#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 22 Days!
Saturday, January 27th, 2024 -- 22 Days Until Daytona!
22 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #23 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 — Charlotte — Red Byron
NXS: 1982-01 — Daytona — David Rogers
NCTS: 1995-15 — Richmond — Todd Massey
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 88 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Roberts/Logano, 30)
NXS: 73 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Brad Keselowski, 32)
NCTS: 2 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: Speed/Coulter, 1)
BEST START:
NCS: 82 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Fireball Roberts, 32)
NXS: 68 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Brad Keselowski, 19)
NCTS: 7 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: Joey Coulter, 3)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. The #22 is active on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Additionally, the number made a one-off appearance at Daytona International Speedway in August.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Team Penske has a long-standing history with the #22, which as of late includes Joey Logano — who has captured a pair of NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2018 and 2022.
The organization has utilized the #22 consistently since Kurt Busch was moved from the Blue Duece to the Shell-Pennzoil sponsored car, which was rebranded at the beginning of the 2011 season.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the #22 made a special one-off appearance this Summer at Daytona International Speedway as Jeb Burton paid tribute to this father, Ward Burton, in a third Jordan Anderson Racing entry.
The entry marked the first time that the #22 had been seen on track in the second-tier series since Team Penske exited the NASCAR Xfinity Series ahead of the 2022 season.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the #22 has a somewhat complicated backstory in that AM Racing is listed as the actual owner of the truck — but, in the majority of races in 2023, the entry was fielded by Reaume Brothers Racing.
Mason Maggio, Stephen Mallozzi, Josh Reaume, Jason White, Christian Rose, Max Gutierrez, and Logan Bearden were among the drivers who took turns in the #22 in 2023. However, in 2024, it appears RBR will be taking over ownership of the entry.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #22?
NASCAR Cup Series: Joey Logano — 396 Races
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Rick Mast — 199 Races
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Austin Wayne Self — 131 Races
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #22 IN NASCAR
Entering the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, Joey Logano and Fireball Roberts are tied for the most wins in the series while using the #22. Should Logano win, he will become the winningest driver with the number.
The #22 is considered to be one of the most successful numbers in the history of NASCAR — much less the NASCAR Cup Series — with three drivers having led more than 5,000 laps in the entry — Logano, Bobby Allison and Fireball Roberts.
Rick Mast, Brad Keselowski, and Austin Cindric each managed to make more than 100 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts while driving the #22, and in those starts managed to collect nine or more victories.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the #22 hasn’t had the same success as in the top-two divisions — largely a result of Penske not taking part in the series — with Austin Wayne Self having the most starts, but zero victories with the number.
John Hunter Nemechek, who competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, made his NASCAR National Series debut behind the wheel of the #22 Chevrolet Silverado at Martinsville Speedway in 2013 for NEMCO Motorsports.
Between the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, Ford has been the manufacturer used when the #22 competes more than 1,000 times of the 2,500-plus events the number has contested.
Joey Logano, AJ Allmendinger, Sam Hornish, and Kurt Busch all won races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving the #22 — all of whom would go on to make NASCAR Cup Series starts in the #22.
When Jeb Burton ran Daytona in the #22 Chevrolet, it marked the first time since 2003 that the car number was on a Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.