Oddities of Sprint Cup 2008 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dieter Mateschitz

Thanks to a driver switch at Homestead, both of the Red Bull Racing team Toyotas will be guaranteed starts in the first five races of 2009. At the final race of the season, Brian Vickers drove the #84 car and Scott Speed got a guaranteed start in the #83.

A controversial penalty at Daytona nearly got owner-driver Robby Gordon in trouble, but he managed to finish 34th in owner's points. Bob Kauffman, owner of the #47 Toyota (previously #00) missed out of guaranteed exemptions by 13 points, so driver Marcos Ambrose has to qualify on time.

Despite some strong performances by Patrick Carpentier and AJ Allmendinger, George Gillett's #10 Dodge suffered through five DNQ's and finished 37th.

Answer: True

Robby Gordon nearly lost 100 points after a problem with his nose, but his points were reinstated. Series runner-up Carl Edwards lost 100 points at Las Vegas after an issue with his oil tank. Ryan Newman lost 25 points at Texas because his car was too high. Charlotte saw Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter lose 150 points for illegal wing adjustments.

The roof on Martin Truex's car at the summer Daytona race cost him and owner Teresa Earnhardt 150 points. Brian Vickers lost 150 points after sheet metal that was too thin per NASCAR rules was found at Martinsville.

Answer: Four

The Champion's Provisional is given a former series champion not in the top 35 in owner's points. Precedence goes to most recent, so Kurt Busch (2004) was racing in the Daytona 500 and Bill Elliott (1988) was not. Elliott would later use one at Phoenix. Semi-retired Terry Labonte, who won the series in 1984 and 1996, used two at Pocono and the Daytona night race.

Answer: 33rd

That honor went to Robby Gordon. He had four top-tens during the 2008 season.

Answer: Bobby Labonte

Bobby Labonte finished 21st and had two top-ten finishes. Mears finished one spot ahead of him, but he took fifth at Sonoma. Reutimann finished the season 22nd and with a pole at Homestead. Kvapil finished decently despite sporadic sponsorship.

Answer: Regan Smith

Smith finished 34th and was named the series Rookie of the Year. Hornish finished 35th. Smith sat out the two road course events and Hornish failed to qualify twice. Nemechek ran 32 races and finished 37th. Allmendinger had two top tens in 27 races.

Answer: False

Dario Franchitti had 606 points in ten races for Chip Ganassi. Labonte had 811 while competing for Petty Enterprises.

Answer: Marcos Ambrose

Ambrose ran 11 races in 2008, one of which netted a third place finish at Watkins Glen. Almirola was 42nd in points, compared to the 45-ranked Ambrose. Neither driver is eligible for 2009 Rookie of the Year consideration, as both ran more than seven races in 2008.

Answer: Three

The 66 of Joe Custer failed to make the summer Daytona event. The 22 of Bill Davis did not qualify at Talladega. The 84 of Dieter Mateschitz was not at the first three races of 2008. All teams that successfully made every race, finished in the top 35.

Answer: Bob Jenkins

The #34 Chevrolet attempted 24 races, but only made five. John Carter's 08 Dodge wasn't much better. In 14 races, the team had 13 DNQ's and barely made Fontana. The legendary 21 car of the Wood Brothers had its struggles, resulting in a number of drivers and eight DNQs. The 70 of Margaret Haas had six DNQs.