#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 44 Days!
Friday, January 5th, 2024 -- 44 Days Until Daytona!
44 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s take a look back at the history of the #44 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 - Charlotte - Bill Blair
NXS: 1982-26 - Myrtle Beach - Bobby Labonte
NCTS: 1996-01 - Homestead - Bryan Reffner
BEST FINISH:
NCS: P1 - 13 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Terry Labonte - 6)
NXS: P1 - 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Bobby Labonte - 8)
NCTS: P1 - 1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory (Sonoma 1998, Boris Said)
BEST START:
NCS: P1 - 28 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Terry Labonte - 16)
NXS: P1 - 27 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: David Green - 14)
NCTS: P1 - 5 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: Boris Said - 3)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
As of 2023, the #44 is being utilized on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and a part-time basis in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, NY Racing was the last organization to field the #44, doing so in five events at Daytona, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Richmond, and Talladega, with Greg Biffle behind the wheel — earning a best finish of 20th.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Alpha Prime Racing currently fields the #44 Chevrolet Camaro on a full-time basis, and in 2023 had Rajah Caruth, Daniel Dye, Leland Honeyman, Sage Karam, Brad Perez, and others behind the wheel.
For the upcoming Xfinity Series campaign, the organization announced that Brennan Poole would be competing full-time in the #44, with sponsorship from Finance Pro Plus and Maac Door Systems.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Niece Motorsports has been the organization to utilize the #44 since 2019, with a variety of different drivers over the years. However, in 2023, the number serves as the team’s fourth, only running part-time.
This past season Kaden Honeycutt, Danny Bohn, and Chad Chastain all took turns behind the wheel of the #44 Chevrolet, however, only Honeycutt made the show, while both Bohn and Chastain DNQed.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #44?
NASCAR Cup Series: Terry Labonte - 259 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Bobby Labonte - 136 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Boris Said - 58 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #44 IN NASCAR
The #44 is one of 49 numbers to win in each of NASCAR’s National Series.
From 1949 to 2004, the #44 had been used at least one time every season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Typically, the usage of the #44 in NASCAR is associated with the Petty family. However, throughout their careers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, and Justin Labonte all utilized the number multiple times.
In 2020, while piloting the #44 for Niece Motorsports, Natalie Decker became the first woman to finish inside the top five in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with a fifth-place result at Daytona International Speedway.
Stefan Parsons scoring a top-five in the 2022 Summer event at Daytona marked the first time since Chicago in 2004 - when Justin Labonte won the race — that the #44 had finished inside the top five in the Xfinity Series.
All three of Boris Said’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole positions while driving the #44 have come road courses.
A total of three women have made NASCAR National Series starts while piloting the #44 — Natalie Decker, Angela Ruch, and Julia Landauer.