#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 3 Days!
Thursday, February 15th, 2024 -- 3 Days Until Daytona!
3 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #3 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-03 — Hillsboro — Bill Snowden
NXS: 1982-01 — Daytona — Mike Porter
NCTS: 1995-02 — Tucson — Mike Skinner
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 101 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Dale Earnhardt, 67)
NXS: 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 15)
NCTS: 29 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: Mike Skinner, 16)
BEST START:
NCS: 69 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Dale Earnhardt, 18)
NXS: 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Austin Dillon, 10)
NCTS: 34 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: Mike Skinner, 14)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the No. 3 was fielded full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. However, the number didn’t make an appearance in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
At NASCAR’s top level, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has kept a stranglehold on fielding the No. 3 since the death of Dale Earnhardt in February 2001. Since 2014, Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress, has driven the entry.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has also kept a stranglehold on fielding the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro. Although in the past, the team has opened up to drivers outside the Childress family, Ty Dillon drove it part-time in the series last year.
The team has yet to announce plans for the No. 3 to return in 2024.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, while Richard Childress Racing did field an entry using the number for a while, the No. 3 has taken on a more unique profile with Jordan Anderson Racing using it for several years.
However, since Anderson pivoted his focus to the NASCAR Xfinity Series program for Jordan Anderson Racing, the number has gone unused — last running Talladega with Anderson in the Fall of 2022.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #3?
NASCAR Cup Series: Dale Earnhardt — 529 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Ty Dillon — 136 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Jordan Anderson — 81 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #3 IN NASCAR
The No. 3 is one of the most iconic numbers in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series and still, to this day, finds ways to honor seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, who scored 67 of his 76 wins using the car number.
Austin Dillon is one of three drivers in the history of NASCAR to score victories in each of NASCAR’s National Series while using the same vehicle number — joining Terry Labonte and Kyle Busch.
Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon — brothers, and grandsons of Richard Childress — have each won in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while using the No. 3.
While Dale Earnhardt, Jr. never utilized the No. 3 in the NASCAR Cup Series, the son of the late Dale Earnhardt did score 15 wins in the Xfinity Series with the number — outscoring his father, who only won nine in the No. 3.
Despite a winning pedigree in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, there have only been sixteen drivers that have piloted the No. 3 in the series — 10 of which have driven exclusively for Jordan Anderson Racing.
Mike Skinner recorded a mind-blowing 34 top-five finishes in 44 starts driving the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In that time, he also won 14 poles.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Mike Porter captured the pole for the inaugural event for the series at Daytona. Meanwhile, in the NASCAR Truck Series, Skinner captured the victory in the inaugural race, then won four straight poles afterward.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, the Earnhardt and Childress families have combined for 888 of 1,498 starts for the No. 3. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, they combine for 348 of 571 starts.