The scoring system to determine the Sunoco Rookie of the Year varies from NASCAR'S point system for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. The following is a breakdown of the Sunoco 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 Sunoco 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 Sunoco 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 Sunoco Rookie of the Year winner.
(NASCAR.com)(1-31-2015)

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 + Final Bonus = Total Rookie Pts
Jayski.com calculations using the last know rules (see above):
#34/#55-Brett Moffitt, 28/28; 28 + 169 + 0 + 151 = 348 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
#83-Matt DiBenedetto(A), 27/27; 27 + 166 + 0 + 150 = 343
#23/#26-Jeb Burton, 36/28; 36 + 153 + 0 + 154 = 343
#33-Alex Kennedy, 13/13; 13 + 111 + 0 + 131 = 255 (part-time)
#66-Tanner Berryhill, 1/0; 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 1 (one attempt)
(A) = added to ROTY starting Talladega in May
(thru 11-23-2015)
below from the Official Results when released, usually on Monday
#34/#55-Brett Moffitt, 348
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, 343
#23/#26-Jeb Burton, 343
#33-Alex Kennedy, 255
#66-Tanner Berryhill, 1 (not listed on results as of Pocono in Aug)

HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE BY RACE
Race, Highest-Finishing Rookie (finish), points awarded
1) Daytona 500, none qualified for race
2) Atlanta, #26-Burton (35th), 11
3) Las Vegas, #26-Burton (40th), 11
4) Phoenix, #26-Burton (34th), 11
5) Auto Club, #55-Moffitt (22nd), 11
6) Martinsville, #55-Moffitt (28th), 11
7) Texas, #55-Moffitt (29th), 11
8) Bristol, #55-Moffitt (17th), 11
9) Richmond, #55-Moffitt (29th), 11
10) Talladega, #83-DiBenedetto (18th), 11
11) Kansas, #83-DiBenedetto (25th), 11
12) Charlotte, #34-Moffitt (31st), 11
13) Charlotte, #34-Moffitt (28th), 11
14) Pocono, #34-Moffitt (30th), 11
15) Michigan, #34-Moffitt (33rd), 11
16) Sonoma, #33-Kennedy (25th), 11
17) Daytona, #83-DiBenedetto (26th), 11
18) Kentucky, #34-Moffitt (32nd), 11
19) New Hampshire, #34-Moffitt (33rd), 11
20) Indianapolis, #83-DiBenedetto (32nd), 11
21) Pocono, #83-DiBenedetto (29th), 11
22) Watkins Glen, #83-DiBenedetto (26th), 11
23) Michigan, #83-DiBenedetto (30th), 11
24) Bristol, #34-Moffitt (30th), 11
25) Darlington, #83-DiBenedetto (25th), 11
26) Richmond, #34-Moffitt (35th), 11
27) Chicago, #34-Moffitt (31st), 11
28) New Hampshire, #34-Moffitt (27th), 11
29) Dover, #83-DiBenedetto (34th), 11
30) Charlotte, #83-DiBenedetto (29th), 11
31) Kansas, #83-DiBenedetto (30th), 11
32) Talladega, #83-DiBenedetto (40th), 11
33) Martinsville, #23-Burton (37th), 11
34) Texas, #34-Moffitt (30th), 11
35) Phoenix, #83-DiBenedetto (28th), 11
36) Homestead, #34-Moffitt (31st), 11
Best Finishing Rookies, Times:
Brett Moffitt, 17
Matt DiBenedetto, 13
Jeb Burton, 4
Alex Kennedy, 1
Races with no rookie, 1 (Daytona 500)

• Homestead Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 37th, 10 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify (DNQ), 1 rookie point
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Ty Dillon in the car
  (11-22-2015)

• Phoenix(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 36th, 10 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Ryan Ellis in the car
  (11-15-2015)

• Texas(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 35th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
  (11-8-2015)

• Martinsville(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 27th, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 33rd, 9 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 35th, 8 rookie points
  (11-1-2015)

• Talladega(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 40th, 11 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify (DNQ), 1 rookie point
  #34-Brett Moffitt, not entered, Josh Wise in the car
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Travis Kvapil in the car
  (10-25-2015)

• Kansas(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 37th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
  (10-18-2015)

• Charlotte(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 34th, 9 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 41st, 8 rookie points
  (10-11-2015)

• Dover(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 34th, 11 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 38th, 10 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 42nd, 9 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 43rd/last, 8 rookie points
  (10-4-2015)

• New Hampshire(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 27th, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 33rd, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, BJ McLeod in the car
  (9-27-2015)

• Chicago Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 38th, 10 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
  (9-20-2015)

• Richmond(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 35th, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 36th, 10 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Brian Scott in the car
  (9-12-2015)

• Darlington Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 25th, 11 rookie points
  #23-Jeb Burton, finished 31st, 10 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 36th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Mike Bliss in the car
  (9-6-2015)

• Bristol(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 33rd, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify (DNQ), 1 rookie point
  #33-Alex Kennedy, not entered, Mike Bliss in the car
  (8-22-2015)

• Michigan(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 33rd, 10 rookie point
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 34th, 9 rookie point
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Travis Kvapil in the car
  (8-16-2015)

• Watkins Glen Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 26th, 11 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 28th, 10 rookie point
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 39th, 9 rookie point
  #34-Brett Moffitt, did not race, Chris Buescher in the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
  (8-9-2015)

• Pocono(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 35th, 9 rookie point
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 38th, 8 rookie point
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
  (8-2-2015)

• Indianapolis Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 11 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 34th, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify, 1 rookie point
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Brian Scott in the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
  (7-26-2015)

• New Hampshire Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 33rd, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 25th, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 41st, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Derek White in the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, neither team nor driver entered
  (7-19-2015)

• Kentucky Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 32nd, 11 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 40th, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 41st, 9 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 42nd, 8 rookie points
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, not entered
  (7-11-2015)

• Daytona(2) Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 26th, 11 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 27th, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 35th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Brian Scott in the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, not entered
  (7-5-2015)

• Sonoma Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 25th, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 29th, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 32nd, 9 rookie points
  #34-Brett Moffitt, not entered, Justin Marks ran the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race, not entered
  (6-28-2015)

• Michigan Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 33rd, 11 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 37th, 10 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 39th, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Ty Dillon in the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
  (6-14-2015)

• Pocono Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 30th, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 33rd, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
  (6-7-2015)

• Dover Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, finished 30th, 10 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 9 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, did not race, Brian Scott in the car
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
  (5-31-2015)

• Charlotte Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
  #83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 34th, 10 rookie points
  #33-Alex Kennedy, finished 36th, 9 rookie points
  #26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify, 1 rookie point
  #66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
  (5-24-2015)

• Kansas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-DiBenedetto, finished 25th, 11 rookie points
  #34-Moffitt, 34th, 10
  #26-Burton, 42nd, 9
  #33-Kennedy, didn't race
  (5-3-2015)

• Talladega Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #83-DiBenedetto, finished 18th, 11 rookie points (1st race as a candidate)
  #26-Burton, Did not qualify, 1
  #55/#34-Moffitt, didn't race
  #33-Kennedy, didn't race
  (5-3-2015)

• Richmond Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #55-Moffitt, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
  #23-Burton, 38th, 10 [DNQ'd in the #26, replaced Yeley in the #23]
  #33-Kennedy, 39th, 9
  (4-26-2015)

• Bristol Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #55-Moffitt, finished 17th, 11 rookie points
  #33-Kennedy, 33rd, 10
  #26-Burton, 42nd, 9
  (4-19-2015)

• Texas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #55-Moffitt, finished 29th, 11 rookie points
  #33-Kennedy, 37th, 10
  #26-Burton, DNQ, 1
  (4-11-2015)

• Martinsville Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #55-Moffitt, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
  #26-Burton, 29th, 10
  #33-Kennedy, 33rd, 9
  (3-29-2015)

• Auto Club Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #55-Moffitt, finished 22nd, 11 rookie points (1st race as a candidate)
  #26-Burton, 39th, 10
  (3-22-2015)

• Phoenix Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #26-Burton, finished 34th, 11 rookie points
  #33-Kennedy, 38th, 10 (1st race as a candidate)
  #66-Berryhill, DNQ, 1 (1st race as a candidate)
  (3-15-2015)

• Las Vegas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #26-Burton, finished 40th, 11 rookie points
  (3-8-2015)

• Atlanta Sunoco Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #26-Burton, finished 35th, 11 rookie points
  (3-1-2015)

• Daytona Sunoco Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
  #26-Burton, did not qualify (DNQ), 1 attempt point
  (2-22-2015)

• 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 ran for rookie of the year in 2013.
  Trevor Bayne had not ran for Sprint Cup points but NASCAR ruled he ran enough Sprint Cup races not to be allowed to run for rookie of the year in 2015

• Moffitt named NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year: Lost in the shuffle of all that transpired in Sunday night's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, #34-Brett Moffitt was named the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year for 2015. Moffitt competed in 31 of the 36 Sprint Cup Series events this season, driving for Michael Waltrip Racing and Front Row Motorsports throughout the year. Moffett made his first start of the season, eighth of his career, at Atlanta Motor Speedway last March 1, driving the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. In that event, Moffitt started 22nd and finished eighth for a career-best and what turned out to be his highest finish of the season. "Atlanta was definitely the highlight of my year," Moffitt said Sunday at Homestead. "Going into 2015, that was the one race I had on my schedule with Michael Waltrip Racing, and they gave me the opportunity. Michael, the folks at Aaron's and Rob Kauffman (who owned MWR with Michael Waltrip) believed in me enough to fill in for Brian (Vickers) that race, and to go out there and finish eighth place was huge. You know, the time I didn't even know what I was doing behind the wheel of a race car it seemed like."
  Moffitt would pilot the #55 MWR Toyota until Richmond in April. Once David Ragan took over driving duties at MWR, Moffitt returned to Front Row Motorsports for the remainder of the 2015 season. "As a rookie, being with Front Row Motorsports was a really good home," he said. "I learned a lot throughout the year, getting to race with 43 of the best drivers in the world is a learning curve, especially I have very limited XFINITY and truck experience, so a lot of these tracks were the first time for me. Just being able to get on the racetrack, being around them, trying to learn from them, it's added up to a lot." With only one scheduled race at the start of the season -- Atlanta with MWR -- Moffitt did not declare himself eligible for the Rookie of the Year award until later in the season, when it became apparent he would run the majority of the season. "Once we reached a point where I knew I was going to do at least seven races and wouldn't be eligible in 2016 to run for Rookie of the Year, at that point we said, why not sign up for it and hope things work out, and they did," he said. "And that's really where Bob and everyone at Front Row Motorsports kind of made this happen, and they stuck their neck out on the line and hired a rookie, and it paid off."
  Despite a consistent year that ended in with the rookie title, Moffitt's 2016 plans are still up in the air. "Right now my slate is empty," he said. "I mean, we're working hard, but it's hard to secure the funding to be able to run in any of the top three series. If anything would come forward, I'd be more than willing to work with any series, whether it was truck, XFINITY or another Cup ride."(FoxSports), see Rookie Standings, History, Stats and more on the 2015 Rookie of the Year page.(11-24-2015)

• Moffitt, DiBenedetto battle for NASCAR Cup rookie honors: Neither of the leading NASCAR Rookie of the Year candidates thought they'd be competing for the title when the season began. Both #34-Brett Moffitt and #83-Matt DiBenedetto were late arrivals to the Sunoco-sponsored program, but find themselves 1-2 in the complicated rookie points standings with two races remaining. "My first few races, I wasn't even signed up for it and didn't pay much attention to it," Moffitt said. "But later in the year, these last few races I've been asking them on the radio toward the end of the race: 'All right, where's the 23 (Jeb Burton) and 83 (DiBenedetto)?' We might not have the best day, but if we can beat them, it's kind of icing on the cake."
  Rookie points are mostly based on finishes in comparison to the other rookies over their best 17 races, with bonus points for things like top-10 results. But points don't decide the title; they're just a guide for a panel made up of mostly NASCAR executives who will determine the winner next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  DiBenedetto had no clue 2015 would turn out to be his rookie season, either. A former development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, DiBenedetto started the season at BK Racing with a last-minute deal thrown together just to get the #83 car to the track. "We weren't planning on running full-time, so I missed a lot of races and we had some good finishes that didn't count," he told USA TODAY Sports. "If we would have entered (at the start), it should have been a walk in the park. But obviously, I'm just thankful I got to run full time."(in part from the USA Today)(11-15-2015)

• Moffitt joins the 2015 rookie of the year candidates: It was mentioned during the broadcast of the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, that Brett Moffitt, who replaced Brian Vickers in the #55 Toyota after Vickers announced blood clots had returned, will run for the 2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award. It was announced on Sunday that Vickers would be out three months.(3-22-2015)

• No run for Rookie of the Year award for Bayne?: "NASCAR confirms to me that @Tbayne6 is not eligible for Rookie of the Year this season -- too many accumulated Sprint Cup starts." (Popular Speed's Matt Weaver)(1-30-2015)

• 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
  
• 2013 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (0) - Danica Patrick, Timmy Hill
  
• 2014 Kyle Larson (0) - Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett, Cole Whitt, Alex Bowman, Ryan Truex, Parker Kligerman
  
• 2015 Brett Moffitt (0) - Matt DiBenedetto, Jeb Burton, Alex Kennedy, Tanner Berryhill
  

  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)
  (NOT a 2011 candidate but won - Trevor Bayne (1) and ran for ROTY in 2004)
  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
  
  2014 Kyle Larson
  36 races, 0 wins, 8 top 5's, 17 top 10's, 1 pole, 17th in points (Chase system)
  
  a BOLD stat is the record holder as the end of 2014

• 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)