Who will emerge in November as the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year? Here are all of the contenders in order from worst to first.
Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier will take over the driving duties of the #10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge. This team struggled in 2007 with driver Scott Riggs. The GEM #10 team ended up 37th in owners points and was only able to carry driver Scott Riggs to one top ten finish last season.
Patrick Carpentier built an impressive racing resume building in the 90s:
- 1996 - Players Toyota Atlantic Series Champion
- 1997 - CART Rookie of the Year
The combination of a struggling team and his mediocre driving skills forces Patrick Carpentier to the bottom of this list.
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve will join Bill Davis Racing's Sprint Cup efforts for the 2008 season. Villeneuve will take over Jeremy Mayfield's former ride. In 2008 this car will be renumbered to Villeneuve's famous #27.
Jacques Villeneuve is another driver that had a very impressive decade in the 90s:
- 1995 - Indianapolis 500 winner
- 1995 - CART Series Champion
- 1997 - Formula One World Champion
I believe that Jacques Villeneuve will help this team achieve all that it is capable of. Holding him back will be a lack of sponsorship money and his unproven team. These factors will make Jacques Villeneuve's Sprint Cup learning curve even steeper.
Regan Smith
After sharing time with NASCAR legend Mark Martin in 2007 Regan Smith will get his first full season behind the wheel of the DEI #01.
Regan Smith's racing resume is a bit weaker than the other four drivers on this list:
- 1996 - World Karting Association US Grand National Championship (Age 13)
- 2001 - Allison Legacy Series Rookie of the Year
- 2001 - Allison Legacy Series Champion
Regan Smith moves up to the middle of this list based on the strength of his team. In 2007 Mark Martin proved that this team was capable of great things. Whenever Martin was behind the wheel this car was running near the front of the pack. Smith took over the reigns seven times in 2007. His best finish of those seven starts was 24th in Talladega where he even managed to lead one lap.
Regan Smith is a young driver that could have a great future in the sport. 2008 could be a turning point for his career. Smith probably has the best equipment among all of this year's rookies. Can Regan Smith hold up his end of the job?
