#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 5 Days!
Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 -- 5 Days Until Daytona!
5 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #5 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 — Charlotte — Felix Wilkes
NXS: 1982-12 — Hickory — Bob Freeze
NCTS: 1995-01 — Phoenix — Terry Labonte
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 61 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Kyle Larson, 17)
NXS: 31 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Kyle Busch, 1)
NCTS: 13 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: Mike Skinner, 12)
BEST START:
NCS: 68 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Geoff Bodine, 22)
NXS: 24 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Kyle Busch, 11)
NCTS: 37 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: Terry Labonte, 36)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the #5 was utilized full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The number also made select appearances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history, has fielded the No. 5 Chevrolet for several years, most recently with Kyle Larson, who captured the title with that same number in 2021.
The 14-time championship-winning organization has laid claim to the No. 5 since 1984, when Geoffrey Bodine took it on for Hendrick Motorsports and scored three victories.
In 2023, Big Machine Racing was fielding the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with Jade Buford running the superspeedway races for the organization in a second entry.
However, in 2024, Anthony Alfredo and Our Motorsports gave the No. 5 Chevrolet a brand-new look in the second-tier series, running the number for the full NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, TRICON Garage — formerly David Gilliland Racing — is using the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the second consecutive season, with Dean Thompson behind the wheel of the entry.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #5?
NASCAR Cup Series: Terry Labonte — 368 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Kyle Busch — 97 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Mike Skinner — 159 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #5 IN NASCAR
Terry Labonte is one of three drivers to capture victories in each of NASCAR’s National Series while using the same vehicle number (#5) — joining a list that includes Kyle Busch (#18) and Austin Dillon (#3).
Despite only having 23 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while using the #5, Dean Thompson ranks second-place all-time in starts for the number, behind only Mike Skinner (159).
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the #5 has hosted a ton of high-level drivers, including NASCAR Cup Series champions Kyle Busch, Terry Labonte, and Kevin Harvick, as well as multi-race winners like Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, and Geoffrey Bodine.
In 108 NASCAR Cup Series starts in the No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson has amassed an impressive 17 victories, more than NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Terry Labonte scored in his 368-race tenure in the #5.
Between the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chevrolet has been the main manufacturer associated with the No. 5, running 2046 of the 2472
Between the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chevrolet has been the main manufacturer associated with the No. 5, with 2046 of 2472 starts (82.77%).