A quick look at the drivers scheduled to compete in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup series reveals one unusual fact. There are no drivers currently scheduled to compete for the Rookie of the Year title.
Rookies have been rare in recent Sprint Cup seasons. Two started 2010 with only one able to complete more than 3 races. Just one rookie scored rookie points in 2011 and now zero are going to get a shot in 2012.
Comments
Well the rookies are there. The owners are just letting them drive more races before they let them in a full time ride. If Nascar would raise the number of races a Rookie can drive a little, there would be more drivers up for Rookie of the Year.
NASCAR has been saturated with rookies from the late 1990’s to date. Some of these drivers were not ready for the ‘big show’ as we have seen in the past. As a result of Owners looking for a new Dale Earnhart or a new Rusty Wallace, the ‘driver market has been saturated with talent. Some are not as lucky as others, this is why there are drivers who have competed in the past and are now without a ride! Elliot Sadler did a very smart thing by stepping back to the NWS and got a competetive ride all last season and kept his name and team in the spotlight!!