The NASCAR rookies have been quite the rave in the 2016 racing season season. Every year some new blood is introduced in the Sprint Cup Series. Rookie drivers replace older drivers or join teams that have a spot to fill. What’s so special about this crop of youngsters is they aren’t just making left hand turns to gather experience. These NASCAR rookies are out for glory and have pushed the veterans farther than ever expected.
This may be the deepest roster of NASCAR rookies to compete for the 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors since 2006. These talented click of drivers remind fans of when Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and that years Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin gave all the regulars more than they could handle.
This year Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Chris Beuscher and Brian Scott have been battling it out to claim the reward for themselves. With half the season to go the door is still wide open for one of these drivers to stake his claim as the best NASCAR rookie driver of 2016.
Rookie phenom Chase Elliott tops the chart as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors. There are several reasons that would explain the sudden success he has encountered so early. Elliott comes from a family that was steeped in NASCAR tradition. His Hall of Fame father Bill Elliott, was one of the greatest drivers to ever turn laps in the Sprint Cup Series.
Another explanation could be that he stepped in for an established team with a top notch owner when he replaced NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. Or it could be that the young stud is taking a little of each and combining it with his amazing talent. Either way, Elliott is not only on his way to winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. At this point, he is nestled deeply inside the top ten Sprint Cup point standings.
The new addition to Hendrick Motorsports has already reeled in six top five performances in 2016. In fact, he has been runner-up as recent as the last event at Michigan Speedway. The NASCAR rookie hasn’t stopped there. Elliott has drove his #24 3M Chevrolet to 11 other top ten’s and a remarkable two Coors Light Pole Awards for his qualifying efforts. He currently sits sixth in the Sprint Cup Series point standings.
NASCAR rookie Ryan Blaney hopes to close the distance between him and Chase Elliott in the race for the Rookie of the Year honors. The feisty competitor spent some of last year competing as a part-timer in the Sprint Cup Series. As a full time driver for Woods Brothers racing in 2016, Blaney has more than impressed his owner and his fellow racers in 2016.
The speedster has driven his #21 MotorCraft Ford Fusion to one top five finish at Kansas Speedway in the Go Bowling 400. Ryan Blaney also has tacked on another stunning six top ten’s at the mid-way point of the season. Furthermore, the greenhorn has finished every race he has started except for his last visit to California at Fontana Speedway. The Woods Brothers rookie is averaging nearly nine spots better at the finish line than he did in 15 races in 2015.
Chris Beuscher is another of the NASCAR rookies trying to make his mark in the Sprint Cup Series. He dominated the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015 driving off with the championship for Roush/Fenway Racing. Beuscher’s road to NASCAR Sprint Cup stardom has been different than that of Chase Elliott’s and Ryan Blaney’s.
This year the Xfinity champion was loaned out to Front Row Motorsports. Rousch/Fenway Racing recently formed an alliance with Front Row Motorsports which acquired Buescher in the alliance. That left the NASCAR rookie with a younger team that is still learning the ropes in the 2016 season. Beuscher did race in six cup events in 2015 and his best finish was 20th in the Auto Club 400 at Fontana Speedway.
The steady learner has yet to guide his #34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford to any top five performances in 2016. In fact, Beuscher has not been able to grace the top ten at any point in the season either. To add to his struggles, he has wrecked out in two the the 15 contests. The NASCAR rookie has a 28.2 starting position on the season and a 28.2 finishing average.
Brian Scott is the new addition to the tightly nit, family owned Richard Petty Racing. Similar to fellow rookie Ryan Blaney, Scott has 17 Sprint Cup starts under his belt. This will be his first full-time season where he will be eligable to collect points throughout the 2016 Sprint Cup campaign.
After filling in as a driver for Richard Childress Racing in 2015, he has packed his gear and moved to Richard Petty Motorsports. His best NASCAR Sprint Cup finish was in 12th at Kansas Speedway last fall. This year he has led his #44 Blu Emu/Safeway Ford to the 30th points position. Scott has no top five or top ten performances to date and is averaging a 27.9 finishing position.
2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings:
Drivers PTS
1. Chase Elliot 453
2. Ryan Blaney 364
3. Brian Scott 197
4. Chris Beuscher 182
