#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 4 Days!
Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 -- 4 Days Until Daytona!
4 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #4 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 — Charlotte — Frank Mundy
NXS: 1982-01 — Daytona — Connie Saylor
NCTS: 1995-11 — Colorado — Bob Brevak
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 82 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Kevin Harvick, 37)
NXS: 7 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Jeff Purvis/Ernie Irvan, 2)
NCTS: 30 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: Bobby Hamilton, 8)
BEST START:
NCS: 70 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Rex White, 27)
NXS: 19 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Jeff Purvis, 5)
NCTS: 46 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: JH Nemechek, 14)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the number was fielded full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. However, in 2024, the number is not scheduled to be fielded in the Truck Series.
For the last decade, Stewart-Haas Racing has exclusively fielded the No. 4 entry in the NASCAR Cup Series, nabbing Kevin Harvick from Richard Childress Racing to partner him with Rodney Childers.
However, this season, a changing of the guard has begun, as Josh Berry takes over for the now-retired Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Ford Mustang. Rodney Childers will continue as crew chief of the entry.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, JD Motorsports has built an entire multi-vehicle organization on the backbone of fielding the No. 4, debuting the entry with Joe Thurman in 1983.
This season, Johnny Davis is giving a full-time opportunity to Dawson Cram, who is set to tackle his first full-time campaign in any of NASCAR’s National Series, while piloting the team’s primary entry, the No. 4.
The No. 4 has been on track in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for several years, most recently with Chase Purdy and Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023. However, things have changed for 2024, with Spire Motorsports buying out KBM.
Purdy is moving to the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports this season, while the No. 4 remains vacant and unused in the NASCAR Truck Series.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #4?
NASCAR Cup Series: Kevin Harvick — 360 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Ross Chastain — 140 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Bobby Hamilton + Ricky Carmichael — 66 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #4 IN NASCAR
Of the nine drivers who have won in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while using the No. 4, five came through Kyle Busch Motorsports and the Toyota Driver Development (T2D) program.
Mike Wallace is one of the few drivers to pilot the No. 4 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series that wasn’t owned by Johnny Davis. Wallace did drive for JD Motorsports later in his career but never competed in the No. 4.
Since joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, Kevin Harvick has racked up an incredible 37 NASCAR Cup Series victories — the most of any driver over the last decade.
With only 71 more starts than second-place on the list, Kevin Harvick has managed to rack up double the amount of top-10s as anyone else with 235, which equates to an incredible 65% top-10 rate — which in modern days is unheard of.
Ricky Carmichael is one of the most notable names to pilot the No. 4 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and while he never scored a victory, his three-season transition into the series was solid, boasting four top-fives.
With 20 fewer starts in the series, Christopher Bell had nearly equated the laps-led total of Bobby Hamilton before exiting the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to move up the ranks.