10th — Jessica Brunelli/ Hickory
Jessica Brunelli was impressive in her first season in a Late Model Stock Car. Though, she never was able to pick up her first win, she was able to get several top five finishes at Tri-County and Hickory Motor Speedway. Jessica’s runs against some tough competition proved that even though she was a rookie she could wheel a Late Model Stock Car with the best of them.
9th — Natalie Sather/SoBo
Natalie Sather really wasn’t that impressive when the season started at South Boston, but under the direction of HC Sellers she began turning heads by the middle part of the season. Natalie qualified on the outside pole to the shock of everyone on August 14th and held her own in the race. She also had a solid outing at Motor Mile Speedway which helped elevate her up the list.
8th — Brandon Gdovic/Langley
Brandon Gdovic had an impressive rookie season at South Boston Speedway in the Limited Late Models last year including picking up a win. In 2010, he was equally impressive as he took his racing to Langley Speedway, known as a tough track on young drivers. Gdovic had a solid season and even though he didn’t pick up a win, he proved he could race the tight, tough track.
7th — Brandon Brown/ODS
Being a rookie at Old Dominion Speedway can be tough as the track is tight and small with veteran drivers beating and banging on you every lap. Brandon Brown stood up to the challenge and even drove his way to a victory on July 24th in a 100-lap race on the 3/8 mile track. Brandon proved that he was a solid racer and a driver who even in his rookie season could find his way to victory lane.
6th — Josh Berry/Motor Mile
Josh Berry didn’t set the world on fire this season in his debut as a rookie at Motor Mile Speedway. After all, how hard would it be to set the world on fire at Motor Mile, the toughest of all Late Model Stock Car tracks with the most cars competing weekly. Berry however stood his own and even turned in some respectable finishes against the best Late Model racers anywhere.
5th — Ronnie Bassett/UARA
Ronnie Bassett, Jr. found himself in a tight three way battle for the UARA-STARS Series Rookie of the Year. Along with Clint King and Robert Johnson, Bassett was among the best of the young racers in the series and toward the mid-part of the season he began to get his season rolling. Bassett qualified on the pole at Lonesome Pine Raceway and turned in a solid performance finishing second. Bassett proved he could race with anyone, at any race track, even as a rookie.
4th — Harrison Rhodes/ Caraway
Harrison Rhodes was another one of those drivers that didn’t really set the world on fire at the beginning of the season. Rhodes started logging laps at Caraway Speedway and was a solid top five car by mid-season. One of his best performances came in a second place finish at Tri-County Motor Speedway. He went on to qualify in the field at Martinsville and Myrtle Beach, proving he could race anywhere.
3rd — Jeb Burton/SoBo
Jeb Burton was solid in a Limited Late Model in 2009 and he was maybe even more solid and maybe even impressive in his rookie season in a Late Model Stock Car. Jeb turned in some solid performances at South Boston and a few at Orange County, but qualifying on time for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville was his shining moment. He showed that he’s another Virginia Burton that can get the job done behind the wheel.
2nd — Robert Johnson/UARA
Robert Johnson is the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer, Junior Johnson. What did that mean on the track? Nothing. He got off to a slow start in the UARA-STARS Series, finishing just top ten when other rookies were winning and racing in the top five. Johnson, however kept his nose clean and raced his way to the UARA Rookie of the Year with solid finishes. Johnson’s most impressive feat came in racing into VA is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville and then racing solid all day long.
1st — Clint King/UARA
Some people may look at Clint King’s finishes for the 2010 season in the UARA-STARS Series and get confused as to why we would rank him number one. After all, he finished 10th in the points standings and aside from his one win, he didn’t have finishes that you would expect from our “Best Rookie”. However, we don’t take the stats on face value as we know how Clint ran all season and to win a UARA race in your rookie season is incredible. Clint’s stats don’t show it, but he was easily the best rookie in 2010.
