The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year.

History of the Award The Rookie of the Year award for NASCAR's premier series was first presented to a driver named Blackie Pitt by Houston Lawing, NASCAR's Public Relations director, in 1954. An official award started with the 1958 season.

From the 1958 through the 1973 seasons, NASCAR did not have an official points system to determine the Rookie of the Year, so NASCAR's officials merely gathered together to select a winner. , the rookie of the year points are the same as the championship points.

The award is currently sponsored by Sunoco. Drivers competing for the award must display the Sunoco contingency decal.

Eligibility Eligibility for Rookie of the Year has changed several times over the history of NASCAR. In 2026, the criteria shifted back to a specific race count. In the Cup Series drivers must have no more than 12 starts prior to the season they intend to declare for the award. For O'Reilly Series drivers the limit is 10, and the limit is 8 for Truck Series drivers. Teams must apply to NASCAR for approval to run for ROTY.

Prior to 2026, driver eligibility was decided on a case-by-case basis by NASCAR. Several drivers were approved with more than 12 starts. Until the late 2010s, the criteria included that drivers must be competing for driver championship points in the series and that the driver must not have competed in more than seven events in any prior season in that series. A driver can also only compete for the Rookie of the Year honors once per series. However, these rules were not officially written in the NASCAR rulebook and NASCAR makes the final decision on eligibility.

Cup Series

2026 ROTY contenders Connor Zilisch

History Below is a list of all winners, and known runners-up. (Note: some of the drivers listed here are not confirmed as ROTY contenders, and competed in more than the maximum number of races to be eligible for ROTY honors.)

* Declared for ROTY, but did not make minimum seven (five before 2001) races, thus could be eligible in a later year. ± Marked drivers during Daytona 500 practice or qualifying events were killed during their rookie seasons and were unable to complete the schedule. Ø Moroso died after race 25 of 29 during his rookie season in a vehicular incident where he and his girlfriend were driving home from the September North Wilkesboro round, receiving the award posthumously. Toxicology reports noted Moroso had a BAC more than twice the legal limit (was .22 BAC), leading to a NASCAR rule change later that states a driver must finish the season in good standing. Under modern rules, a driver who is found to be under current indictment of a crime (including DUI/DWI) would be ineligible for the award, in addition to facing an indefinite suspension from the sport. ♦ Hylton finished second in the overall 1966 championship, the highest ever finish for an eligible rookie. æ Pitt did not receive an official award. § Dick Hutcherson won nine times and finished second in the championship standings in 1965, but was not considered to be eligible due to being a champion in the IMCA.

Year Winner Runner(s) Up2026Connor Zilisch2025Shane van GisbergenRiley Herbst2024Carson HocevarJosh Berry, Zane Smith, Kaz Grala2023Ty GibbsNoah Gragson2022Austin CindricHarrison Burton, Todd Gilliland2021Chase Briscoe Anthony Alfredo2020Cole Custer Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, Brennan Poole, Quin Houff2019Daniel Hemric Ryan Preece, Matt Tifft2018William ByronBubba Wallace2017Erik JonesDaniel Suárez, Ty Dillon, Corey LaJoie, Gray Gaulding2016 Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, Brian Scott, Jeffrey Earnhardt2015Brett MoffittMatt DiBenedetto, Jeb Burton, Alex Kennedy, Tanner Berryhill*2014 Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Michael Annett, Alex Bowman, Ryan Truex, Parker Kligerman2013Danica Patrick, Timmy Hill2012Stephen LeichtJosh Wise, Timmy Hill*2011Andy LallyT. J. Bell*, Brian Keselowski*2010Kevin ConwayTerry Cook*2009Scott Speed, Max Papis, Dexter Bean*2008Regan SmithSam Hornish Jr., Patrick Carpentier, Michael McDowell, Dario Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve*2007Juan Pablo MontoyaDavid Ragan, Paul Menard, David Reutimann, A. J. Allmendinger, Brandon Whitt*2006Denny HamlinClint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Reed Sorenson, J. J. Yeley, David Stremme, Brent Sherman*2005Travis Kvapil, Mike Garvey, Stanton Barrett2004Kasey KahneBrendan Gaughan, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer, Scott Riggs, Johnny Sauter2003Jamie McMurrayGreg Biffle, Tony Raines, Casey Mears, Jack Sprague, Larry Foyt2002Ryan NewmanJimmie Johnson, Shawna Robinson*, Carl Long*2001Kurt Busch, Casey Atwood, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday Jr., Andy Houston2000Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney, Scott Pruett, Stacy Compton, Mike Bliss, Ed Berrier, Jeff Fuller*1999Elliott Sadler, Buckshot Jones, Stanton Barrett*, Dan Pardus*, Mike Harmon*1998Kenny Irwin Jr.Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, Steve Park1997Mike SkinnerDavid Green, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon1996Randy MacDonald*, Stacy Compton*1995Ricky CravenRobert Pressley, Randy LaJoie, Davy Jones, Steve Kinser*, Mike Chase*, Gary Bradberry*, Terry Byers*1994Jeff BurtonSteve Grissom, Joe Nemechek, John Andretti, Mike Wallace, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Loy Allen Jr., Billy Standridge, Curtis Markham*, Rick Carelli*, T. W. Taylor*1993Bobby Labonte, Kenny Wallace, P. J. Jones1992Jimmy HensleyAndy Belmont, Dave Mader III*1991Bobby HamiltonTed Musgrave, Stanley Smith, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Jeff Purvis, Sammy Swindell*, Rich Bickle*, Dave Mader III*, Dorsey Schroeder*1990Rob Moroso ØJack Pennington, Jerry O'Neil, Jeff Purvis*1989Dick TrickleHut Stricklin, Larry Pearson, Jimmy Spencer, Rick Mast, Ben Hess, Chad Little, Butch Miller, Mickey Gibbs1988Ken BouchardErnie Irvan, Brad Noffsinger, Jimmy Horton1987Davey AllisonDale Jarrett, Steve Christman, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, Jerry Cranmer*1986Michael Waltrip, Chet Fillip, Davey Allison*, Jerry Cranmer*, Rick Baldwin*, Jonathan Lee Edwards*, Wayne Kramer*1985Ken SchraderEddie Bierschwale, Don Hume1984Greg Sacks, Phil Parsons, Clark Dwyer1983Sterling MarlinTrevor Boys, Ronnie Hopkins, Ken Ragan, Bobby Hillin Jr.1982Geoff BodineMark Martin, Brad Teague1981Ron BouchardMorgan Shepherd, Tim Richmond, Mike Alexander, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Joe Ruttman, Stan Barrett, Connie Saylor, Gary Balough1980Jody RidleyLake Speed, Kyle Petty, Slick Johnson1979Joe Millikan, Terry Labonte, Harry Gant1978Ronnie ThomasRoger Hamby, Blackie Wangerin, Baxter Price, Al Holbert1977Ricky RuddSam Sommers, Janet Guthrie, Tighe Scott, Tommy Gale, Gary Myers1976Skip ManningTerry Bivins, Neil Bonnett, Jimmy Means, Bill Elliott, John A. Utsman, Johnny Ray1975Bruce HillCarl Adams, Bruce Jacobi, Grant Adcox, Chuck Bown, Joe Mihalic, Travis Tiller, Ferrel Harris, Dick May1974Earl RossRichie Panch, Jackie Rogers, Ramo Stott1973Lennie PondDarrell Waltrip, Johnny Barnes1972Larry SmithDavid Sisco, Doc Faustina1971Walter BallardMaynard Troyer, Richard Brown, D. K. Ulrich1970Bill DennisJoe Frasson, Jim Vandiver, Talmadge Prince±1969Dick BrooksBuddy Young, Hoss Ellington1968Pete HamiltonDave Marcis, Don Tarr1967Donnie AllisonCharlie Glotzbach, Paul Dean Holt1966James Hylton♦Bill Seifert, Frank Warren1965§Sam McQuaggHenley Gray, Clyde Lynn1964Doug CooperJ. T. Putney, Buddy Arrington1963Billy WadeBobby Isaac, Larry Manning, J. D. McDuffie1962Thomas CoxCale Yarborough, Ed Livingston1961Woodie WilsonWendell Scott, Lee Reitzel1960Gerald Duke, Paul Lewis1959Fritz Wilson, Buddy Baker, Bob Burdick1958Shorty Rollins1957Ken Rush1956not awarded1955not awarded1954Blackie Pitt æ

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series 2026 ROTY Contenders Brent Crews Luke Fenhaus Lavar Scott Patrick Staropoli