The 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates bring in more raw driving talent this season than ever before. Here are the two top picks and my prediction.
Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti joins Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Franchitti replaces David Stremme in the #40. This car was formerly sponsored by Coors Light however Coors has left the team to become the official beer of NASCAR. There is has been no announcement of a replacement yet.
Franchitti comes to NASCAR from the open wheel ranks. In 2007 his racing resume exploded as he reached the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing:
- 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner
- 2007 IndyCar Series Champion
Franchitti will get to enjoy his team's guaranteed starting spot during the early part of the season. This will take a lot of the pressure off and allow Dario Franchitti to get comfortable in the car. Franchitti was the king of the open-wheelers in 2007 and his new team had a solid season with the previous driver. Dario Franchitti will be a factor in the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle.
Sam Hornish Jr.
Sam Hornish Jr. joins Penske South racing for the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Sam will drive the #77 Mobil One Dodge in NASCAR's top series.
Sam Hornish has been a dominant force in American open-wheel racing for years. His racing resume includes:
- 1994 - World Karting Association US Grand National Championship
- 1995 - World Karting Association US Grand National Championship.
- 2001 - IndyCar Series Champion
- 2002 - IndyCar Series Champion
- 2006 - Indianapolis 500 winner
- 2006 - IndyCar Series Champion
Sam Hornish will be a force during the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle.
The 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Is...
2008 has proven to be one of the most difficult Raybestos Rookie of the Year battles to predict. Each of these drivers brings a great deal of talent into the Sprint Cup series. It seems like the driver/team combinations balance each other out. The stronger the team, the weaker the driver and vice-versa.
Both of these drivers are currently on top of their game and they both are in solid teams that have guaranteed starting spots for the first five races of the season. These two drivers have a strong advantage over the rest of the rookie field.
Recent history would suggest that Penske has a more robust operation than Ganassi. As a result my pick for 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year is Sam Hornish Jr.
