Simplify the following text for a Grade 7 native English-speaking person.
Original: In the Cup Series , Hamlin won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and finished third in the final Cup standings , scoring the highest points finish for a rookie in the modern era of NASCAR . Hamlin thus became the first ever rookie to make the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup .
Simplified: In the Nextel Cup Series , Hamlin won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and finished third in the final standings .