Regan Smith: #01 Principal Financial Group Chevrolet owned by Bobby Ginn/Dale Earnhardt Inc.
1987 - At the age of four, Regan Smith first straps into a Kart
- Competed in Quarter Midgets in his pre-teen years
1995 - Family moved to Mooresville NC and joined the World Karting Association
- Continued to have moderate success winning regional and state WKA titles
1996 - WKA - U.S. Grand National Championship
2001 - Raced in the USAR Hooter Procup Series and Allison Legacy Series
2001 - Allison Legacy Racing Series Rookie of the Year
2001 - Allison Legacy Racing Series Champion
2002-07- Competed in several Busch and Craftsman Truck races, Only 1 top ten
2007 - Competed in seven Nextel Cup races. Avg start 19th/Avg finish 30th
Michael McDowell: #00 Toyota of Michael
Waltrip Racing (1st race- Martinsville in March)
1997 - WKA - Junior North American Champion (Age 13)
2003 - Star Mazda Series - Rookie of the year
2004 - Star Mazda Series - Series Champion
2007 - ARCA Rookie of the Year - Second in points
The 2008 campaign for
Rookie of the Year is shaping up to be the best ever with so much racing talent involved. All of the drivers started
their driving careers running carts on weekends at a very early age. Regan Smith may have the most experience in Stock
Cars, but rest assured the experience of the open wheeled drivers will be evident as the season progresses. McDowell
is a long shot for Rookie honors considering he won't see a Sprint Cup start until they take the track at Martinsville
in March.
With Indianapolis
500 winners, multiple series championship winners and decades of experience behind them, I feel confident the charge for the
Rookie title will be quite a show.
If I had to pick somebody
in this group to win, I think Sam Hornish Jr. driving for Team Penske may have a slight edge. His consistency and drive
throughout his career, paired with the experience and legacy of Team Penske could be that formula for success. Dario
Franchitti should get some valuable guidance from teammate Juan Paul Montoya in his sophomore season, but will this be enough
to bring it home? Whoever wins, the key will be consistency throughout the season and you must finish races.
Gentleman.... welcome
to Sprint Cup!
Questions,
Comments:
Email Mickey
The views and opinions in this article are that of the writer(s) and not necessarily that of SCR
2006 StockCar Review.
