The best Rookie ever?

H

HardScrabble

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We have had more rookie success over the past few years than ever before in NASCAR it would seem. Interestingly while looking for something else I stumbled across a most impressive rookie from years ago. But one which will likely never make the record books because by the rules at the time he wasn't a rookie.

If you look back to 1965 the ROTY winner was Sam McQuagg. In 1965 however a driver by the name of Dick Hutcherson finished second in the championship points standings, won 9 races and 9 poles. Dick was running his first full season as a NASCAR competitor after being an IMCA champion.

So why was Dick not the ROTY of the year in 1965? Because in 1964 he ran 4 races in the Grand National (now WC) division. According to the regs then that disqualified him from the the rookie race. The regulation now days is 8 races in a season before a driver is no longer a rookie.
 
I still have a problem compareing that with todays rookies, I have to say tony stewart was the best rookie to date.
 
Im prolly wrong for thinking that way But I just cant think of that time and this time being the same. I have seen some of those races just looks totally diffrent, I think I saw ( might be wrong its been so long since I seen it) one race back in the 60s that someone lapped everyone else on the feild. I just dont see something like that happening today.
 
1967 Season Recap
February 6, 2002
10:39 PM EST (0339 GMT)
1964 NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Winston Cup Series) champion Richard Petty made David Pearson's championship season look somewhat mortal. Petty won 27 races in 48 starts including 10 straight at the end of the year. Petty was officially anointed as "The King" during his extraordinary season.

After winning with such ease, Richard Petty found himself with a commanding lead in the points standings.

FIVE RACES TO GO: Martinsville, VA - Richard Petty's ninth straight win gave him an insurmountable lead of over 3000 points over James Hylton, who finished the race in fourth place. Third in points Dick Hutcherson was runner-up to Petty. Upstart Bobby Allison was fourth in the standings and finished the race at Martinsville Speedway in 22nd place. Fifth place John Sears was not entered in the event.











FOUR RACES TO GO: North Wilkesboro, NC - Richard Petty continued his amazing winning streak as he pushed it to 10 straight with his victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It was also his 27th win of the 1967 season. Bobby Allison, who finished fourth in the race, had the second-most wins on the season with a total of six. Again, Dick Hutcherson played bridesmaid to Petty in this event. James Hylton had engine trouble and turned in a 18th place effort. John Sears had a ninth place showing.

THREE RACES TO GO: Charlotte, NC - Someone other than Richard Petty finally found victory lane. Buddy Baker took the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway as The King finished a paltry 18th. James Hylton came in 43rd in the field of 44 drivers. Dick Hutcherson again ran strong, coming in third. Bobby Allison, fourth in the standings, was 13th, 3 spots ahead of John Sears.

TWO RACES TO GO: Rockingham, NC - Young Bobby Allison solidified his first top five finish in the point standings by winning at Rockingham. Champion Richard Petty was held in check with a pit road mishap on lap 191, relegating him to finish 28th. James Hylton continued to struggle with a 38th place showing bit held a firm grip on second in the standings. After leading late in the race, Dick Hutcherson came home in the 13th position, while John Sears had another quiet top ten finish in 7th.

FINAL RACE: Weaverville, NC - Bobby Allison did his best Richard Petty imitation with his second straight victory, this coming at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. The King capped off his special season with a runner-up finish. Dick Hutcherson finished the season with another top five and John Sears was sixth. Petty won his second championship by 6028 points over Hylton, who was not entered in the race, and finished over 13,000 points ahead of the fifth-place Sears.

WINSTON CUP STANDINGS (TOP 10)
Rank Driver Points
1. Richard Petty 42472
2. James Hylton 36444
3. Dick Hutcherson 33658
4. Bobby Allison 30812
5. John Sears 29078
6. Jim Paschal 27624
7. David Pearson 26302
8. Neil Castles 23218
9. Elmo Langley 22286
10. Wendell Scott 20700
 
Dick Hutcherson came from Iowa, as did Tiny Lund and Ramo Stott among others, "Hutch" was a short track racer par excellence.

His NASCAR driving career was short, but very successful. He ran the circuit in 1964 through 1967. With only 103 total starts he managed to win 14 times. He also collected 22 poles and an impressive 73 top 10's in those races as well.
After his 4 races in 1964 and his second place points finish in 1965 he ran only 14 race in 1966, winning 3 times. In 1967 he ran a fuller schedule and finished 3rd in the points battle with 2 victories.

After 1967 Dick retired from driving, but not from racing. He concentrated on building chassis and during the 70's was, along with Banjo Matthews, among the premier chassis builders of the decade.
 
Im not saying his not a good driver I just have a problem compareing him to the 80s 90s rookies I am sure he was a great driver
 
I'm with ya smack......each decade is different as far as tryin to compare........but recently I'd have to go with Tony first and JJ and newman close second....
 
In some ways it IS an apples to oranges comparison. There are certainly more top notch teams today as compared with the handful of serious week in week out threats of some past years. However, to win a race today, you gotta beat 42 other drivers; to win the inaugural Southern 500 you had to beat 74 other drivers.

I gotta say the most impressive rookie campaign I ever saw was Earnhardt's. I also gotta say that it's a tragedy that we'll never know just how good Robbie Moroso could have been. Knucklehead went and killed himself drinking and drag racing after a race.
 
Originally posted by TN-Ward-Fan

I gotta say the most impressive rookie campaign I ever saw was Earnhardt's.
Click to expand...

I didn't even watch Big E's early career I was so torked that he had gotten the better car. I really despised the guy. Ol Dave was one of the first to repay Big E by spinning him out at Martinsville in 1979.

But the story goes deeper. At Atlanta in 1978 Dale ran for K&K Dodge in a 2nd car as a team mate to Ol Wingtips. Rod was so impressed with Big E that he entered him in the primary car for the upcoming Daytona 500.

So anyways, that's the connection between the Big E and Ol Wingtips. Gol dern rookie downright stole the best car Dave ever got a chance to drive.
 
but sure did seem to take care of him later on down the road..childress helped him......:)
 
I've always been curious,

Right about when can it be that comparing drivers and their seasons can be done?
 
Well gee HS, I think the line could be drawn at when power steering came in to play. Used to be a driver had to actually muscle a stock car around a racetrack, and now they glide around in purpose built racing machines.

So I kinda agree with the smack. There is no comparing the drivers of the pre-power steering era to the drivers of today.:p

And yer right about Childress booty.....Dave was instrumental in convincing Richard to get out of his car and hire Dale to drive it. And just for spits and giggles, Ray E's first WC job was working for Dave.

So first he helps build the rookie car for the Big E, and then he teaches Ray about set-ups. The list of others the old guy passed the art of stock car building and racing on to is endless.
 
I don't know that it's possible to really compare drivers in an objective manner. You can line up the stats, but someone will always say "yes, but...."

Dick Hutcherson, IMO, was the best rookie, ever. Too bad officialdom chooses not to recognize it.
 
Well Zoe, while the drivers seem to get better, the eqiupment gets better. I think its a toss up for a "classic" driver. But ya never know.....
 
If JJ wins one more race hell be tied with tony for wins on his rookie season and he will have 1 more pole I think.
 
It seems to me might just me my opinion but racing has gotin more competitive over the years, more rules now.
 
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