#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 31 Days!
Thursday, January 18th, 2024 -- 31 Days Until Daytona!
31 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #31 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 — Charlotte — Sterling Long
NXS: 1982-03 — Bristol — John Cleek
NCTS: 1995-01 — Phoenix — Jack Sprague
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 8 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Jeff Burton, 4)
NXS: 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Steve Grissom, 8)
NCTS: 6 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: James Buescher, 6)
BEST START:
NCS: 10 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Jeff Burton, 5)
NXS: 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Mark Martin, 6)
NCTS: 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: James Buescher, 5)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the #31 was utilized on a full-time basis in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Kaulig Racing has utilized the #31 on a full-time basis throughout the last two seasons, both years for Justin Haley, who first joined the team’s Cup Series program in 2022.
For the upcoming season, though, Daniel Hemric has been tapped to pilot the Chevrolet Camaro, with Haley departing the organization to drive for Rick Ware Racing in 2024.
Jordan Anderson Racing has been using the #31 since debuting its NASCAR Xfinity Series program in 2021 — albeit with some difficulty due to some inclement weather at Daytona and a lack of qualifying.
In 2023, the program hired Parker Retzlaff to compete full-time in the flagship entry, while also making a bid at Rookie of The Year in the series. Although unsuccessful, the FUNKAWAY-sponsored driver had a fantastic season and will return in 2024.
It’s been eight years since the #31 has been utilized in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with the number’s most recent appearance coming at the hands of NTS Motorsports, which ran part-time in 2015 with James Buescher, Scott Lagasse, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Travis Pastrana, and Rico Abreu.
However, the number is likely most well-known for winning the 2012 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title with James Buescher behind the wheel of the Turner Scott Motorsports entry, before lacking funding to continue, effectively disappearing from the NASCAR scene.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #31?
NASCAR Cup Series: Jeff Burton — 324 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Steve Grissom — 132 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: James Buescher — 92 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #31 IN NASCAR
Chevrolet (76.34%) is the most-used manufacturer for the #31 across NASCAR’s National Series — while also being the most-used in each series, as well.
Over the years, the #31 has become synonymous with Richard Childress Racing. In both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, the #31 is being used by an organization with support from the organization and ECR Engines.
James Buescher, with 30 top-five results in the #31, is the only driver to have scored more than a single top-five finish while using the number in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
When the NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign starts in February, Parker Retzlaff will become the third driver to use the #31 for more than a full season in the second-tier series — joining Steve Grissom and Justin Allgaier.
The #31 picked up a seventh-place result in the inaugural event for both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The number was not present in the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series event.
In 289 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts, the #31 has only had five drivers lead a single lap in the series — James Buescher, Ben Kennedy, Austin Dillon, Jack Sprague, and Wayne Edwards.