Top Row Seat - 2000 Rookie Of The Year
Dateline: 01/17/2000
The 2000 Rookie of the Year battle has been long anticipated by many. Two-time defending Busch Grand National champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. is moving up into the big leagues driving for a team owned by his dad. Battling with him will be the very impressive Matt Kenseth who will be driving for Jack Roush. Other members of this legendary rookie class include Mike Bliss, Stacy Compton, Jeff Fuller, Dave Blaney and Scott Pruett.
Here they are in order from worst to first. The NASCAR Winston Cup rookie class of 2000.
Struggling To Qualify
Mike Bliss will be joining the brand new team owned by AJ Foyt. The #14 Pontiac will be sponsored by Conseco with crew chief Terry Wooten. Unfortunately the challenges that face any new team in Winston Cup are just too great for a rookie driver to overcome. I believe that Mike Bliss is a talented driver and that AJ Foyt can build a winning team, but they will be lucky to qualify for half of the races this season as they build towards the future.
Jeff Fuller will drive the Viagra #27 Pontiac with owner/crew chief Barry Dodson. This team has been in turmoil with multiple drivers offered the ride who made other plans. At the last minute (mid December) they finally signed a full time sponsor and named their driver for the 2000 season. Only the vast experience of Barry Dodson will keep Jeff from finishing dead last in this year's rookie race. This is another team who will call it a successful weekend if they simply qualify for the race.
I predict that this team will lead the series in tasteless jokes for the 2000 season as they carry the colors of new sponsor Viagra.
Stacy Compton rounds out the bottom part of the list as the best of the worst. Taking over the Melling racing #9 Ford this team will also struggle to qualify. The deciding factor here is that Melling will be buying engines from Ernie Elliott which should give them an advantage over the others at the bottom of this list.
Next page The Middle Of The Pack >Page 1, 2, 3
