NASCAR ROTY RANKINGS 1988: Ranking the Rookie of the Year Classes Through the Years

Runner-up Ernie Irvan

Join me as we take a look at every NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year class from 1972 (the start of the modern era) through 2021, going from the worst to the first in terms of overall careers of each year’s rookie class.

1988

Winner: Ken Bouchard (Whitcomb).  Runners Up: Ernie Irvan (US), Brad Noffsinger (Curb).  Aborted Attempts: Jimmy Horton

How their careers turned out: Both Ken Bouchard and Brad Noffsinger had brief Cup careers that led to steady employment as driving instructors.  But Ernie Irvin, on the other hand, won the Daytona 500, nearly won the 1994 championship, and managed to make plenty of enemies along the way (including me—his “autobiography” was TERRIBLE).

“Fun” “Fact” about the winner: They were never booing, Ken.  They were shouting “BOO-chard, BOO-chard”.

Ranking: #29 out of 50

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