Charlotte, N.C. — Carl Edwards and Bobby Hamilton Jr. might be in the right place at the right time for more than merely a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup ride. Their unforeseen good fortune involves NASCAR's rookie program and a possible change in eligibility rules that could allow these two drivers to compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year Cup honors.
To qualify to compete for the rookie program a driver can't have more than seven starts in a series prior to announcing their intentions to run a full season in pursuit of rookie honors.
Compliance with the current rules will be impossible since both drivers will far exceed the limit. Edwards will have 14 starts by the end of this year and Hamilton will have approximately 17 this year between his service with James Finch and his new owner, Cal Wells III. Hamilton also has 14 starts in previous years with a variety of owners, which pushes his total to 31.
In speaking with the Raybestos Rookie of the year communications manager, James B. White, www.teamfordracing.com learned that no qualified driver is on the horizon for 2005 Cup rookie honors, but beyond that he wasn't sure what might be in the cards for 2005 and his program.
The issue came to light in Hamilton's strong suggestion at Richmond International Raceway that he and Edwards were going to be allowed to run for ROTY honors, despite lacking qualified status.
NASCAR's deal with Raybestos to administer the Rookie of the Year program runs several more years. It would be highly irregular for NASCAR's premier series to be void of eligible Rookie of the Year contestants, and obviously problematic for Raybestos, which has purchased the right to promote them.
Raybestos, according to motto, the best in brakes, handles ROTY programs for NASCAR's top-three touring division.
