#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 6 Days!
Monday, February 12th, 2024 -- 6 Days Until Daytona!
6 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #6 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-02 — Daytona Beach — Marshall Teague
NXS: 1982-02 — Richmond — Tommy Houston
NCTS: 1995-01 — Phoenix — Rick Carelli
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 83 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Martin Martin, 35)
NXS: 36 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Tommy Houston, 23)
NCTS: 18 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victories (Most: Mark Martin, 6)
BEST START:
NCS: 80 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Mark Martin, 39)
NXS: 49 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Tommy Houston, 18)
NCTS: 16 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: Colin Braun, 5)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the #6 was utilized on a full-time basis in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. The number also made select appearances in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, RFK Racing - previously Roush Fenway Racing - has a long-standing legacy of using the #6 in the NASCAR Cup Series, made famous by Mark Martin, who competed with the organization for many years.
Upon joining the team as co-owner in 2022, Brad Keselowski took over the reins of the #6 in the NASCAR Cup Series — while also making alterations to the number font to reflect a change in branding to Roush Fenway Keselowski.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, JD Motorsports has been responsible for fielding the No. 6 Chevrolet Camaro since 2020 — and while no announcements have been made for 2024, appears poised to do so once again.
Brennan Poole won’t return to the driver’s seat in 2024, though, as he moves on from JD Motorsports to compete full-time in the series with Alpha Prime Racing, driving the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Norm Benning is well-known for fielding the No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado, something he’s managed to do for the last decade, putting together several full-time campaigns with his underfunded team.
The plans for Benning, as far as fielding the No. 6 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Truck Series, are completely unknown, and as they have been for several years will likely be a week-to-week endeavor.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #6?
NASCAR Cup Series: Mark Martin — 619 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Tommy Houston — 388 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Norm Benning — 115 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #6 IN NASCAR
Mark Martin - infamous for driving the #6 in the NASCAR Cup Series — has made starts with the number in each of NASCAR’s National Series, scoring wins in the Cup Series and Truck Series, but never the Xfinity Series.
In the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, Ford has been the manufacturer of choice when using the #6 — mainly a result of Roush Fenway Racing’s influence.
Roush Fenway Racing is responsible for producing four of the five drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts in the #6 — Mark Martin, David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, and Ryan Newman.
Mark Martin has more than three times the number of NASCAR Cup Series starts in the #6 than any other driver.
RFK Racing — Roush Fenway Racing — has laid claim on the #6 in the NASCAR Cup Series since Mark Martin debuted for the organization in 1988. However, the organization didn’t use the number full-time from 2012 to 2014.
Ron Hornaday, Jr. and Matt Crafton — two of the most decorated drivers in the NASCAR Truck Series — ran the #6, driving for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. Hornaday managed to win a race, while Crafton did not, leading only 41 laps.