie Johnson, 5th, 2002
Ryan Newman, 6th, 2002
Dale Earnhardt, 7th, 1979
Jody Ridley, 7th, 1980
Earl Ross, 8th, 1974
Kevin Harvick, 9th,2001
Walter Ballard, 10th, 1971

• Rookies: #48-Jimmie Johnson tied Tony Stewart's rookie record for most wins by a Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year candidate with three in 2002. #12-Ryan Newman holds the rookie record [Modern Era 1972-present] of top fives, with 14, Hylton holds the all time record with 20. The top ten's record [Modern Era 1972-present] is held by Newman with 22, which is 10 below the all-time record of Hylton in 1966. Some comparisons (all were Rookie of the Year except Earnhardt Jr):

  Most wins as a ROTY Candidate
  Tony Stewart, 3, 1999
  Jimmie Johnson, 3, 2002 [didn't win award]
  Davey Allison, 2, 1987
  Kevin Harvick, 2, 2001
  Kyle Busch, 2, 2005
  Denny Hamlin, 2, 2006

  1958 Shorty Rollins
  29 (of 51) races, 1 win, 12 top 5's, 22 top 10's, 0 poles, final points position was 4th
  
  1959 Richard Petty
  21 (of 44) races, 0 wins, 6 top 5's, 9 top 10's, 0 poles, points pos 15th
  
  1962 Tom Cox
  42 (of 53) races, 0 wins, 3 top 5's, 20 top 10's, 0 poles, points pos 19th
  
  1966 James Hylton
  41 (of 49) races, 0 wins, 20 top 5's, 32 top 10's, 1 pole, points pos 2nd
  
  Modern Era 1972-present:
  1979 Dale Earnhardt
  27 (of 31) races, 1 win, 11 top 5's, 17 top 10's, 4 poles, points pos 7th
  
  1987 Davey Allison
  22 (of 29) races, 2 wins, 9 top 5's, 16 top 10's, 5 poles, points pos 21st
  
  1999 Tony Stewart
  34 races, 3 wins, 12 top 5's, 21 top 10's, 2 poles, 4th in points
  
  2000 Matt Kenseth
  34 races, 1 win, 4 top 5's, 11 top 10's, no poles, 14th in points
  
  2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr
  34 races, 2 wins, 3 top 5's, 5 top 10's, 2 poles, 16th in points
  
  2001 Kevin Harvick
  35 (of 36) races, 2 wins, 6 top 5's, 16 top 10's, no poles, 9th in points
  
  2002 Jimmie Johnson
  36 races, 3 wins, 6 top 5's, 21 top 10's, 4 poles, 5th in points
  
  2002 Ryan Newman
  36 races, 1 win, 14 top 5's, 22 top 10's, 6 poles, 6th in points
  
  2006 Denny Hamlin
  36 races, 2 wins, 8 top 5's, 20 top 10's, 3 poles, 3rd in points
  a BOLD stat is the record holder as the end of 2006

• Some Rookie Stuff: Jamie McMurray is the 4th driver to pick up his 1st career Cup win at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the modern era (The others: 2000: Matt Kenseth; 1995: Bobby Labonte; 1994: Jeff Gordon). McMurray became the 3rd rookie to win this year, joining Jimmie Johnson & Ryan Newman. It marks the first time that 3 rookies have won a Cup race in the same season in the modern era [1972-present]. Of the 13 first-time winners since 2000, 7 of those have come on Bruton Smith (SMI Tracks). 2000: Dale Earnhardt Junior (Texas), Matt Kenseth (Charlotte), & Jerry Nadeau (Atlanta; 2001: Kevin Harvick (Atlanta), Elliott Sadler (Bristol); 2002: Kurt Busch (Bristol) & Jamie McMurray (Charlotte).(10-13-2002)

• Quickest wins by a driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in only his 12th Cup start. Ron Bouchard won a Cup race in his 11th start in 1981 at Talladega, Mark Donohue won in his 5th Cup start in 1973 at Riverside, the earliest in the 'modern era' of Cup, he would only make one more Cup start. Others: Morgan Shepherd won in his 15th start (Martinsville) in 1981, but wasn't named Rookie of the Year. Several other drivers won in their first year, but weren't considered ROTY candidates: Dan Gurney at Riverside in 1963 in his third race and Mario Andretti at Daytona Beach in 1967 in his fifth start.
  BUT in 2001, #29-Kevin Harvick won his first Cup race in his third ever start, the best ever in the modern era [1972-present]. McMurray won in his 2nd start at Lowe's today which is the new Modern Era record and ties the all time record, set by John Rostek, who won in his 2nd career start in April 1960 at Arizona State Fairgrounds.
  ALSO of Note, Johnny Rutherford won a Daytona Qualifying race in his first start back in 1963, back then the Qualifier races counted as wins and the championship and points. And of course Jim Roper won in his first start, the first race ever held by NASCAR in 1949 and Jack White won in his first start in 1949, the 5th race of the season.(10-13-2002)

• First time back-to-back - Correction: #48-Jimmie Johnson's victory comes a week after #12-Ryan Newman won, marking the first time in series history rookies have won back-to-back races.(News and Record), Actually in 2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth won back-to-back points races, with Earnhardt Jr winning at Richmond and Kenseth winning at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May of 2000, the Winston was run between the two races, also won by a rookie, Dale Earnhardt Jr.(9-23-2002)

• Earnhardt Jr the fastest Correction and UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr has won his first two Winston Cup races faster then anyone in Winston Cup modern era. Earnhardt Jr won his 2nd race in his 16th start. Tony Stewart did it in his 32nd race, Dale Earnhardt in his 41st, Jeff Gordon 50th, Darrell Waltrip 65th and Bobby Labonte 77th. Not sure what the all time record is but Red Byron won his 2nd race in his 5th start during the first NASCAR Grand National(Before Winston Cup) season in 1949
  Correction: Davey Allison also won his 2nd race in his 16th start(5-7-2000)
  Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick won his 2nd Cup race in his 17th start.
  UPDATE: add #48-Jimmie Johnson ties the record as he won his 2nd race in his 16th start.(6-2-2002)