At least seven drivers will be eligible to win this year's rookie of the year award in the Nextel Cup Series, and it's clearly a very deep class in terms of talent.

"Everybody in the rookie class is a very, very good driver," said David Stremme, who'll drive the No. 40 Dodges for Chip Ganassi Racing as part of the '06 rookie class. "I think whoever is going to win rookie of the year is going to have to make The Chase and win races."

No rookie of the year candidate has made the Chase for the Nextel Cup in its two years of existence. Carl Edwards made it in his first full Cup season in 2005, but he'd run too many races in 2004 to be eligible for rookie honors.

"I don't look at it...like we've got to go out and beat the (other) rookies," Stremme said. "We need to build for later this season and be consistent. ...Martin (Truex Jr.) and Reed (Sorenson) and a lot of them are going to be tough to beat, but I look at it as there are a lot of other drivers you've got to beat on the weekend, too."

Sorenson, Stremme's teammate who'll drive the No. 41 Dodges, isn't sure that Stremme's right about the rookie of the year winner making the Chase.

"It's tough to come in as a rookie and make The Chase," Sorenson said.

"That's not to say one of us isn't good enough to make it, but look at last year. Jeff Gordon didn't make it and he's one of the best there is.

"(But) I think you're going to have to run up front and at least challenge for wins and get some top fives to be close."