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American car racing award
Sunoco Rookie of the Year logo for 2013
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 [ edit ]
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.[citation needed ] An official award started with the 1958 season.[citation needed ]
From the 1958 through the 1973 seasons, NASCAR did not have an official points system to determine the Rookie of the Year, so NASCAR's officials merely gathered together to select a winner.[citation needed ] As of 2018[update] , the rookie of the year points are the same as the championship points.[citation needed ]
The award is currently sponsored by Sunoco . Drivers competing for the award must display the Sunoco contingency decal.[citation needed ]
Eligibility for Rookie of the Year has changed several times over the history of NASCAR. As of 2021[update] , a driver must be competing for driver championship points in the series and that the driver must not have competed in more than seven events in any prior season in that series. A driver can also only compete for the Rookie of the Year honors once per series. However, these rules are not officially written in the NASCAR rulebook and NASCAR makes the final decision on eligibility.[ 1]
2025 ROTY contenders [ edit ]
Below is a list of all winners, and known runners-up.[ 4] [ 5] (Note: some of the drivers listed here are not confirmed as ROTY contenders, and competed in more than the maximum number of races to be eligible for ROTY honors.)
*
Declared for ROTY, but did not make minimum seven (five before 2001) races, thus could be eligible in a later year.
±
Marked drivers during Daytona 500 practice or qualifying events were killed during their rookie seasons and were unable to complete the schedule.
Ø
Moroso died after race 25 of 29 during his rookie season in a vehicular incident where he and his girlfriend were driving home from the September North Wilkesboro round, receiving the award posthumously. Toxicology reports noted Moroso had a BAC more than twice the legal limit (was .22 BAC), leading to a NASCAR rule change later that states a driver must finish the season in good standing. Under modern rules, a driver who is found to be under current indictment of a crime (including DUI/DWI) would be ineligible for the award, in addition to facing an indefinite suspension from the sport.[ 6]
♦
Hylton finished second in the overall 1966 championship, the highest ever finish for an eligible rookie.
æ
Pitt did not receive an official award.
§
Dick Hutcherson won nine times and finished second in the championship standings in 1965, but was not considered to be eligible due to being a champion in the IMCA .
Year
Winner
Runner(s) Up
2024
Carson Hocevar
Josh Berry , Zane Smith , Kaz Grala
2023
Ty Gibbs
Noah Gragson
2022
Austin Cindric
Harrison Burton , Todd Gilliland
2021
Chase Briscoe
Anthony Alfredo
2020
Cole Custer
Tyler Reddick , Christopher Bell , John Hunter Nemechek , Brennan Poole , Quin Houff
2019
Daniel Hemric
Ryan Preece , Matt Tifft
2018
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
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 , Tanner Berryhill *
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
2012
Stephen Leicht
Josh Wise , Timmy Hill *
2011
Andy Lally
T. J. Bell *, Brian Keselowski *
2010
Kevin Conway
Terry Cook *
2009
Joey Logano *
Scott Speed , Max Papis , Dexter Bean *
2008
Regan Smith
Sam Hornish Jr. , Patrick Carpentier , Michael McDowell , Dario Franchitti , Jacques Villeneuve *
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 *
2005
Kyle Busch *
Travis Kvapil , Mike Garvey , Stanton Barrett
2004
Kasey Kahne
Brendan Gaughan , Brian Vickers , Scott Wimmer , Scott Riggs , Johnny Sauter , Carl Edwards
2003
Jamie McMurray
Greg Biffle , Tony Raines , Casey Mears , Jack Sprague , Larry Foyt
2002
Ryan Newman
Jimmie Johnson , Shawna Robinson *, Carl Long *
2001
Kevin Harvick *
Kurt Busch , Casey Atwood , Jason Leffler , Ron Hornaday Jr. , Andy Houston
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
1997
Mike Skinner
David Green , Jeff Green , Robby Gordon
1996
Johnny Benson Jr.
Randy MacDonald *, Stacy Compton *
1995
Ricky Craven
Robert Pressley , Randy LaJoie , Davy Jones , Steve Kinser *, Mike Chase *, Gary Bradberry *, Terry Byers *
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 *
1993
Jeff Gordon *
Bobby Labonte , Kenny Wallace , P. J. Jones
1992
Jimmy Hensley
Andy Belmont , Dave Mader III *
1991
Bobby Hamilton
Ted Musgrave , Stanley Smith , Wally Dallenbach Jr. , Jeff Purvis , Sammy Swindell *, Rich Bickle *, Dave Mader III *, Dorsey Schroeder *
1990
Rob Moroso Ø
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 , Jimmy Horton
1987
Davey Allison
Dale Jarrett , Steve Christman , Rodney Combs , Derrike Cope , Jerry Cranmer *
1986
Alan Kulwicki *
Michael Waltrip , Chet Fillip , Davey Allison *, 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
1983
Sterling Marlin
Trevor Boys , Ronnie Hopkins , Ken Ragan , Bobby Hillin Jr.
1982
Geoff Bodine
Mark Martin , Brad Teague
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 , Baxter Price , Al Holbert
1977
Ricky Rudd
Sam Sommers , Janet Guthrie , Tighe Scott , Tommy Gale , Gary Myers
1976
Skip Manning
Terry Bivins , Neil Bonnett , Jimmy Means , Bill Elliott , John A. Utsman , Johnny Ray
1975
Bruce Hill
Carl Adams , Bruce Jacobi , Grant Adcox , Chuck Bown , 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 , Don Tarr
1967
Donnie Allison
Charlie Glotzbach , Paul Dean Holt
1966
James Hylton ♦
Bill Seifert , Frank Warren
1965 §
Sam McQuagg
Henley Gray , Clyde Lynn
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
Woodie 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
1956
not awarded
1955
not awarded
1954
Blackie Pitt æ
2025 ROTY Contenders [ edit ]
Year
Winner
Runner(s) Up
2024
Jesse Love
Shane van Gisbergen , Leland Honeyman , Hailie Deegan , Dawson Cram
2023
Sammy Smith
Parker Retzlaff , Chandler Smith
2022
Austin Hill
Sheldon Creed , Jesse Iwuji
2021
Ty Gibbs *
Josh Berry , Sam Mayer , Ryan Vargas
2020
Harrison Burton
Riley Herbst , Jesse Little , Joe Graf Jr. , Kody Vanderwal
2019
Chase Briscoe
Noah Gragson , Justin Haley , Brandon Brown , John Hunter Nemechek
2018
Tyler Reddick *
Christopher Bell , Austin Cindric , Alex Labbe , Kaz Grala , Spencer Boyd , Vinnie Miller , Chad Finchum , Josh Bilicki , Matt Mills
2017
William Byron *
Cole Custer , Daniel Hemric , Matt Tifft , Spencer Gallagher , Ben Kennedy
2016
Erik Jones
Brennan Poole , Brandon Jones , Ryan Preece , Garrett Smithley , Ray Black Jr. , B. J. McLeod , Cody Ware *
2015
Daniel Suárez *
Bubba Wallace , Ross Chastain , Cale Conley , Harrison Rhodes , Peyton Sellers , Josh Reaume
2014
Chase Elliott *
Ty Dillon , Chris Buescher , Ryan Reed , Dylan Kwasniewski , Dakoda Armstrong , Ryan Sieg , Tanner Berryhill , Chad Boat , Tommy Joe Martins , Harrison Rhodes *
2013
Kyle Larson
Alex Bowman , Nelson Piquet Jr. , Jeffrey Earnhardt , Kevin Swindell , Dexter Stacey , Hal Martin , Juan Carlos Blum
2012
Austin Dillon *
Cole Whitt , Jason Bowles , Brad Sweet , Johanna Long , Joey Gase , Casey Roderick , Benny Gordon
2011
Timmy Hill
Blake Koch , Ryan Truex , Jennifer Jo Cobb , Charles Lewandoski
2010
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. *
Brian Scott , Colin Braun , James Buescher , Parker Kligerman
2009
Justin Allgaier *
Brendan Gaughan , Michael Annett , Michael McDowell , Erik Darnell , Scott Lagasse Jr. , John Wes Townley , Ken Butler III , Terry Cook , Peyton Sellers , Marc Davis *
2008
Landon Cassill
Bryan Clauson , Dario Franchitti , Cale Gale , Brian Keselowski , Chase Miller , Patrick Carpentier
2007
David Ragan
Marcos Ambrose , Brad Keselowski , Kyle Krisiloff , Brad Coleman , Juan Pablo Montoya , Robert Richardson Jr. , Sam Hornish Jr. , Justin Diercks *, Timothy Peters *, Bobby Santos III *, Alex García *, Brian Conz *
2006
Danny O'Quinn Jr.
John Andretti , Todd Kluever , Burney Lamar , Mark McFarland , Stephen Leicht , David Gilliland , Tracy Hines , Joel Kauffman , A. J. Foyt IV *, Jorge Goeters *, Kevin Conway *, Chris Wimmer *
2005
Carl Edwards *
Reed Sorenson , Denny Hamlin , Jon Wood , Brent Sherman , Kertus Davis , Michel Jourdain Jr. , Tyler Walker , Ryan Hemphill , Brandon Miller , Paul Wolfe , Boston Reid *, A. J. Fike *, Blake Feese *, Kim Crosby *, Donnie Neuenberger *
2004
Kyle Busch *
Clint Bowyer , Paul Menard , J. J. Yeley , Billy Parker , Stan Boyd , Travis Geisler , Donnie Neuenberger *, Rick Markle *, Kevin Conway *, Brian Conz *
2003
David Stremme
Coy Gibbs , Joey Clanton , Chad Blount , Jason White , Chase Montgomery , Regan Smith , Damon Lusk , Chris Bingham
2002
Scott Riggs
Johnny Sauter , Shane Hmiel , Kerry Earnhardt , Casey Mears , Brian Vickers , Kasey Kahne , Dan Pardus
2001
Greg Biffle *
Scott Wimmer , Jamie McMurray , Larry Foyt , Tim Sauter , Marty Houston , David Donohue
2000
Kevin Harvick *
Ron Hornaday Jr. , Jimmie Johnson , Jay Sauter , Michael Ritch *, P. J. Jones , Anthony Lazzaro , Mike Stefanik , Mike Borkowski , Derrick Gilchrist , Kelly Denton *, Jay Fogleman *, Dave Steele *
1999
Tony Raines
Hank Parker Jr. , Adam Petty , Bobby Hamilton Jr. , Tony Roper , Andy Kirby , Jimmy Kitchens , Ted Christopher *, 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 , Brad Loney , Hank Parker Jr. *, Mike Stefanik *
1997
Steve Park
Matt Kenseth , Johnny Chapman , Mark Krogh , Jeff Krogh , Lyndon Amick , Chris Diamond , Jimmy Foster , Jeff McClure , Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Tim Bender , Doug Reid III , Stanton Barrett , Tim Steele , David Hutto *
1996
Glenn Allen Jr.
Mike Dillon , Shane Hall , Mark Green , Tony Stewart , Mike Harmon , Jerry Nadeau *, Johnny Chapman *, Tim Bender *, Pete Orr *, Andy Hillenburg *, Jimmy Kitchens *, Greg Clark *, Mike Laughlin Jr. *
1995
Jeff Fuller
Curtis Markham , Kirk Shelmerdine , L.W. Miller , David Bonnett , Greg Clark *, John Tanner *, Tim Bender *, Dale Williams *
1994
Johnny Benson Jr. *
Dennis Setzer , Kevin Lepage , Stevie Reeves , Randy Porter , Dirk Stephens , Johnny Rumley , Mike Garvey , Robbie Reiser , Chad Chaffin , Michael Ritch *, Kirk Shelmerdine *, Mike Stefanik *, George Crenshaw *, Jeff Neal *, Andy Hillenburg *
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 [ Xfinity 1]
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 Mader 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 *
^ Craven started seven races in 1991 (the limit was five) but was charged with only two starts. The other five starts were in combination races with the Busch North Series , where he raced as a regular. Both 1991 Busch Series wins were in combination races as a North driver.
Craftsman Truck Series [ edit ]
2025 ROTY Contenders [ edit ]
Year
Winner
Runner(s) Up
2024
Layne Riggs
Conner Jones , Thad Moffitt
2023
Nick Sanchez
Jake Garcia , Rajah Caruth , Bret Holmes , Daniel Dye
2022
Corey Heim
Lawless Alan , Dean Thompson , Jack Wood , Blaine Perkins
2021
Chandler Smith
Carson Hocevar , Hailie Deegan , Chase Purdy , Kris Wright
2020
Zane Smith *
Christian Eckes , Derek Kraus , Raphaël Lessard , Tanner Gray , Tate Fogleman , Ty Majeski , Spencer Davis
2019
Tyler Ankrum
Sheldon Creed , Harrison Burton , Tyler Dippel , Gus Dean , Spencer Boyd , Brennan Poole , Natalie Decker , Anthony Alfredo
2018
Myatt Snider
Todd Gilliland , Dalton Sargeant , Justin Fontaine , Bo LeMastus , Robby Lyons
2017
Chase Briscoe
Austin Cindric , Grant Enfinger , Noah Gragson , Kaz Grala , Justin Haley , Cody Coughlin , Stewart Friesen , Wendell Chavous
2016
William Byron
Christopher Bell , Cole Custer , Ben Rhodes , Rico Abreu , Austin Wayne Self , Matt Tifft
2015
Erik Jones *
John Hunter Nemechek , Cameron Hayley , Daniel Hemric , Brandon Jones , Spencer Gallagher , Ray Black Jr. , Korbin Forrister , Austin Theriault , Justin Boston
2014
Ben Kennedy
Tyler Reddick , Mason Mingus , Tyler Young , Jimmy Weller III
2013
Ryan Blaney
Darrell Wallace Jr. , Jeb Burton , Germán Quiroga , Brennan Newberry
2012
Ty Dillon
Cale Gale , Ross Chastain , John Wes Townley , Dakoda Armstrong , Bryan Silas , Max Gresham , Paulie Harraka
2011
Joey Coulter
Nelson Piquet Jr. , Cole Whitt , Parker Kligerman , Miguel Paludo , Johanna Long , Craig Goess
2010
Austin Dillon *
Justin Lofton , Jennifer Jo Cobb , Brett Butler
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 , Aaron Fike
2006
Erik Darnell
Chad McCumbee , Marcos Ambrose , Aric Almirola , Bobby East , Kerry Earnhardt , Erin Crocker , Boston Reid , Joey Miller , Robert Richardson Jr. , Kraig Kinser , Scott Lagasse Jr. , Ryan Moore
2005
Todd Kluever
Timothy Peters , Shigeaki Hattori , Regan Smith
2004
David Reutimann
Tracy Hines , Robert Huffman , Brandon Whitt , Chase Montgomery , Shane Sieg , Kelly Sutton , Ken Weaver , Chris Wimmer , Shelby Howard , Brad Keselowski
2003
Carl Edwards
Jody Lavender , Randy Briggs , T. J. Bell , Tina Gordon , Doug Keller
2002
Brendan Gaughan
Bill Lester , Jason Small , Dana White
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 , Jamie McMurray , Rick Ware , Wayne Edwards , Coy Gibbs , Kenny Martin
1999
Mike Stefanik
Scott Hansen , David Starr , Marty Houston , Tim Steele , Ryan McGlynn , Phil Bonifield
1998
Greg Biffle *
Andy Houston , Scot Walters , Wayne Anderson , Kevin Cywinski , Dominic Dobson , Rob Morgan , Rick McCray
1997
Kenny Irwin Jr.
Rick Crawford , Stacy Compton , Tony Raines , Boris Said , Tony Roper , Tammy Jo Kirk , Randy Tolsma , Terry Cook , Rob Rizzo , Lonnie Rush Jr. , Kelly Denton , Mike Cope
1996
Bryan Reffner
Doug George , Lance Norick , Bobby Gill , Jay Sauter , Lonnie Cox , Charlie Cragan , Ron Barfield Jr. , Butch Gilliland
Citations