NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Cintas Rookie Report
7 August 1997
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year Report August 9, 1997 CHARLOTTE, NC - The consecutive string of top-10 finishes by Cintas rookies has continued through the first 16 events of the 1997 season with Randy Tolsma finishing sixth and Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year points leader Kenny Irwin in the seventh spot during the Cummins 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park last week. - Tolsma, a former USAC midget competitor, earned his best career finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with his sixth-place finish. His effort has vaulted him from 16th to 10th in the Cintas points standings with 45 points. - "We've got great equipment and the truck is handling well," said Cintas rookie Tony Raines, driver of the Pennzoil Dodge. "We're looking for a top-five at Flemington to tighten up the Cintas rookie points." - Last season's Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year Bryan Reffner was the fastest qualifier for the 1996 Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 200 at Flemington. It was the second Busch Pole award won by Reffner. - "Flemington is a handling track, it's not so much the horsepower you got under the hood," noted rookie Stacy Compton, currently fourth in the Cintas rookie standings. "You got to maneuver through traffic." - Cintas Rookie Kenny Irwin has been named the new driver of the #28 Texaco Havoline Ford Winston Cup car fielded by Robert Yates Racing for the 1998 season. Irwin plans to finish this season in the #98 Raybestos Ford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. - "We're not just showing up at these races, we're coming here to win," noted Cintas rookie Rick Crawford, who has one top-five and six top-10s this season. Crawford has moved into 11th position in the Craftsman championship standings and is currently third with 161 points in the Cintas rookie standings. CINTAS ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR POINT STANDINGS 1. Kenny Irwin 175 11. Lonnie Rush 44 2. Rick Crawford 161 12. Kelly Denton 33 3. Tony Raines 136 13. Mike Cope 31 4. Stacy Compton 127 14. Toby Porter 31 5. Boris Said 126 6. Tammy Jo Kirk 105 7. Tony Roper 89 8. Terry Cook 53 9. Bob Rizzo 48 10. Randy Tolsma 45 By Muhleman Marketing