Walt a new car racer can have as much as 15 or more years racing experience kart racing stuff with all kinds of hp to weight ratio, at speeds well over 100 mph with 120+ not being uncommon. There's the same possibility with mWotor cycle racers dirt and pavement. A 360 sprint Walt gives the driver same feel and actual point to point acceleration as what can be given from a UAS racing kart. The only difference being distance traveled during the acceleration. Walt shouldn't learning how to race be part of being an actual rookie? Someone entering any type of car with 10+ racing years of experience can hardly be considered a rookie. I'm only aware of one possible true rookie this year. i'm not sure about the number they ran mostly with 305's at Lernerville and Mercer. The all black no lettering with I think pink or off red numbered only on the wing 19R(?). I went on the web to try to find out the number for sure but wasn't sure of what I found at Mercer points and Lernerville points.
My understanding it there's a couple of guys who never raced anything bought an old car threw an engine in it and went racing. I think they upgraded their car the last couple of races. They didn't win anything but without ever racing I don't remember ever them getting into trouble on the track, they used their heads and learned to race getting very much better by the end of the year.
I don't know them never even met them or saw them my few times in the pits this year. But I got the fan fun of watching them get better all year. Again sitting here I'm not sure about the number it was the all black old sprint with pink or red/orangish number on the wing and no other stickers of anything on it.
I personally Walt think the driver of that car if what I heard about being a true rookie is correct, with a true rookie team and very low budget team is deserving of consideration and may be the only true rookie out their this year.
Rookie of the year Walt shouldn't always have to come from the high dollar 6th generation racer, but it seems to be that way every year. It's your thing Walt and you do it the way you do it. But when's the last time the honor was not won by a high dollar already well know racer brought up through karts or something else or from a racing family name? My guess your answer will be if I paid attention to who has got the honor in the past it was even hypothetically last year.
dirtstudent2 : I think the guy you are talking about is the 31 or 331 car (same guy). No they have never raced in an capacity before.