For the rookies in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch series, advice and wisdom comes from many people in many ways.
All but one member of this year’s Cup rookie class is part of a large multi-car team. The experience of teammates, as well as the resources the well funded organizations have create an environment that is helping this new crop of young drivers gain knowledge and hone their skills.
Todd Kleuver, who drives a Busch car for Roush Racing, has veteran driver Mark Martin listening in on his radio when he races. Kleuver said Martin watches the race either on TV or from Kleuver’s pit, and pitches in on the radio to help him, especially before pit stops when the car is coming in for adjustments.
“Me and Mark are most compatible [in our driving styles], he said. I’m starting to learn a lot more from Mark than anybody else.”
Fellow Busch rookie Mark McFarland, who is racing for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new team, he gets help from Earnhardt, Jr., his car owner, as well as Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Paul Menard.
“We aren’t really teammates, but we do have a connection,” McFarland said.
He added that the teams compare car setups and make themselves available to each other.
“We know if we need something we can go over to them and get it,” and vice versa, he said.
McFarland isn’t the only Busch rookie who’s getting help from the veterans.
Burney Lamar, who drives for Kevin Harvick Inc., said he feels he has an advantage over other rookies because of his close connection with Harvick. The two like the same settings in their cars, and compare car setups. Harvick also helps Lamar learn the tracks as well.
He added Richard Childress Racing, who helps build the team’s cars, is a huge asset in the shop.
Lamar said he’s sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of advice he gets, but he takes it in stride.
“People want to help ya,” he said.
In addition to the help race teams give their rookies, David Green, who has raced in both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch series for over a decade, meets with the rookies at each track to help them prepare for each race.
While these drivers are getting help off the track, incidents on the track are molding these young men into the drivers they will become.
Cup rookie J.J. Yeley, who drives for Joe Gibbs racing, and is teammates with reigning champ Tony Stewart, said rookies catch a bad rap with the veterans of the sport.
“It’s frustrating, he said. “We put our pants on the same as them, one leg at a time, we just have a yellow stripe on our cars,” referring to the sticker rookie drivers are required to put on the back bumper of their cars.
Yeley said he feels it’s unfair for rookies to race veterans clean, but not get the same courtesy in return.
Fellow rookie Clint Bowyer agrees, but said that the only way it will get better is if the rookies gain the respect of their fellow competitors.
Staying out of on track incidents will be crucial for these drivers as they compete for the rookie of the year award. Completing races and earning as many points as possible, even when a driver isn’t having the best day at the track.
With nine rookies in the Busch Series and seven in NEXTEL Cup, whoever takes rookie of the year honors will have accomplished quite a feat.
