Busch's emergence makes the rookie race fun to watch.(Kurt Busch)

The yellow duct tape on their cars' bumpers is all that gives away their secret. Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick are rookies. So is Casey Atwood, 20. And Ron Hornaday, 43. Clearly, all are advanced, considering their limited experience at the Winston Cup level. Still, not much thought was given to the battle for Rookie of the Year until Harvick took over the Goodwrench car after Dale Earnhardt's death and won in his third start in the No. 29.

Suddenly, the rookie race had some spice but not much drama. Or so it appeared. Who would stop Harvick, 25, from running away with the rookie title?

Enter Busch, who after struggling early, finished fourth at Texas and third at Talladega and joined Matt Kenseth as the most consistent drivers in the Jack Roush stable. Busch, 22, is ahead of veteran teammates Mark Martin and Jeff Burton in the Winston Cup points standings.

Through 11 races, the competition for Rookie of the Year couldn't be any tighter--Busch and Harvick are tied for first place. "It's going to be a heck of a battle," says Harvick, who has posted the highest finish among the six members of the freshman class in four races.

And who's to say it won't include four of the six drivers before it's finished?

Atwood, fourth in rookie points, came to life last Saturday at Richmond with a 12th-place finish, his best of the season. Hornaday is third in points but hasn't finished inside the top 20 since his ninth-place ride at Las Vegas in the third race of the season.

Still, when you rate this group from top to bottom--the other rookies are Andy Houston and Jason Leffler--it's the strongest freshman class to run for the rookie title since Jeff Burton won the award in 1994, outlasting brother Ward and Joe Nemechek.