#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 2 Days!
Friday, February 16th, 2024 -- 2 Days Until Daytona!
TWO DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #2 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 — Charlotte — Sam Rice
NXS: 1982-03 — Bristol — Tommy Hilbert
NCTS: 1995-04 — Mesa Marin — Dave Ashley
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 101 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Rusty Wallace, 37)
NXS: 39 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Kevin Harvick, 8)
NCTS: 44 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: Kevin Harvick, 10)
BEST START:
NCS: 71 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Rusty Wallace, 27)
NXS: 48 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Elliott Sadler, 10)
NCTS: 57 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: Mike Bliss, 12)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. Last season, the No. 2 was fielded in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a full-time basis — albeit with three different organizations.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Team Penske has built a legacy of fielding the No. 2 for several years, with drivers Rusty Wallace, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, and now Austin Cindric, who enters his third season of competition at NASCAR’s top level.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Richard Childress Racing is responsible for fielding the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro. For the last two seasons, it’s been for Sheldon Creed, who failed to score a victory and now moves to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2024.
However, this season, RCR has taken a risk in signing ARCA Menards Series champion Jesse Love to chase Rookie of The Year (ROTY) honors in the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro.
In the NASCAR Truck Series, the No. 2 does have a solid legacy behind it. However, Nick Sanchez and REV Racing are looking to build their own claim to fame with the number, competing in the series for the first time in 2023.
The only change for the organization this season, is its alliance, with Kyle Busch Motorsports selling its assets — and its alliance with REV — to Spire Motorsports for 2024.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #2?
NASCAR Cup Series: Rusty Wallace — 522 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: LD Ottinger — 148 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Mike Bliss — 88 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #2 IN NASCAR
Despite being well-known for his tenures in the #4 and #29 in the NASCAR Cup Series, Kevin Harvick leads both the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series in victories for drivers utilizing the #2.
Each of the seven drivers that have utilized the #2 in more than 23 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events has scored at least a single victory with the number. Nick Sanchez has the most starts using the number without a win.
Team Penske’s quartet of drivers to win in the #2 — Brad Keselowski, Rusty Wallace, Austin Cindric, and Kurt Busch — managed to collect 80 of the car number 101 victories at NASCAR’s top level.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the #2 is more tied to Richard Childress Racing, which has managed to put eight different drivers in victory lane using the number — Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon, Ron Hornaday, Myatt Snider, and Michael McDowell.
The #2 has won multiple championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, all of which have come with Richard Childress Racing including Tyler Reddick (2019), Clint Bowyer (2008), and Kevin Harvick (2001).
Ultra Motorsports became a machine in qualifying in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with the #2 scoring 32 pole positions in the series throughout the team’s 11-season tenure.
Despite multiple drivers amassing more than 50 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, nobody has scored more than 8 DNFs while piloting the #2 in the series.