With just three points covering the top four contenders, this year's Raybestos Rookie of the Year contest shapes up as among the closest in the 13 years the prize has been awarded. Three of the four already have scored a top-10 finish and two — Tayler Malsam (No. 81 One Eighty Toyota) and James Buescher (No. 10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford) — are within a few points of cracking the top 10 in overall standings ranking 12th and 14th, respectively. A rookie has not finished among the final top 10 since 2003 when Carl Edwards parlayed three victories into an eighth-place ranking.
The Keystone Light Pole starter has yet to win in six tries at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Five of the six winners have started seventh or deeper in the field. Kyle Busch (No. 51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota) is best and worst qualified among previous winners: third in 2005 and 20th a year later.
Brian Scott (No. 16 Albertsons Toyota) will get his first look at Darlington Raceway this seek as the Idaho native makes his fourth start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driving for Braun Racing. Scott comes off his best NNS qualifying performance, 10th, at Richmond International Raceway last week.
Mike Skinner's (No. 5 Bad Boy Mowers Toyota) Kansas victory was the eighth by an over-50 driver currently active in the series. Skinner and rival Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Copart.com Chevrolet) each have four such wins.
Rick Crawford (No. 14 International Truck and Engine Ford) fulfilled a life-long dream - and his need for speed - when he participated in an incentive ride with the Blue Angels at Florida's Pensacola Naval Air Station on April 28. Flown by Lt. Ben Walborn in Blue Angel No. 7, Crawford experienced as much as 7.3 g's and speeds as fast as 750 mph. "All of the adjectives you use for excitement don't measure up to it," said Crawford.
