There have been seven different race winners in 2008 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series: Tony Stewart (four), Kyle Busch (four), Denny Hamlin (two), Mark Martin (one), Matt Kenseth (one), Clint Bowyer (one), Scott Wimmer (one). Kevin Harvick, who had finished 21st at Daytona, scored four consecutive top 10s and led the point standings going into Nashville. Bowyer took the lead at Nashville (Harvick did not participate in that race) and has retained it since. Bowyer is now 121 points ahead of second-place Busch.
Series Record
Denny Hamlin won at Richmond, scoring the fifth consecutive victory for Joe Gibbs Racing. It was the first time in the history of the NASCAR Nationwide Series that an owner posted five straight wins. Three different drivers registered victories for JGR – Kyle Busch (Texas and Phoenix in the No. 18 and Mexico in the No. 20), Tony Stewart (Talladega in the No. 20) and Hamlin (in the No. 20). Stewart extended the Gibbs streak to six races with his victory at Darlington (the fourth straight for the No. 20). Roush Fenway Racing recorded four consecutive victories in 2000 (Rockingham through Darlington) with Mark Martin winning Rockingham, Atlanta and Darlington (in the No. 60) and Jeff Burton winning Las Vegas (in the No. 9).
Dominance Rebirth
Tony Stewart has won four of the six NASCAR Nationwide Series races that he has participated in this season. Success in a partial season is not a new concept in the series. Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin both had very successful partial seasons over the years. Earnhardt won five of the 11 series races he participated in during 1986; three of seven in 1991 and two of four in 1993. Martin won seven of 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series races that he ran in 1993, six of 14 in both 1996 and 1999 and has one victory in his two
races this season.
2008 Season Highlights
• Tony Stewart won the season-opening race at Daytona, then repeated his trip to Victory Lane in the second race (California). It was just the third time in NASCAR Nationwide Series history a driver had won the first two races of the season (Dale Earnhardt in 1986 and Chad Little in 1995).
• Mark Martin won the third race of the season (Las Vegas) – ending Stewart’s bid to become the first driver to win the first three races of a season in NASCAR Nationwide Series history.
• Matt Kenseth posted the first victory for Ford in 2008 with his win at Atlanta – making three different manufacturers to win in the first four races.
• Clint Bowyer won at Bristol, becoming the 10th consecutive different race winner at the Tennessee short track.
• Kyle Busch posted his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of 2008 with his win at Texas. Busch has won in all three of NASCAR’s national series this season, making this the fourth consecutive
season he has done so. Only two other drivers have accomplished the feat – Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Terry Labonte in 1995.
• Kyle Busch became the second repeat winner with his victory at Phoenix. Like Tony Stewart, Busch’s wins came in consecutive races.
• Kyle Busch posted his third consecutive victory of 2008 with his win at Mexico City. Busch’s victories all came on different type tracks.
• Tony Stewart won his second restrictor-plate race with his victory at Talladega.
• Tony Stewart won his fourth race of the season and the sixth consecutive for Joe Gibbs Racing with his win at Darlington – his first there in any NASCAR series.
• Kyle Busch became the second four-time winner of the season with his victory at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
• Denny Hamlin became the third multiple-race winner with his victory at Dover.
Qualifying
• 108 drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one race this season.
• There have been five different pole winners in 2008: Tony Stewart (two), Kyle Busch (two), Brian Vickers (two), Carl Edwards (two), Colin Braun (one), Kasey Kahne (one).
• Colin Braun won the pole at Mexico City in his third series start.
• Qualifying was canceled at California, Atlanta, Bristol and Texas.
• 40 drivers have posted at least one top-10 start this season, led by Clint Bowyer with 12.
• Mark Green qualified fourth at Richmond – his best start since he rolled off fifth at Rockingham in October 1998.
The Races
• 103 drivers have qualified for at least one NASCAR Nationwide Series race this season.
• 40 drivers have registered at least one top-10 finish in 2008, led by Clint Bowyer with 11.
• Five races have been extended by green-white-checkered finishes in 2008.
• Kyle Busch has won four races this season – in three different cars, for two different owners. Jamie McMurray won three races in 2004 – each for a different car owner.
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