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The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year.

History of the Award: Grand National/Winston Cup/Nextel Cup/Sprint/Monster Energy/Cup[]

The Rookie of the Year award for NASCAR's premier series was first presented to a driver named Blackie Pitt by Houston Lawing, NASCAR'S Public Relations director, in 1954. While it wasn't an official award, it would help set the standard for the top rookie prize. The first official winner was a driver named Ken Rush, who received the award at NASCAR's victory party at the end of the 1957 year.

From the 1957 through the 1973 seasons, NASCAR did not have an official points system to determine the Rookie of the Year. NASCAR's officials merely gathered together to select a winner. Naturally, this policy came under controversy, as officials didn't consider former champions from rival racing series. This system came to an end in 1973 after Lennie Pond was controversially chosen over Darrell Waltrip for the honor. Since 1974, the Rookie of the Year points system described below has been used, even if it meant the winner was not the highest finisher in championship points.

Rookie Points System[]

Main Rookie Points[]

Rookie of the year candidates earn points for their best seventeen races of the season. All other points are based on a ten-to-one system.

  1. The highest finishing rookie earns ten points, the second-highest finishing rookie earns nine points, etc.
  2. One point is granted to all rookies who enter an event prior to the entry deadline, regardless of finishing position or even if they don't qualify. All rookies with teams that enter past the deadline do not receive this point.

Rookie Bonus Points[]

Bonus points are also awarded to drivers in the following circumstances:

  1. A rookie candidate finishes in the top ten in a race. If that candidate wins, he/she earns ten bonus rookie points. If that candidate finishes second, he/she earns nine bonus rookie points, etc.
  2. "Segment Bonus Points." The season is divided into three segments, the first segment being after the first ten races of the season, the second segment being after the second ten races of the season, and the third segment being the rest of the schedule. The candidate with the most championship points in each segment earns ten bonus rookie points, the candidate with the second-most championship points earns nine, etc.
  3. The rookie driver who finishes highest in the championship standings at season's end will receive an additional ten bonus rookie points.

Panel[]

There is a five-member panel composed of drivers, officials, etc. that meet during the final week of the season. They evaluate that year's candidates on the following criteria:

  1. Conduct with officials
  2. Conduct and awareness on the racetrack
  3. Personal appearance and conduct with the media

The panel may penalize rookies for any conduct that may be detrimental to NASCAR.

Anyone involved with a rookie candidate (such as a teammate or car owner) may NOT serve on that year's panel.

Eligibility[]

Drivers must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to run for or receive the Rookie of the Year award.

  1. Must have run no more than seven races in any previous season.(This rule doesn't really apply perfectly anymore as 2023 is a good example: 2023 Rookie of the Year candidates Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson both ran 15 or more races during 2022 and are Rookie of the Year Eligible in 2023 and are running for the award)
  2. Drivers who compete in more than five races in a higher series are not eligible for the award in a lower series.
  3. If a driver does not start eight races before the end of Race 20 on the schedule, they will immediately become ineligible to earn rookie points for the rest of that season. The seven-race-limit still applies pertaining to eligibility for future attempts.
  4. A driver may NOT receive rookie points if he/she starts a race for a team that he/she did not qualify with. However, he/she is still eligible for championship points in that race.

NASCAR Cup Series[]

History of Grand National/Winston Cup/Nextel Cup/Sprint/Monster Energy/Cup RotY Awards[]

Below is a list of all winners, and known runner-ups. (Note: some of the drivers listed here are not confirmed as ROY contenders, and competed in more than the maximum number of races to be eligible for ROY honors.)

Did not declare for ROY, but ran more than seven races and are completely ineligible for the award.
Declared for ROY, but did not complete season, no longer eligible
* Declared for ROY, but did not complete season, still eligible
Ø Died during rookie season, received award posthumously
æ Did not receive an official award
± Died during rookie season and was unable to complete the schedule
Year Winner Runner(s) Up
2022 Austin Cindric Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland
2021 Chase Briscoe Anthony Alfredo
2020 Cole Custer Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell
2019 Daniel Hemric Ryan Preece, Matt Tifft
2018 William Byron Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain
2017 Erik Jones Daniel Suárez, Ty Dillon, Corey LaJoie, Gray Gaulding
2016 Chase Elliott Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, Brian Scott, Jeffrey Earnhardt
2015 Brett Moffitt Matt DiBenedetto, Jeb Burton, Alex Kennedy,
2014 Kyle Larson Austin Dillon,Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Michael Annett, Alex Bowman, Ryan Truex, Parker Kligerman
2013 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Danica Patrick, Timmy Hill, Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon
2012 Stephen Leicht Josh Wise, Timmy Hill, Trevor Bayne, Danica Patrick
2011 Andy Lally T.J. Bell, Brian Keselowski, Trevor Bayne
2010 Kevin Conway Terry Cook*, Landon Cassill.
2009 Joey Logano Scott Speed, Max Papis, Dexter Bean*, Brad Keselowski
2008 Regan Smith Sam Hornish Jr., Patrick Carpentier, Michael McDowell, Dario Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve*, Aric Almirola†, Marcos Ambrose
2007 Juan Pablo Montoya David Ragan, Paul Menard, David Reutimann, A.J. Allmendinger, Brandon Whitt*
2006 Denny Hamlin Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Reed Sorenson, J. J. Yeley, David Stremme, Brent Sherman*, David Gilliland†, Chad Chaffin
2005 Kyle Busch Travis Kvapil, Mike Garvey, Stanton Barrett, Eric McClure*, Boris Said†, Carl Long
2004 Kasey Kahne Brendan Gaughan, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer, Scott Riggs, Johnny Sauter, Kirk Shelmerdine†, Carl Edwards
2003 Jamie McMurray Greg Biffle, Tony Raines, Casey Mears, Jack Sprague, Larry Foyt, Hideo Fukuyama*, Christian Fittipaldi†.
2002 Ryan Newman Jimmie Johnson, Shawna Robinson*, Carl Long*, Hermie Sadler
2001 Kevin Harvick Kurt Busch, Casey Atwood, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday, Andy Houston, Bobby Hamilton Jr.
2000 Matt Kenseth Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney, Scott Pruett, Stacy Compton, Mike Bliss, Ed Berrier, Jeff Fuller*
1999 Tony Stewart Elliott Sadler, Buckshot Jones, Stanton Barrett*, Dan Pardus*, Mike Harmon*
1998 Kenny Irwin, Jr. Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, Steve Park, Dennis Setzer
1997 Mike Skinner David Green, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon, Lance Hooper
1996 Johnny Benson Randy MacDonald*, Stacy Compton*, Gary Bradberry
1995 Ricky Craven Robert Pressley, Randy LaJoie, Davy Jones, Steve Kinser*, Mike Chase*, Gary Bradberry*, Terry Byers* Elton Sawyer
1994 Jeff Burton Steve Grissom, Joe Nemechek, John Andretti, Mike Wallace, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Loy Allen Jr., Billy Standridge, Curtis Markham*, Rick Carelli*, T.W. Taylor*, Rodney Orr±, Rich Bickle
1993 Jeff Gordon Bobby Labonte, Kenny Wallace, P.J. Jones, Todd Bodine
1992 Jimmy Hensley Andy Belmont‡, Dave Madar III*, Bob Schacht
1991 Bobby Hamilton Ted Musgrave, Stanley Smith‡, Wally Dallenbach Jr.‡, Sammy Swindell*
1990 Rob MorosoØ Jack Pennington‡, Jerry O'Neil‡, Jeff Purvis*
1989 Dick Trickle Hut Stricklin, Larry Pearson, Jimmy Spencer, Rick Mast‡, Ben Hess‡, Chad Little‡, Butch Miller‡, Mickey Gibbs
1988 Ken Bouchard Ernie Irvan, Brad Noffsinger‡, Brad Teague, Jimmy Horton
1987 Davey Allison Dale Jarrett, Steve Christman, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, Mark Stahl†, Brett Bodine†, Jerry Cranmer*
1986 Alan Kulwicki Michael Waltrip, Chet Fillip†, Pancho Carter†, Davey Allison*, Jim Sauter†, Jerry Cranmer*, Rick Baldwin*, Jonathan Lee Edwards*, Wayne Kramer*
1985 Ken Schrader Eddie Bierschwale, Don Hume
1984 Rusty Wallace Greg Sacks, Phil Parsons, Clark Dwyer, Tommy Ellis, Doug Heveron†, Dean Combs†, Terry Schoonover±
1983 Sterling Marlin Trevor Boys†, Ronnie Hopkins‡, Ken Ragan, Bobby Hillin Jr.‡, Mike Potter
1982 Geoff Bodine Mark Martin, Brad Teague‡, Rick Wilson
1981 Ron Bouchard Morgan Shepherd, Tim Richmond, Mike Alexander‡, Elliott Forbes-Robinson‡, Joe Ruttman‡, Stan Barrett‡, Connie Saylor‡, Gary Balough
1980 Jody Ridley Lake Speed‡, Kyle Petty‡, Slick Johnson
1979 Dale Earnhardt Joe Millikan, Terry Labonte, Harry Gant
1978 Ronnie Thomas Roger Hamby, Blackie Wangerin, Bexter Price, Al Holbert
1977 Ricky Rudd Sam Sommers, Janet Guthrie‡, Tighe Scott, Tommy Gale‡, Gary Myers
1976 Skip Manning Terry Bivens, Neil Bonnett, Jimmy Means, Bill Elliott, John A. Utsman
1975 Bruce Hill Carl Adams, Bruce Jacobi, Grant Adcox, Chuck Bown, D.K. Ulrich, Joe Mihalic, Travis Tiller, Ferrel Harris, Dick May
1974 Earl Ross Richie Panch, Jackie Rogers, Ramo Stott
1973 Lennie Pond Darrell Waltrip, Johnny Barnes
1972 Larry Smith David Sisco, Doc Faustina
1971 Walter Ballard Maynard Troyer, Richard Brown, D.K. Ulrich
1970 Bill Dennis Joe Frasson, Jim Vandiver, Talmadge Prince±
1969 Dick Brooks Buddy Young, Hoss Ellington
1968 Pete Hamilton Dave Marcis, Dr. Don Tarr
1967 Donnie Allison Charlie Glotzbach, Paul Dean Holt, Jimmy Means*
1966 James Hylton Bill Seifert, Frank Warren
1965 Sam McQuagg Henley Gray, Clyde Lynn, Dick Hutcherson (NOTE: Hutcherson won nine times and finished second in the championship standings that year, but was not considered to be eligible due to being a champion in the IMCA)
1964 Doug Cooper J.T. Putney, Buddy Arrington
1963 Billy Wade Bobby Isaac, Larry Manning, J.D. McDuffie
1962 Thomas Cox Cale Yarborough, Ed Livingston
1961 Woody Wilson Wendell Scott, Lee Reitzel
1960 David Pearson Gerald Duke, Paul Lewis
1959 Richard Petty Fritz Wilson, Buddy Baker, Bob Burdick
1958 Shorty Rollins
1957 Ken Rush
1954 Blackie Pittæ

NASCAR Nationwide Series[]

2010 RotY standings[]

  1. Brian Scott (#11)–61 points
  2. James Buescher (#1)–60 points
  3. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (#6)–57 points
  4. Colin Braun (#16)–55 points
  5. Parker Kligerman (#42)–16 points

History of Busch Series RotY Awards[]

Year Winner Runner(s) Up
2009 Justin Allgaier Brendan Gaughan, Michael Annett, Michael McDowell, Erik Darnell, Scott Lagasse Jr.,John Wes Townley, Ken Butler, III, Terry Cook
2008 Landon Cassill Bryan Clauson, Dario Franchitti, Cale Gale, Brian Keselowski, Patrick Carpentier†,Joey Logano
2007 David Ragan Marcos Ambrose, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Krisiloff, Brad Coleman, Juan Pablo Montoya, Robert Richardson, Justin Diercks, Sam Hornish, Jr.†, Timothy Peters*
2006 Danny O'Quinn John Andretti, Todd Kluever, Burney Lamar‡, Mark McFarland‡, Stephen Leicht, Auggie Vidovich II, David Reutimann†, Steve Wallace†, David Gilliland‡, Tracy Hines‡, Joel Kauffman‡, A.J. Foyt IV*, Carl Long*, Jorge Goeters*, Kevin Conway*, Chris Wimmer*
2005 Carl Edwards Reed Sorenson, Denny Hamlin, Jon Wood, Brent Sherman, Kertus Davis, Michel Jourdain Jr.‡, Tyler Walker‡, Kevin Hamlin, Brandon Miller, Paul Wolfe‡, Ryan Hemphill‡, Jerry Robertson†, Boston Reid*, A.J. Fike*, Eric McClureBlake Feese*, Kim Crosby*, Donnie Neuenberger*
2004 Kyle Busch Paul Menard‡, Clint Bowyer‡, J. J. Yeley‡, Travis Geisler‡, Stan BoydAaron Fike†, Billy Parker
2003 David Stremme Coy Gibbs, Joey Clanton‡, Chad Blount, Jason White‡, Chase Montgomery‡, Regan Smith‡, Martin Truex, Jr.Damon Lusk‡, Chris Bingham
2002 Scott Riggs Johnny Sauter, Shane Hmiel, Kerry Earnhardt, Casey Mears, Brian Vickers, Kasey Kahne‡, Larry Gunselman†, Dan Pardus‡, Brian Weber†, Joe Buford
2001 Greg Biffle Scott Wimmer, Jamie McMurray, Larry Foyt, Kelly Denton‡, Tim Sauter‡, Marty Houston‡, Christian Elder‡, David Donohue
2000 Kevin Harvick Ron Hornaday, Jimmie Johnson, Jay Sauter, Michael Ritch, P.J. Jones, Jason Schuler†, Ricky Hendrick†, Anthony Lazzaro‡, Mike Stefanik‡, Mike Borkowski‡, Derrick Gilchrist‡, Jay Fogleman*, Dave Steele*
1999 Tony Raines Hank Parker Jr., Adam Petty, Bobby Hamilton Jr.‡, Tony Roper‡, Kelly Denton* Phillip Morris*, Kerry Earnhardt*, Skip Smith*
1998 Andy Santerre Dave Blaney‡, Blaise Alexander, Kevin Grubb, Wayne Grubb, Casey Atwood‡, Mike Cope‡, Matt Hutter‡, Lance Hooper‡, Jason Jarrett‡, Kevin Schwantz
1997 Steve Park Matt Kenseth‡, Johnny Chapman‡, Mark Krogh‡, Jeff Krogh‡, Lyndon Amick‡, Tim Steele†, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.‡, Tim Bender‡, Stanton Barrett†, Ted Christopher
1996 Glenn Allen Jr. Mike Dillon, Elliott Sadler†, Shane HallMark Green‡, Mike Harmon†, Tony Stewart‡, Ron Barfield
1995 Jeff Fuller Curtis Markham, Buckshot Jones‡, David Bonnett
1994 Johnny Benson Dennis Setzer, Kevin Lepage, Stevie Reeves, Randy Porter‡, Dirk Stephens‡, Johnny Rumley‡, Mike Garvey‡, Robbie Reiser‡, Chad Chaffin‡, Michael Ritch*, Kirk Shelmerdine*, Mike Stefanik*
1993 Hermie Sadler Joe Bessey, Tim Fedewa, Roy Payne Nathan Buttke‡, Jason Keller‡, Michael Ritch*, Tom Hessert*, Alan Russell*, Ken Wallace*, Page Jones*
1992 Ricky Craven Shawna Robinson‡, Robert Huffman*, Randy MacDonald*, Greg Trammell*
1991 Jeff Gordon David Green, Tracy Leslie, Troy Beebe, Cecil Eunice, Richard Lasater, Jeff Green‡, Mike Wallace‡, Mike Oliver‡, Mike McLaughlin‡, Rich Burgess*, Shawna Robinson*
1990 Joe Nemechek Bobby Moon, Ward Burton, Jack Sprague‡, Dana Patten, Davey Johnson‡, Dave Madar III‡, Ed Ferree‡, Frank Fleming‡, Clifford Allison*
1989 Kenny Wallace Bobby Hamilton, Jeff Burton, Dave Rezendes, Robert Pressley, Brandon Baker, Dave Simpson‡, Ed Ferree*, Tom Harrington*

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series[]

2010 Rookie Standings[]

  1. Austin Dillon (#3)–43 points
  2. Justin Lofton (#7)–38 points
  3. Brett Butler (#47)–36 points
  4. Jennifer Jo Cobb (#10)–34 points
  5. Chris Eggleston (#21)–7 points
  6. Landon Cassill (#98)–7 points
  7. Dillon Oliver (#01)–0 points

History of Camping World Truck Series RotY Awards[]

The following is a list former winners and known runner-ups:

Year Winner Runner(s) Up
2009 Johnny Sauter Tayler Malsam, James Buescher, Ricky Carmichael, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Brian Ickler, Brent Raymer, Chris Jones
2008 Colin Braun Brian Scott, Scott Speed, Donny Lia, Justin Marks, Marc Mitchell, Andy Lally
2007 Willie Allen Tim Sauter, Joey Clanton, Jason White, Blake Bjorklund
2006 Erik Darnell Chad McCumbee, Marcos Ambrose, Aric Almirola, Bobby East, Kerry Earnhardt, Erin Crocker, Boston Reid‡, Joey Miller‡, Robert Richardson, Kraig Kinser‡, Scott Lagasse Jr.‡, Ryan Moore‡, Chase Miller†, Michel Jourdain Jr.*, Sean Murphy*, J.R. Patton*, Tam Topham*
2005 Todd Kluever Kyle Busch†, Timothy Peters‡, Shigeaki Hattori‡, Clay Rogers*, Regan Smith‡, Jimmy Kite*, Nick Tucker*, Kerry Earnhardt*
2004 David Reutimann Tracy Hines, Robert Huffman, Brandon Whitt, Chase Montgomery, Shane Sieg‡, Kelly Sutton‡, Ken Weaver‡, David Ragan†, Deborah Renshaw†, Chris Wimmer‡, Shelby Howard‡, Brad Keselowski
2003 Carl Edwards Jody Lavender, Randy Briggs‡, Tina Gordon‡, T.J. Bell‡, Doug Keller‡, Kenny Hendrick†, Teri MacDonald*
2002 Brendan Gaughan Bill Lester, Jason Small
2001 Travis Kvapil Ricky Hendrick, Matt Crafton, Billy Bigley, Jon Wood, Willy T. Ribbs, Brian Rose, Nathan Haseleu‡, Larry Gunselman, Chuck Hossfeld‡, Ricky Sanders
2000 Kurt Busch Carlos Contreras, Scott Riggs‡, Rick Ware‡, Wayne Edwards‡, Coy Gibbs‡, Mark Petty‡, Kenny Martin‡, Donny Morelock*, J.D. Gibbs*
1999 Mike Stefanik Scott Hansen, David Starr, Marty Houston‡, Tim Steele‡, Ryan McGlynn‡, Phil Bonifield‡, Ernie Cope*, Mike Clark*, Nipper Alsup*, Randy Nelson*
1998 Greg Biffle Andy Houston, Scot Walters, Wayne Anderson‡, Kevin Cywinski‡, Randy MacDonald†, Dominic Dobson‡, B.A. Wilson†, Randy Nelson*, Billy Pauch*, Joe Bush*, Tommy Archer*, Mike Cope*, Freddie Query*, Andy Michner*, W. David Stacy*, Jimmy Davis*, Monty Kline*
1997 Kenny Irwin Jr. Rick Crawford, Stacy Compton, Tony Raines, Boris Said, Tony Roper, Tammy Jo Kirk‡, Rob Rizzo‡, Brian Cunningham †, Lonnie Rush, Jr.‡, Kelly Denton‡, Mike Cope‡, Andy Genzman*, Toby Porter*, David Smith*
1996 Bryan Reffner Doug George, Lance Norick, Bobby Gill‡, Jay Sauter‡, Lonnie Cox‡, Charlie Cragan†, Ron Barfield, Mark Gibson†, Rick Johnson‡, Randy Renfrow†, Dan Press

See also[]

Sources & References[]

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