The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series took to the treacherous turns of Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. For the eight rookie drivers, they got their first taste of short track racing for the season. Although Bristol is known to be tough for most drivers, especially rookies, there were a few who came away with impressive runs. HITS:

Kyle Larson: Growing up racing short tracks in midget cars, Larson took that experience and applied it to his first Bristol start with Chip Ganassi Racing. With three top five finishes in the Nationwide Series at the track, including a runner-up finish Saturday, he was a favorite to excel on Sunday. Larson was fast on track during practice and earned his best finish of 10th in his eighth career start.

Austin Dillon: Another rookie with an impressive Nationwide Series resume, Austin Dillon, missed out on another top 10 finish. Finishing 11th on the lead lap, he managed to stay out of trouble and came home with his No. 3 Chevrolet in one piece. With three top 20 finishes this season, Dillon is off to a great start in his rookie campaign.

Justin Allgaier: Starting 30th, Allgaier fought his way to 17th earning the best finish of his Sprint Cup career. Just one lap down at the end of the race, he successfully avoided wrecks and spins to move up three spots in the driver standings to 26th.

Parker Kilgerman: The No. 30 of Kligerman sustained heavy damage in practice after Danica Patrick got loose and spun, clipping his right side. He had to go to a backup car and start from the rear. Kilgerman battled hard and finished 34th, moving up three spots in the standings. You can see a replay of the incident here.

Alex Bowman: He didn’t have the best finish but gained over 10k Twitter followers in just a few hours! Bowman caused a lot of controversy early in the race when the battery fell out of his No. 23 Toyota. Along with it came some sort of white packing material that was eerily similar to toilet paper. The strange incident came shortly before the rain delay. This gave the social media world and TV personalities like Darrell Waltrip ample time to discuss it, coming up with several jokes.

Michael Annett: Annett survived his first Cup start and came away with a 26th place finish, his best career finish in the series to date. With three top 10 finishes at the track in the Nationwide Series, this was a good weekend for him and his No. 7 Pilot Travel Centers/Flying J Chevrolet.

MISSES:

Ryan Truex: Bristol did not treat this rookie too kindly. Blowing a right front tire shortly after the race resumed, Truex slammed the wall hard and finished 42nd. You can check out the video replay here.

Cole Whitt: An incident with his former JR Motorsports teammate Danica Patrick ended Whitt’s night early. The two collided on the track and the contact sent his car spinning. He finished 40th after an impressive 18th place starting position. You can watch the clip on the incident here.

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With eight rookies in the Sprint Cup Series this season, there will be plenty of mistakes and errors made on track. Each week, I’ll recap the Hits and Misses of the 2014 Rookie of the Year class.

HITS

Austin Dillon: Dillon kicked off the season by winning the pole position for the Daytona 500 and went on to finish ninth in the big race. Bringing the famed No. 3 back to the NSCS, he had a lot of pressure on his shoulders and seemed to handle it all with his head held high.

Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman: The Swan Racing duo had to race their way into the Daytona 500 the previous Thursday in the Budweiser Duels. Whitt finished 11th while Kligerman finished 17th, respectively, in their Duel races. Just outside the top-15 with a good qualifying speed.

Starting Sunday’s race 23rd and 41st respectively, the duo were both caught up in wrecks and didn’t finish the race but just making the field was victory enough.

Justin Allgaier: Qualifying 40th for the Daytona 500 on speed after his 20th place finish in his Duel race put him outside the top-15. Allgaier ran a respectable race Sunday night, finishing 27th, and can move on to Phoenix happy with his finish.

Alex Bowman: Qualifying 23rd for the Great American Race, Bowman drove under the radar for most of the weekend. Finishing his Duel race in 15th, the final transfer spot, put a smile on his and the team’s face as it locked them in to the big race. Bowman finished right where he started in 23rd on Sunday night and has nothing to hang his head about.

MISSES

Kyle Larson: One of the favorites to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Larson got the season off to a really rocky start in Daytona. Hitting the wall in the beginning laps of the race, Larson just couldn’t quite get the No. 42 Target Chevrolet to his liking. Let’s hope Phoenix treats this rookie a little better than Daytona.

Ryan Truex: In his first attempt at making the field, the younger Truex couldn’t quite get in. Being caught up in a wreck in the second Duel, he finished 19th and just missed getting into the field for the Daytona 500. Starting off the season with a DNQ isn’t what he, his team or his older brother Martin, wanted to see.

Michael Annett: Ending his Daytona 500 in a wreck, Annett started 36th and finished 37th. Being caught up in a wreck in his Duel race as well, this team had a lot of work on their hands to get ready for Sunday’s race. Phoenix and Las Vegas will be the big races for this single car team as they try and build their racing resume and sponsorship.

Austin Dillon: Yes, Dillon gets the nod in both categories as he made quite a few mistakes out on the track Sunday night. Being caught up in three separate incidents that led to yellow flags, Dillon was the main culprit in two of them. If he hopes to gain respect from the leaders of the series, the rookie driver needs to be a little more cautious out on the track. These next few races will be telltale signs as to how his season will start out.

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The final two 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie drivers that I will take a look at are Austin Dillon and Justin Allgaier. Both of these talented individuals have worked their way up through the lower series and are getting their chance in a Sprint Cup Series ride. For Dillon and Allgaier, it hasn’t always come easy but getting their chance to run with the veterans of this sport every week will make for a season they won’t forget. Austin Dillon: Collecting championships in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (2011) and the Nationwide Series (2013), Austin Dillon is used to making headlines. The grandson of racing icon Richard Childress, Dillon has had to work his way up through the ranks and will be one of the high profile rookies competing this season.

He kicked off his 2014 campaign by announcing the return of the famed No. 3 to the Sprint Cup Series, something that hasn’t happened since Dale Earnhardt’s death at the 2001 Daytona 500. Dillon proved to be fast in the iconic race car by topping the charts during preseason thunder in early January.

Can he follow that up with a fast car during Speedweeks? We will have to wait and see, but one thing is for certain – Dillon will be one rookie making headlines multiple times this season.

Justin Allgaier: In one of NASCAR’s famed “Worst Kept Secrets,” it was announced just recently that Justin Allgaier would be moving up to the Sprint Cup Series with Phoenix Racing, driving the No. 51 Brandt Chevrolet.

Allgaier spent five seasons in the Nationwide Series and collected three wins. His best finish in the standings was third in 2011. With his wins coming at Bristol, Chicago and Montreal, Allgaier can handle any type of track on the circuit and that versatility will help him get a handle of these larger Sprint Cup cars.

The 2008 ARCA/ReMax Series Champion will be the first full-time driver this organization has seen in a while and that consistency will be the backbone of this team. Moving up to the top tier series with a reliable team like Phoenix Racing was a good move on Allgaier’s part. He could take this team far as he gains a little more experience in the series.

These two rookies enter the series with a handful of Sprint Cup experience under their belts and that will help them immensely in their first season campaigns. Dillon is one of the favorites to win the ROTY title this season and could possibly contend for wins in 2014.

Each season, a new Rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series class emerges with yellow strips and little experience racing in the top tier. With fresh eyes, they take a look at the task at hand and try to learn everything they possibly can about the car, the track and their team. Each weekend the driver is building that important racing notebook they can look back on for years to come. This season, the series is seeing it’s biggest rookie class in recent history. With eight new drivers running for the coveted Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season, 2014 is gearing up to be one of the best rookie battles ever.

Here is a look at the two rookies driving for BK Racing: Alex Bowman and Ryan Truex.

Alex Bowman: Another 20-year old with a 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride is Alex Bowman. Finishing eleventh in his first full season of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he has yet to make a Cup start.

Getting behind the wheel of the re-numbered No. 23, with sponsorship from Dr. Pepper, Bowman could use this opportunity to build his racing resume and gain some insightful knowledge in NASCAR’s top series.

With two top-5 and six top-10 finishes in the Nationwide Series, while driving for RAB Racing in the No.99, Bowman was a contender for race wins but came up short of victory lane. He collected two poles in 2013, both at Texas.

Although I think he could have benefitted from one more season in the Nationwide Series, this offer was too good to pass up. Being at BK Racing where he can grow and learn how to drive these cars will be good for his career long term.

Ryan Truex: BK Racing is going for fresh faces by adding Ryan Truex to their driver line-up along with Bowman this season. Younger brother to Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Truex has never completed a full season in one of NASCAR’s major touring series.

With two K&N Pro Series East championships under his belt in 2009 and 2010, this 21-year old has shown a lot of talent. Competing in 35 Nationwide Series races between 2010 and 2012, Truex collected two top-5 and nine top-10 finishes including one pole award.

Racing in only four NASCAR sanctioned events in 2013, three being Sprint Cup Series races, Truex still has a lot to learn about driving these Sprint Cup machines. With a team like BK Racing, he has time to build that oh-so-important notebook which would be the ultimate payoff for this young driver.

BK Racing is taking a chance in signing two young rookie drivers to their organization.  Although this could lead to some high repair bills, it could also prove to be a great move in the long run. Both team’s chances of reaching victory lane in 2014 are very slim but racing in NASCAR’s top series every week will be worth the struggle.

Each season, a new rookie class emerges with yellow strips and little experience. With fresh eyes, they take a look at the task at hand and try to learn everything they possibly can about the car, the track and the team each weekend, building that important notebook that they can look back on for years to come.

This season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is seeing its biggest rookie class in recent history. With eight new drivers running for the coveted Rookie of the Year award, 2014 is gearing up to be one of the best Rookie of the Year battles ever.

Here is a look at two of the rookies in the class of 2014, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson and Tommy Baldwin Racing’s Michael Annett.

Kyle Larson: With just one full season in NASCAR’s lower series, 21-year-old Kyle Larson will take the wheel of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. Although he has just a little experience racing at NASCAR’s highest level, Larson could do very well in the Sprint Cup Series. With youth on his side, Larson has proved that he can drive just about anything you put him in.

Collecting nine top five and seventeen top 10 finishes in his 2013 rookie campaign in the Nationwide Series, Larson is talented far beyond his years. Four of his top fives were runner-up finishes at tracks of varying difficulties: Bristol, Michigan, Dover and Homestead. There doesn’t seem to be a track that Larson can’t handle and after finishing 15th at Homestead in the Sprint Cup Series finale, he heads to Daytona with a good run in the books.

The one big question lingering over Larson are those wondering if he moved up too soon. The 2014 season will be a learning experience for this young driver but given a few years, he may just be the next generations Jimmie Johnson.

Michael Annett: Tommy Baldwin and Michael Annett reunite as Annett signs on to drive the No. 7 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet in 2014 for Tommy Baldwin Racing.  Working together during Annett’s ARCA Series tenure, Baldwin guided Annett to two race wins with Bill Davis Racing.

Replacing veteran Dave Blaney, 27-year-old Annett spent five full seasons in the NNS with his best finish of five in the standings (2012). Missing a handful of races in 2013 due to injury, Annett bounced back to end the season with eleven straight top 20 finishes.

Annett’s best year in the NNS came in 2012 when he collected a total of six top five and 17 top 10 finishes. After a hard crash in Daytona and the resulting fractured sternum, Annett was sidelined for nine races in 2013. His championship hopes went out the window early in the season.

Moving up to the NSCS with Kevin “Bono” Manion on top of the pit box could prove to be a good combination for this small team. Although he has yet to make a start in the NSCS, Annett should do well on the mile-and-a-half tracks as well as the superspeedways.

Sporting a yellow bumper all season long, both Larson and Annett have a lot to learn about racing with the veterans. Larson may have the most to prove this season with only one season in NASCAR’s junior class but with a little patience, I think we may be looking at a Sprint Cup Series champion in the future.

Each season, a new rookie class emerges with yellow strips and little experience. With fresh eyes, they take a look at the task at hand and try to learn everything they possibly can about the car, the track and the team each weekend, building that important notebook that they can look back on for years to come.

This season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is seeing it’s biggest rookie class in recent history. With eight new drivers running for the coveted Rookie of the Year award, 2014 is gearing up to be one of the best Rookie of the Year battles ever.

Here is a look at two of the rookies in this year’s class, the Swan Racing duo of Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman.

Cole Whitt: After losing his full-time Nationwide Series ride at JR Motorsports at the end of 2012, Cole Whitt is back and moving up. In 2014 the 22-year old will be behind the wheel of the No. 26 Swan Racing machine in the Sprint Cup Series.

Making seven NSCS starts last season, Whitt got a taste of the new Gen-6 car and some of the circuits toughest tracks. With his best finish of 25th at Phoenix in 2011, Whitt has a lot of room for improvement but at just 22, time is on his side. Whitt finished seventh in NNS standings in 2012 and although he hasn’t collected a win in one of NASCAR’s major touring series, his talent behind the wheel speaks for itself.

Whitt could prove to be a factor in races where speed is high, such as Daytona, Talladega, Texas and Kansas. Being with a team like Swan Racing leaves Whitt with room for improvement and growth for the future.

Parker Kligerman: Another young driver in the Sprint Cup Series, 23-year-old Parker Kligerman is getting his chance at a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride. Piloting the No. 30 for Swan Racing, Kligerman showed promise in his two starts for the team in 2013 with an 18th place finish at Texas and 25th place finish at Homestead.

Finishing ninth in NNS standings for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Kligerman had three top five and 13 top-10 finishes in 2013 in his first full season in the series. Kligerman competed in the Camping World Truck Series for two seasons, collecting one win at Talladega in 2012.

Having two young drivers at Swan Racing in 2014 could prove to be a great success in the future of this small team.

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Silly season was in full swing in 2013 as multiple driver and team contracts came to a close while some even ended early. New numbers will be joining the big league of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and even an old favorite will be making its long-awaited return. With expansions and even some downsizing happening within NASCAR’s top teams, there will be some new names and faces behind the wheel of a few famous rides.

Let’s recap the changes for 2014:

STEWART-HAAS RACING: All eyes will be on SHR in 2014 as they bring in two new drivers and welcome back co-owner Tony Stewart. One of the most notable driver changes will be the long-awaited move of Kevin Harvick. Harvick, who took over the No. 29 (formerly the No. 3), after the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt at Richard Childress Racing, will pack up and move on over to SHR driving the No. 4.

Harvick will join long-time friend Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch, who will also be a new face at the organization. Leaving the single car team of Furniture Row Racing, Busch will be making a jump to SHR into the No. 41. Mark Martin will also be joining SHR in 2014 as a driving coach and mentor to Danica Patrick and the rest of the team. SHR will be full force with a four-car lineup and four of the biggest personalities in the sport under the same roof.

MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING: A controversial blowout before the Chase left MWR scrambling to pick up the pieces of its organization. Losing the contract to one of its major sponsors, NAPA, MWR had to cut back to a two-car team and said goodbye to Martin Truex Jr. With Mark Martin hanging up the firesuit, Brian Vickers will be taking over the No. 55 after a long-awaited return to the track full-time. Jeff Burton will be joining the MWR team part-time sharing driving duties with Michael Waltrip in the new No. 66.

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING: Filling the vacant seat left by Harvick’s departure from RCR, the 2013 Nationwide Series Champion Austin Dillon will be making the jump up to the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2014. Dillon will be bringing the famed No. 3 back into NASCAR’s highest series, something that hasn’t been done since Earnhardt’s death in 2001.

Dillon, who also won the 2011 Camping World Truck Series championship, will be running for the 2014 Rookie of the Year award. Also joining RCR in 2014 will be Ryan Newman as he takes over the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet.

FURNITURE ROW RACING: After the Richmond debacle ultimately cost Martin Truex Jr. his ride at Michael Waltrip Racing, Furniture Row Racing saw the perfect opportunity to pick up another talented racer to pilot their No. 78. Truex is on a multi-year contract with the team after an impressive 2013 for the No. 78 shop. In an alliance with RCR, Furniture Row Racing has all of the qualities to be a championship contending race team once again in 2014.

PHOENIX RACING: After multiple seasons in the Nationwide Series, Justin Allgaier is rumored to finally getting his chance in the NSCS with Phoenix Racing. Piloting the No. 51, Allgaier will team up with crew chief Steve Addington as he runs for Rookie of the Year.

Also joining Phoenix Racing in 2014, veteran Bobby Labonte. Although a car number, Crew Chief or sponsor have yet to be named, Labonte will run the Daytona 500 and an undisclosed number of additional races for the organization.

JTG DAUGHERTY RACING: Making his return to the NSCS full-time after being suspended in 2012 for drug use, AJ Allmendinger will pilot the No. 47 in 2014, replacing Bobby Labonte. Having an alliance with RCR, this team will be in good hands with Allmendinger behind the wheel, this partnership could lead to a few race wins for this team in the coming years.

EARNHARDT-GANASSI RACING: With just one season in the Nationwide Series, Kyle Larson will be making the early jump to the NSCS in 2014. Replacing Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet, Larson will be running for Rookie of the Year against Dillon and Allgaier.

TOMMY BALDWIN RACING: Michael Annett will be driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for TBR in 2014 and although this team isn’t expected to contend for wins, the full-time sponsorship Annett brings with him will do wonders for this small team. Given that they stay together for a few seasons, having Annett behind the wheel could be a great move for this organization. The organization has not announced whether J.J. Yeley will be returning to the No. 36 Chevrolet or if another fresh face will be joining their stable.

SWAN RACING: Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman will join Swan Racing in 2014 piloting the No. 30 and an unannounced number when the organization starts its expansion to a two-car team. Both drivers are young with a lot of potential and could contend for top-15 finishes during the season.

BK RACING: After being arrested late in 2013, Travis Kvapil will likely be left a free agent in 2014. Although nothing for this organization has been announced yet, Alex Bowman tested for the team a few weeks ago in Charlotte and could be in their sights as a possible driver for the No. 93. David Reutimann’s status with the team is still up in the air after a mediocre 2012 and 2013 season but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back behind the wheel of the No. 93.

PHIL PARSONS RACING: Another small organization looking to make a dent in the NSCS has hired Josh Wise to pilot the No. 98 in 2014. Although this team is largely a start-and-park organization, it may be possible that they run a few full races with Wise behind the wheel.

LEAVINE-FAMILY RACING: Funding might be the biggest problem for this organization as they welcome Michael McDowell to the team as the full-time driver of the No. 95. McDowell has the talent and the equipment to run inside the top-25 each week and if he can accomplish that, he might be on his way to some important sponsorship deals.

Every few seasons, there is a Rookie of the Year battle that is worth watching in the Sprint Cup Series. This season we saw Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Danica Patrick and Timmy Hill competing for the 2013 Rookie of the Year honors. Stenhouse would come out atop the standings. Rookies are sometimes looked at as “weak links” on the track. Some have made quite the impact on the series from winning in their first season to becoming series champions in short time.

One of the most recent Rookie of the Year winners who has been making headlines is Joey Logano. Capturing this top honor in 26 out of 36 races in 2009, he was the youngest to ever win the title. Logano captured his first win in his 20th start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2009. He currently drives the No.22 Pennzoil Ford for Penske Racing.

Ryan Newman won Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 with one win that season. He also holds the all-time record for most poles (6), most top-fives (14) and most top-10s (22) in one rookie season.

Ironically enough, Newman beat out six-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson for the honor. Johnson had three wins and tied the record for most wins in a rookie season with Tony Stewart.

Making the Chase every season since its birth, Johnson has won six of the ten Chase championships. Making headlines by winning five in a row from 2006-2010, Johnson reclaimed top honors this season and added a sixth championship to his resume.

Danica Patrick became the first rookie since 2008 to sit on the pole when she started in top spot of the 2013 Daytona 500. Later on in the year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sat on the pole for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Rookie drivers may make “rookie” mistakes out on the track but as of late, they are proving that they can be just as competitive as the veterans.

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For the second year in a row, Joey Logano could hand his team the owners’ championship in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Last season driving the No. 18 Toyota, Logano and crew chief Adam Stevens went to Victory Lane a total of seven times to give Joe Gibbs the prized owners’ championship title. This season, Logano is behind the wheel of the No. 22 for Penske Racing. With three victories, Logano and crew chief Jeremy Bullins sit just four points ahead of Kyle Busch and Gibbs for the 2013 title.

Busch’s 12 victories this season in the No. 54 Toyota give him a strong advantage over Logano. But if he can stay out of trouble and stay ahead of Busch on Saturday, Logano could deliver his second consecutive owners title, to two different owners. With the drivers championship also just a handful of points apart, we could be waiting until the checkered flag flies to see who comes out on top.

What would it mean for Logano to deliver back-to-back owners’ championships?

“Owners championship is important to sponsors, team members, road guys and 400 people that make a living and work at the shop on our cars,” Logano’s stated on his Facebook page.

Brad Keselowski has also had a hand in getting the No. 22 team to the top. With six victories of his own in the No. 22 this season, Keselowski has been an integral part of this championship battle with the No. 54.

Each sponsor and team member involved with the No. 22 Penske Ford would benefit from winning the owners’ championship and Logano would be happy to deliver it to his new team Saturday night.

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For the fifth time this season, Danica Patrick finished better than her fellow Sunoco Rookie of the Year competitor, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. As the Sprint Cup Series moved from its biggest track at Talladega to its smallest at Martinsville, many wondered if Patrick could repeat her impressive 12th place finish  at “The Paperclip.” When the cars hit the track for the first time on Friday, early troubles left the GoDaddy team scrambling to prepare a backup car after a spin and crushed left rear quarter panel.

Stenhouse also had issues on track that led to extensive repairs. He wheel-hopped coming out of Turn 2 and slapped the wall with his right rear quarter panel. The No. 17 team spent the rest of the morning repairing the damaged rear end.

After qualifying 41st, Patrick had to fight her way to the front of the pack. She went a lap down quickly in the race but thanks to a handful of quick cautions, worked her way into the Lucky Dog position and back on to the lead lap. Running as high as tenth, Patrick out-drove some of Martinsville’s best drivers. A long green flag run at the end of the race put her a lap down just as the checkered flag flew.

“I’m really proud of what our GoDaddy team accomplished today,” said Patrick. “For pulling out the backup car on Friday and having to start so far back in the field, it was a really good run. We started in the back and made our way through, and we didn’t have quite the car that we had here in the spring, but we got a similar result and that’s something I’m proud of.”

Although she didn’t improve on her 12th place finish from the spring, Patrick’s 17th place finish was just her eighth top-20 of the season. Martinsville also joins Daytona as the only tracks where she grabbed a top-20 finish in both races.

Patrick’s top competitor in the series had one of his worst races of the season. Coming off a third place finish at Talladega, Stenhouse qualified 20th but finished 31st after multiple on-track incidents left him with a car that was covered in barabond strips.

His on-track woes started when the No. 38 of David Gilliland shoved Stenhouse into the back of Kasey Kahne mangling the nose of the pink ‘Driven for a Cause’ Ford. The No. 17 hit pit road multiple times for repairs but the damage was already done.

“Today was long and tough,” Stenhouse said. “After testing here a couple of weeks ago, we had high expectations going in to today’s race. I felt like it was déjà vu of the spring race because we got caught up in an accident early on and never could bounce back. Needless to say, I am looking forward to getting to Texas.”

There are only three races left in the season and the Rookie of the Year battle is quickly coming to a close. In one of the most publicized rookie battles in NASCAR history, one thing is for certain – no matter who wins, we will get to see both of them at the end-of-season banquet in Las Vegas.

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