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.
1997
Mike Skinner's rookie car
Winner: Mike Skinner (RCR). Runners Up: David Green (AER), Jeff Green (Diamond Ridge), Robby Gordon (SABCO). Aborted Attempts: none
How their careers turned out: Here’s a strange one—Robby Gordon is the only driver here to have won points-paying races in Cup. Mike Skinner did better in Trucks, while the brothers Green did better in the then-Busch Series. Meanwhile Robby Gordon posted wins in Cup, Xfinity, and IndyCar, AND started his own series!
“Fun” “Fact” about the runner-up: While he never won in a Cup points-paying race, Mike Skinner DID post back-to-back wins in the Japan exhibition races, which just goes to show you you never know what’s going to happen half-way around the world (hell—even Danica Patrick won in Japan!).
Ranking: #32 out of 50
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