Backseat Blonde - Rookie Maneuver

May 10, 2004

Rookie Maneuver
By Allison Wagda

They are the future of NASCAR. Every year, the
requisite parade of fresh-faced rookie drivers draft
their way into NASCAR’s top series to take on veterans
and compete with one another for Rookie of the Year
honors. This season is no exception, and so far these
young and aggressive drivers are making things
interesting in the new Chase for the Championship.

A few can’t order a drink at the local watering hole. Most aren’t even able to rent a car.
Yet they have to exhibit enough maturity to handle a loose race car at speeds often
exceeding 180 mph with 42 other drivers in close proximity, plus manage the
pressure of legions of fans, the demands of owners and sponsors, the barrage of
media interviews and the loss of their anonymity.

Some shine, and some quickly fade into obscurity. Most seasons, rookie drivers
simply try to keep out of trouble and gain the valuable experience that goes hand in
hand with track time. But every few years, a standout freshman class will rise to the
occasion and provide fans with thrilling races and unforgettable battles.

Rookies these days often take the wheel with a proven race team, in proven
equipment with a proven crew. They are expected to fill the shoes of veteran drivers
often being coaxed aside as NASCAR attempts to attract a younger demographic.
And many are succeeding.

While NASCAR’s history is littered with rookie phenoms, including Jeff Gordon in
1993, the recent era of “young gun” dominance started in 2000 with the Rookie of the
Year battle between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. The two Busch series
rivals burst onto the scene and enthralled fans. Dale Jr. was the rebel son of a racing
legend. Kenseth was a clean-cut Midwestern boy. That season, Earnhardt Jr. racked
up two wins, but Kenseth eked out a 14th place finish in the championship
standings and the Rookie title.

Just two seasons later two more ambitious rookies, Ryan Newman and Jimmie
Johnson, shocked NASCAR with an epic rookie battle that captured the imagination
and quickly had fans taking sides and making wagers. Newman was the quiet,
studious, Purdue-educated engineer and Jimmie was the ladies man mentored by
Gordon. It was a fun, lighthearted rivalry that engaged fans and made the two both
stars in their own right. (Newman won the Rookie title.)

After a dull rookie season in 2003, this season’s lineup is overloaded with new
drivers looking to make a name for themselves. Typically, a season has two, maybe
three newbies vying for the spotlight. No less than six are taking the green flag each
week in 2004 and things are already heating up as they challenge for the checkers.

The young, sexy Kasey Kahne, 24, is leading the way with four top-five and a couple
of runner-up finishes. He drives will all the confidence of much more experienced
drivers, and has gained a reputation as a clean racer and an overall nice guy. He had
the good fortune to succeed legend Bill Elliott in the #9 Dodge and has so far given
Elliott fans someone to root for.

Usually, Cup rookies are recent grads of NASCAR’s minor-league Busch series. But
Las Vegas-native Brendan Gaughan, 28, proved his mettle in the hard-charging
Craftsman Truck series and made the jump this year to the Kodak #77 Dodge. He
first gained notoriety among the masses when he passed on the Novocain to have a
tooth pulled in a hilarious truck series commercial. After a slow start, he’s showing
the Cup drivers a thing or two and is a contender for Rookie of the Year.

Brian Vickers, a mere pup at 20 and the 2003 Busch series champion, was widely
expected to be a major player in this year’s rookie race. So far, he’s been a bit of a
disappointment, but with a little experience he’s likely to make a name for himself in
the coming years. He’s highly marketable, talented and well-positioned for the long
term.

The fate of the remaining rookies is still up in the air. Johnny Sauter certainly has
received a lot of attention, but for the wrong reasons. His aggressive, sloppy driving
has sparked numerous complaints from other competitors and hasn’t endeared him
with many fans. I believe his ride could be in jeopardy by the end of the year. Scott
Wimmer and Scott Riggs both likely have short-term job security, however both will
need to step up their game if they expect to someday gain veteran status.

Rookies give fans a new reason to watch the races. They add an unexpected
element of mystery to a predictable race lineup, and they give us a glimpse into the
future of the sport. And with a little luck and a lot of skill, one of them could just win
the first Chase. Wouldn’t that shake things up?

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