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It’s too close to call.
The 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle – like the overall series championship – appears to be headed for a final-lap, last-turn conclusion.
Nashville’s Willie Allen (No. 13 ThorSport Chevrolet) has a seven-point lead over Tim Sauter (No. 07 Lester Buildings Chevrolet) on the eve of the Ford 200 but there’s plenty of competition left on and off the track.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year Committee will meet at Homestead and award up to 30 bonus points to each freshman competitor.
There’s also an overall finish bonus of 10 points with a drop of one-point increments. Allen is 15th in series points but Sauter is just 78 back in 16th.
Allen admits to looking in his mirror and listening to his spotter for positioning of his rivals. “It’s in the back of your mind where they’re running, ” he said. “I definitely want to stay ahead of them. ”
“All in all, the season’s gone pretty well but we’ve had some good runs get away from us, ” said Sauter. “We’ve just got to keep the pressure on and do the best we can. ”
The “wild card” in the mix is Joey Clanton (No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford). Nine points behind Allen, Clanton has competed in only 15 of 24 races and has the worst finish of the three contenders – five points – to discard.
“We have to make the best of it at Homestead and go get a top 10 and let the cards fall where they may, ” he said.
