#SrigleyStats Countdown to Daytona: 8 Days!
Saturday, February 10th, 2024 -- 8 Days Until Daytona!
8 DAYS UNTIL DAYTONA!
Let’s look back at the history of the #8 in NASCAR’s National Series.
FIRST USAGE:
NCS: 1949-02 — Daytona Beach — Billy Carden
NXS: 1982-04 — Martinsville — Mike Goins
NCTS: 1995-01 — Phoenix — John Borneman
BEST FINISH:
NCS: 44 NASCAR Cup Series Victories (Most: Joe Weatherly, 20)
NXS: 42 NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories (Most: Martin Truex, 13)
NCTS: 6 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory (Most: John Hunter Nemechek, 6)
BEST START:
NCS: 32 NASCAR Cup Series Poles (Most: Joe Weatherly, 16)
NXS: 28 NASCAR Xfinity Series Poles (Most: Martin Truex, Jr., 12)
NCTS: 3 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Poles (Most: John Hunter Nemechek, 2)
IS THE NUMBER ACTIVE?
Yes. In 2023, the #8 competed on a full-time basis in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the number only made a one-off appearance.
Richard Childress Racing (RCR) fields the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Cup Series, currently putting the entry on track for the two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch.
Busch joined the organization in 2023 after a shock move from Joe Gibbs Racing, working alongside Austin Dillon with Richard Childress Racing.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, JR Motorsports is responsible for fielding the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro, most recently for Josh Berry, who spent a three-season tenure with the team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
For 2024, JR Motorsports has tapped Sammy Smith to pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet, bringing sponsorship from Pilot / Flying J, TMC, and Allstate Peterbilt Group for a full-season — after a year at Joe Gibbs Racing.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Samuel LeComte attempted the event at Circuit of The Americas in the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports, but failed to qualify for the event.
WHO HAS MOST FREQUENTLY USED THE #8?
NASCAR Cup Series: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. — 291 Starts
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Josh Berry — 78 Starts
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: John Hunter Nemechek — 100 Starts
MISCELLANEOUS STATS ABOUT THE #8 IN NASCAR
Dale Earnhardt (eight wins) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (seven wins) have each scored victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series while piloting the #8.
In 2023, Josh Berry overtook Martin Truex, Jr. as the driver with the most starts in the #8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at 78.
John Hunter Nemechek has been so successful in the #8 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series scoring six victories, which is more than anybody else has in top-fives while piloting the number.
Despite having the second-most starts in the #8 in the NASCAR Truck Series, Bill Lester only managed to score a single top-10 result.
In one season piloting the #8 Chevrolet, Kyle Busch has already become the third-winningest driver in the NASCAR Cup Series with the car number, behind only Dale Jr. and Joe Weatherly.
In 110 NASCAR Cup Series starts driving the #8, Joe Weatherly managed to score an impressive 6.7 average finish — the most of anyone using the number with more than five starts by five positions.