The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit. Nationwide Series races are frequently held in the same venue as, and a day prior to, the Sprint Cup race scheduled for that weekend, encouraging fans to attend both events.
The series was previously called the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. In December 2006, NASCAR officials confirmed that[Anheuser-Busch, parent company for Busch Beer, would not renew its sponsorship of NASCAR's No. 2 series after the end of the 2007 Season. On October 3, 2007, it was announced Nationwide Insurance would become the title sponsor beginning with the 2008 season.
Past champions[]
Nationwide Series Champions
- 2011 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- 2010 Brad Keselowski (Owners Championship -#18 Joe Gibbs Racing)
- 2009 Kyle Busch
- 2008 Clint Bowyer (Owners Championship- #20 Joe Gibbs Racing)
Busch Series Champions
- 2006 Kevin Harvick
- 2005 Martin Truex, Jr.
- 2004 Martin Truex, Jr.
Busch Grand National Series Champions
- 2003 Brian Vickers (Owners Championship – #21 Richard Childress Racing)
- 2002 Greg Biffle
- 2001 Kevin Harvick
- 2000 Jeff Green
- 1999 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
- 1998 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
- 1997 Randy LaJoie
- 1996 Randy LaJoie
- 1995 Johnny Benson
- 1994 David Green
- 1993 Steve Grissom
- 1992 Joe Nemechek
- 1991 Bobby Labonte
- 1990 Chuck Bown
- 1989 Rob Moroso
- 1988 Tommy Ellis
- 1987 Larry Pearson
- 1986 Larry Pearson
- 1985 Jack Ingram
- 1984 Sam Ard
Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Champions
- 1983 Sam Ard
- 1982 Jack Ingram
Late Model Sportsman Division Champions
- 1981 Tommy Ellis
- 1980 Morgan Shepherd
- 1979 Gene Glover
- 1978 Butch Lindley
- 1977 Butch Lindley
- 1976 L. D. Ottinger
- 1975 L. D. Ottinger
- 1974 Jack Ingram
- 1973 Jack Ingram
- 1972 Jack Ingram
- 1971 Red Farmer
- 1970 Red Farmer
- 1969 Red Farmer
- 1968 Joe Thurman
Sportsman Division Champions
- 1967 Pete Hamilton
- 1966 Don MacTavish
- 1965 Rene Charland
- 1964 Rene Charland
- 1963 Rene Charland
- 1962 Rene Charland
- 1961 Dick Nephew
- 1960 Bill Wimble
- 1959 Rick Henderson
- 1958 Ned Jarrett
- 1957 Ned Jarrett
- 1956 Ralph Earnhardt
- 1955 Billy Myers
- 1954 Danny Graves
- 1953 Johnny Roberts
- 1952 Mike Klapak
- 1951 Mike Klapak
- 1950 Mike Klapak
Gallery[]
See also[]
| NASCAR Nationwide Series seasons | ||
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1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 | ||