The Rookie of the Year award, a prestigious honor in NASCAR, was officially introduced in 1958. Over the years, the tussle for it has produced stiff competition and great drama. One of the battles that went down to the wire was in 1982, when Geoff Bodine edged out Mark Martin for the title. To this date, a debate rages whether Bodine deserved the award or Martin.
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Both the Cup series rookies were driving with teams which are now defunct. Bodine was a driver for Cliff Stewart Racing, while Martin was with Martin-Reeder Racing.
Bodine started only 25 of the 30 races that year but secured four top-5s and 10 top-10 finishes. He also led for 118 laps. His average finish was 15.2.
Martin’s numbers were equally strong. The Arkansas native secured two top-5s and eight top-10s in 30 starts. He led four laps and had an average finishing position of 19.47. Interestingly, he finished 14th on the points table. Bodine could only finish 22nd despite his better results in fewer races.
The award was won by Bodine but both him and Martin went on to have great careers in NASCAR.
Bodine became the driver responsible for Hendrick Motorsports’ survival and ascendency. Martin, on the other hand, joined Roush Racing and became one of the team’s legends.
One of the Fords Martin drove for the team is on display in the Hall of Fame’s Great Hall exhibit named: “A legendary decade: The first 50 inductees.” Martin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
Darrell Waltrip had sealed his second championship the year this duel went down. He won 12 races, had 17 top-5s and 20 top-10s, and led 3,026 laps on his way to the title.
The benchmark Waltrip set reflects how tough a journey it is to climb from being a rookie to winning the greatest prize of them all. Waltrip’s closest rival that season was the iconic Alabama Gang founder Bobby Allison, who had eight wins, 14 top-5s, and 20 top-10s.
Allison fell short of his rival by 72 points. No other driver came close to challenging the two at the top despite the field being filled with stars like Richard Petty, Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott, and Harry Gant.
The year 1982 stands tall as one of the most memorable seasons in NASCAR with these engrossing battles on multiple fronts.
