9 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #9 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-01 — Charlotte — Pee Wee Martin
NXS: 1982-01 — Daytona — Gene Morgan
NCTS: 1995-20 — Phoenix — Joe Bessey
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 71 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Bill Elliott, 38)
NXS: 49 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Jeff Burton, 16)
NCTS: 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory (Most: William Byron, 7)
BEST START:
NCS: 80 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Bill Elliott, 46)
NXS: 25 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Noah Gragson, 10)
NCTS: 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Pole (Most: William Byron, 6)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the #9 competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for three different organizations.
Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, fields the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro for Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. The number has importance to Elliott, whose father Bill Elliott piloted the #9 in the NASCAR Cup Series for several years, scoring 38 victories.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Brandon Jones is the latest driver in a string of rotating pilots in the #9 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports — an affiliate of Hendrick Motorsports.
Jones had a dismal season in 2023, missing out on the Xfinity Series post-season, ending a long-standing streak of having proven race-winners and championship contenders pilot the entry.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, CR7 Motorsports (despite the name that would indicate otherwise) fields the #9 Chevrolet Silverado on a full-time basis. Last year, Colby Howard was the team’s full-time pilot, scoring an impressive run at Daytona.
However, for 2024, Grant Enfinger will hop behind the wheel of the #9 entry full-time with Jeff Stankewicz calling the shots. Champion Power Equipment and Grant County Mulch will partner with Enfinger.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #9?
NASCAR Cup Series: Bill Elliott — 446 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Noah Gragson — 132 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Ted Musgrave — 49 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #9 IN NASCAR
Both Bill Elliott and his son Chase Elliott have competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series while piloting the No. 9. Elliott was able to capture a championship in both series.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, both Brad Keselowski and his father Bob Keselowski made a single start while piloting the #9. Brad, a future Cup Series champion, wound up winning the pole and leading 62 laps - which ranks fourth of all drivers to pilot the #9 truck.
Of the nine drivers to score victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series while using the #9, four of them — Noah Gragson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick — are currently in the NASCAR Cup Series, after driving for JR Motorsports.
Every one of the drivers who won in the Xfinity Series while driving the #9 went on to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Shigeaki Hattori, owner of Hattori Racing Enterprises, competed in 10 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in the #9, with an average finish of 30.9.
Roy Tyner, who made 224 NASCAR Cup Series starts in the #9 with 10 top-five results, never managed to lead a lap while using the car number.
Of 1,763 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Chase and Bill Elliott account for 655 of them — nearly one-third. However, they do account for 56 victories, or nearly 80-percent.