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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