#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 45 Days!
Thursday, January 4th, 2024 -- 45 Days Until Daytona!
45 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s take a look back at the history of the #45 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1950-13 - Darlington - Ted Chamberlain
NXS: 1982-03 - Bristol - Dale Earnhardt
NCTS: 1999-05 - Martinsville - Rich Bickle
BEST FINISH:
NCS: P1 - 10 NASCAR Cup Series Wins (Most: Eddie Pagan - 4)
NXS: P2 - 1982-29 - Martinsville - Charlie Luck
NXS: P2 - 1986-28 - Rougemont - Charlie Luck
NCTS: P2 - 3 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Wins (Most: Ross Chastain - 3)
BEST START:
NCS: P1 - 10 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Eddie Pagan - 10)
NXS: P2 - 1999-30 - Memphis - Adam Petty
NCTS: P1 - 1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Pole (Ross Chastain, Michigan 2019)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
The #45 was utilized on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023, by three different organizations. The number also appeared in the ARCA Menards Series.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, 23XI Racing — co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — has fielded the #45 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Cup Series for the last two seasons, first for Kurt Busch, and more recently for Tyler Reddick.
At Phoenix, the final race of the 2023 season, Reddick joined teammate Bubba Wallace in running a special ‘Star Wars’-themed paint scheme, in which he recorded a 22nd-place finish.
Reddick will return for his second full-time campaign with 23XI Racing in 2024, driving the #45 Toyota Camry XSE.
Alpha Prime Racing, co-owned by Caesar Bacarella and Tommy Joe Martins, is currently fielding the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with the ride being shared (in 2023) by Stefan Parsons, Rajah Caruth, Leland Honeyman, Sage Karam, and Jeffrey Earnhardt - among others.
The organization began using the #45 in the second-tier series in 2022 when expanding to a two-car operation — and rebranding from Martins Motorsports to Alpha Prime Racing. At Bristol in 2022, Parsons drove the entry to 8th, the sole top-10 result for the team while using the number.
Though, next season, the organization will be contesting a partial schedule with the #45 Chevrolet Camaro, with co-owner Caesar Bacarella running at least four superspeedway races, starting at Daytona.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Niece Motorsports has established a long-standing history with the #45, utilizing the number since its first foray into the series in 2018 — with driver Casey Smith.
Since 2022, Lawless Alan has carried the number on the side of his truck, having run two full-time seasons for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with a best finish of 10th at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2023.
As of now, Niece Motorsports has yet to confirm the status of Lawless Alan for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign, and with that comes the uncertainty of the return of the #45.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #46?
NASCAR Cup Series: Kyle Petty - 245 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Charlie Luck - 98 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Lawless Alan - 48 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #46 IN NASCAR
After the shuttering of Petty Enterprises, the #45 was not used in the NASCAR Cup Series again until 23XI Racing opened its second full-time entry — to be driven by Kurt Busch in 2022.
Adam Petty — son of Kyle Petty and grandson of Richard Petty — made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the #45 for Petty Enterprises, just one month before passing away in a practice crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Honoring his son, Kyle Petty would take over the driving duties of the #45 during the 2000 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, before continuing to carry the number until his retirement in 2008.
The #45 didn’t make its debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series until the fifth race of the 1999 season — the fourth year of NASCAR’s Truck Series. Rich Bickle served as driver and owner of the entry in that race, finishing last, after completing just one lap.
An eight-place finish by Stefan Parsons at Bristol Motor Speedway is the only top-10 result that the #45 has had in the last 23 seasons of NASCAR Xfinity Series competition.
Rich Bickle is the only driver to make at least one start in the #45 in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
In 189 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts, the #45 has been a Chevrolet 177 of those times — but despite a low volume of non-Chevrolet events, has run four manufacturers (Dodge, Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet).