NASCAR ROTY RANKINGS 1974: Ranking the Rookie of the Year Classes Through the Years

Runner-up Richie Panch

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.

1974

Winner: Earl Ross (Brooke/Junior Johnson).  Runners Up: Richie Panch (Thornley/Donlavey), Jackie Rogers (Frederick/Dalton).  Aborted Attempt: Ramo Stott

How their careers turned out: Earl Ross is most-famous for three things in Cup: Winning the 1974 ROTY award, winning the 1974 fall Martinsville Cup race, and being Canadian.  And while his career in Cup lasted only two more races beyond that due to sponsorship issues, it’s still an impressive feat.  Richie Panch and Jackie Rogers each had slightly longer careers than Ross, but neither ran more than 50 Cup races.

“Fun” “Fact” about the winner: Ross was one of only five Cup drivers to win a race ALL SEASON.  This is a good year to point out when people whine that “the good old days” in Nascar were better.

Ranking: #39 out of 50

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