NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year
Chase Elliott
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| Jerry Markland/Getty Images |
Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney had a battle at the beginning of the season but once the Chase came around, Elliott was in the running for the Championship while Ryan Blaney sat on the outside looking in.
Elliott gained 10 Top-5's, 17 Top-10's, and 2 poles. Elliott led the field to green in the 58th Daytona 500 and in the 2016 Geico 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway. Elliott had two second place finishes, both coming at Michigan, along with 3 third place finishes(Dover I and II, and Chicago). Elliott had an almost flawless Chase until Charlotte where it ultimately landed him in a must win situation at Homestead. Chase Elliott will return to Hendrick Motorsports next season still in pursuit for his first victory of his career. As many noted it took 42 starts for Jeff Gordon to gain his first career victory which means if Elliott follows in the footsteps of Gordon. Elliott should win the 2017 Daytona 500 which will be Elliott's 42nd start in the NASCAR Cup Series.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year
Erik Jones
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| Patrick Smith/Getty Images |
Erik Jones beat the best a few times this season and just came up short of pulling the second part of the Triple-Crown in NASCAR by winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.
Erik Jones was able to pull off four victories this season with his first coming at Bristol where he beat the best in the form of Kyle Busch at Busch's best track. Erik also won at Dover, Iowa, and Chicago but it wasn't enough to land him in victory lane at Homestead. Jones had a bumpy Chase with two instances of Erik almost being eliminated. Jones also pulled 15 Top-5's and 20 Top-10 finishes this season both up from his partial seasons. Jones also gained nine poles in 2016 (Phoenix, Bristol, Dover, Charlotte, Pocono, Iowa, Bristol, Kentucky, and Dover). Jones heads to the Cup Series in 2017 where he will be driving the #77 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry for Furniture Row Racing where Jones will seek his first career victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Erik's best finish in the Cup Series came at Texas last season where Jones was filling in for Matt Kenseth after he was suspended.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year
William Byron
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| Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images |
The future looks good especially for William Byron who won this years Rookie Of The Year. Byron stole the show this year in his first full time season breaking records left and right and almost gaining a shot at Homestead for the Championship as a rookie. Sadly an engine failure at Homestead ended that very quickly.
Byron had a record breaking season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Byron gained his first career victory in just his 5th start and then the Charlotte, NC gained six more victories this season (Fort Worth, Iowa, Kentucky, Pocono, Loudon, and Homestead). On top of 7 victories, Byron gained 11 Top-5's and 16 Top-10's along with 3 poles. Byron will not be driving a Toyota following this season as Byron heads to Hendrick Motorsports Development Program. Byron will drive for JR Motorsports in 2017 and could make a move to cup anytime after 2017. Byron will certainly be a contender for the Championship next season if not the Champion.
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