There are many Nextel Cup rookies. As a rookie you have certain benefits and disadvantages in Cup. You also have responsibilities. Rookies represent NASCAR as much as veterans do. Rookies should be treated equal to veterans, but they are often not. About the only advantage to being a rookie in Cup is that you have the best reflexes and no fear of dangerous moves. You are under a microscope for any wild moves and attitude problems while driving. You receive poor treatment from experienced drivers and older fans. No fan wants their veteran driver taken out by a rookie. No driver wants taken out by a rookie as well. One rough move by a rookie and they get more than just ‘the book’ thrown at them. Rookies have a hard time doing well enough in the beginning to keep their own ride. Many have to go back a few steps before getting and keeping a full-time Cup ride. Rookies may have problems off the track more than on the track. Constantly dealing with a mob of fans for the first time can be almost too much for a rookie. They may not know how to act in front of fans and officials the best way. Substance abuse has plagued a few rookies who are at that age.

Some of NASCAR’s top rookies are experiencing some problems that occur naturally at this career stage. The first rookie experience I had was at Richmond in the fall of 1999. My family and I won a raffle drawing to get free tickets to the sold-out race. The Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 at RIR on September 11, 1999, was a magnificent battle between Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte. Stewart, who was a hot young rookie for Joe Gibbs Racing, was winless up until this event. He held off Bobby Labonte to win the race at about 11:00 P.M. My family and I were going to leave to go home but I got them to stay till about 1:30 A.M. At about 1:15 A.M. Stewart came out of the press box in Turn 1. I was with a group of Stewart fans trying to get his autograph. He took a drink of a bottle of Coke, autographed it, and threw it way over across the parking lot so he could make a break for the police car that was waiting for him. I caught on and ran over to try to get his autograph as he was getting in the car. He ignored me and every other fan and got into the car. When the door closed it trapped a few Sharpies and pictures inside as they drove off. They didn’t even return the fans’ stuff. That to me was a rookie ‘Don’t’.

Tony Stewart had a few more problems getting along with veterans and fans. At Watkins Glen in 2000 qualifying was rained out. That meant that Bobby Labonte was to start from the pole. Stewart and Jeff Gordon had to start side-by-side. On the first lap Stewart hit Gordon into the wall up through the S’s. It caused Gordon to lose the race. That meant it was the first time since 1996 that Gordon had not won a road course race in Cup. After the race Stewart and Gordon had a heated argument about the incident. It was a huge news spectacle. Stewart had had a few altercations with fans by 2001. He had supposedly made verbal threats to fans after bad races. At Bristol in the spring of 2001 he was the car to beat. He was running about third with one lap to go. Gordon spun him out on the last lap. He retaliated by spinning Gordon out on pit road. Those were rookie ‘Don’ts’ as well.

At the most recent Nextel Cup race, Denny Hamlin, was trying to pass Jimmie Johnson for the win. He raced Jimmie clean the entire time. He did not wreck Johnson to win. Because of moves like this, Hamlin has become a top well-respected rookie in Cup.

Kevin Harvick, though, has had a few mishaps on his way to rookie success. In the spring of 2002 CTS race at Martinsville Harvick spun out Coy Gibbs to retaliate. He was suspended from the Cup race the following day. Harvick and Greg Biffle have had a few rough moments. Biffle wrecked Harvick in a Bristol Busch race a few years ago. Harvick went after Biffle on and off the track because of it. Harvick and Kenseth have had moments where they have spun each other out during races on purpose.

NASCAR likes and rewards good rookies. It is always a good thing to please your bosses.

Rookies need to remember that they can handle a few bad runs, and a season of top twenties is fantastic. Whenever they take things into their own hands is when they cause trouble. If they act and follow the ways of a veteran they could be the next NASCAR superstar.