2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
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The 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series began on February 16, 2008, at Daytona International Speedway with the Camping World 300. The season will conclude on November 15, 2008, at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 300. NASCAR's second-tier series will be known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning with the 2008 season, ending the 26 year sponsorship by Anheuser-Busch's Busch Beer. The seven-year agreement gives Nationwide Insurance the exclusive rights to tie its brand to NASCAR's second most popular racing series.[1]
[edit] Schedule
The following table shows the 2008 schedule published by NASCAR. Race names are subject to change.[2]
♣ — Race will run at night, or start in the late afternoon, and finish at night.
Bold Italics - Indicates current or next race.
[edit] Teams
[edit] Full time
The following is a list of teams that are trying to run the full 35 race schedule in 2008.
(R) - Denotes a Rookie of the Year candidate.
[edit] Part time
The following is a list of teams that are running part time in 2008.
[edit] Television
The 2008 TV schedule will follow the same format as 2007, most races will be broadcast on ESPN2 and six races will be broadcast on ABC when ESPN2 broadcasts larger sporting events. All races will be shown live on free-to-air TV in Australia on Ten HD
[edit] 2008 season races
See List of 2008 NASCAR races for a complete list and schedule of the 2008 season races.
[edit] Camping World 300
The Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet was held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole and then went on to win the race. Stewart became the first driver to win the season opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona from the pole.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 20 |  Tony Stewart |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 18 |  Kyle Busch |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 3 | 5 |  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 4 | 10 | Brian Vickers |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 5 | 17 |  Matt Kenseth |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 41 |  Bryan Clauson (R) |
Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 7 | 16 |  Greg Biffle |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 8 | 32 |  Denny Hamlin |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 9 | 6 |  David Ragan |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 10 | 60 |  Carl Edwards |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| Average race speed: 154.154 mph (248.087 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 16 among 8 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 4 for 12 laps | ||||||||
Did not Qualify: #56 Danny O'Quinn Jr., #89 Morgan Shepherd, #91 Larry Gunselman, #36 Kenny Wallace, #61 Kevin Lepage, #87 Joe Nemechek, #52 Donnie Neuenberger, #05 Brett Rowe, #84 Mike Harmon, #0 Kertus Davis
NOTE: On February 20 NASCAR announced that seven Nationwide teams had been penalized due to rule violations during Speedweeks at Daytona. The most notable was Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s #5 team whose crew chief was fined $25,000 and suspended for the next six Nationwide Series events until April 9. Earnhardt Jr. was penalized with the loss of 50 driver points, while car owner Rick Hendrick was penalized 50 owner points. An altered rear spoiler was found during post practice template inspection which enhanced the aerodynamic performance on the car.[4] On March 4 it was announced that some teams had their penalty's upheld and some rescinded by the National Stock Car Racing Commission. Rusty Wallace, Inc. had 3 penalty's rescinded on the #64 car driven by David Stremme.[5] The commission also amended 2 of 3 penalty's issued to Richardson-Hass Motorsports' #14 car driven by David Gilliland.[6] The commission also reduced a fine against Kevin Harvick Incorporated #77 crew chief Charles Wilson from $15,000 to $5,000 and also reduced a suspension from the next 6 races to only 4 races.[7] The commission opted to uphold penalties against the JD Motorsports #0 car driven by Kertus Davis.[8] The commission also decided to amend 2 of 3 penalty's issued to the Phoenix Racing #1 car driven by Johnny Sauter.[9]
[edit] Stater Brothers 300
The Stater Brothers 300 was held on Monday, February 25 due to rain at the newly renamed Auto Club Speedway of Southern California (previously California Speedway) in Fontana, California. Jeff Burton won the pole due to qualifying being canceled after being rained out. The race was scheduled to be held on the 23rd, but water seeping onto the track surface prevented this, and it was then scheduled to be held after Sunday's Auto Club 500. More rain postponed that, and again also delayed the Nationwide race to Monday, an hour after the completion of the Sprint Cup Series race. Tony Stewart dominated most of the day leading 139 of 150 laps with fellow Toyota driver David Reutimann sitting in 2nd for much of the race.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 32 | Kyle Busch |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 3 | 33 | Kevin Harvick |
Chevrolet | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | ||||
| 4 | 99 |  David Reutimann |
Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 5 | 60 | Carl Edwards |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 17 | Jamie McMurray |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 7 | 5 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 29 | Jeff Burton |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 2 |  Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 10 | 21 | Stephen Leicht |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| Average race speed: 141.769 mph (228.155 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 11 among 9 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 5 for 19 laps | ||||||||
Did Not Qualify: None only 43 entries.
NOTE: Eric Norris driver of the #14 Carl A. Haas Motorsports entry withdrew, making only 42 starters.
[edit] Sam's Town 300
The Sam's Town 300 was held on March 1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.Brian Vickers won the pole. Just like the previous two weeks, Tony Stewart dominated the race. However, his chance to score his first Vegas win were dashed on lap 138 when he spun while alongside David Reutimann. Hometown hero Kyle Busch had to start in the back but worked his way through the field and took the lead after a lap 63 pit stop. However, his day would end on lap 103 when he cut a right front tire. Another strong car, the #29 of Jeff Burton, worked his way through the field following an unscheduled pit stop. However, on lap 158, his engine blew while challenging Mark Martin for the lead. Eventually, after 12 cautions, the race would turn to three drivers: Martin who was seeking to return to Victory Lane, Carl Edwards who was looking to keep his momentum going after his Cup win in Fontana, and Brad Keselowski, trying to make a name for himself and become the first non Cup Series driver to win since Aric Almirola last year. On lap 195 while Edwards and Keselowski were going side by side at the start/finish line, Martin tapped Edwards in the rear, spinning him into Keselowski and sending the race into overtime. Martin would easily fend off former teammate Greg Biffle for his first Nationwide Series win of the season. Martin later apologized to both Edwards and Keselowski in victory lane.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 5 |  Mark Martin |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 3 | 2 | Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 4 | 33 | Kevin Harvick |
Chevrolet | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | ||||
| 5 | 64 | David Stremme |
Dodge | Rusty Wallace, Inc. | ||||
| 6 | 40 |  Dario Franchitti (R) |
Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 7 | 7 | Mike Wallace |
Toyota | Germain Racing | ||||
| 8 | 9 |  Patrick Carpentier |
Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 27 |  Brad Coleman |
Ford | Baker Curb Racing | ||||
| 10 | 6 | David Ragan |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| Average race speed: 108.118 mph (173.999 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 15 among 11 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 13 for 55 laps | ||||||||
Did Not Qualify: #12 Sam Hornish, Jr., #84 Mike Harmon
[edit] Nicorette 300
The Nicorette 300 was held on March 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole. As usual, the race would be dominated by Sprint Cup Series points leader Kyle Busch. Busch hoped to make history by being the points leader in all three of NASCAR's top racing circuits. He would do so to an extent, leading 153 laps. However, Busch's hopes would be derailed by a flat tire while entering turn 1. His misfortune would open the door for other drivers such as Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, and polesitter Burton. David Ragan would take the top spot after pit stops under the caution for Busch's crash. However, Burton and Kenseth took first and second on lap 177. Things would stay this way for 9 laps until Kenseth made the pass for the lead. The main highlight of the race came on lap 189. While exiting turn two, Dale Earnhardt Jr. attempted to pass Eric McClure. However, McClure spun in front of Dale Jr., turning him into the wall and into the path of rookie Bryan Clauson, who hit McClure's car as it hit the wall, lifting it off the ground. This brought out a red flag lasting several minutes. Although Kenseth led with three to go, debris from Ragan's car brought out a green-white-checkered finish to lap 198, with Kenseth holding off Harvick for his first win of the season.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 2 | 33 | Kevin Harvick |
Chevrolet | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | ||||
| 3 | 29 | Jeff Burton |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 4 | 60 | Carl Edwards |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 5 | 21 | Bobby Labonte |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 6 | 88 |  Brad Keselowski |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 7 | 22 |  Mike Bliss |
Dodge | Fitz Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 38 | Jason Leffler |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 9 | 9 | Kasey Kahne |
Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 10 | 99 | David Reutimann |
Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| Average race speed: 131.290 mph (211.291 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 22 among 11 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 8 for 22 laps | ||||||||
[edit] Sharpie Mini 300
The Sharpie Mini 300 was held March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Scott Wimmer won the pole. Unlike other races, Kyle Busch would not dominate this one, as he was taken out by a spinning Martin Truex Jr. on lap 13. 2006 Champion Kevin Harvick had one of the best cars all day but fell out of contention after his tire changer failed to secre a lugnut on lap 102. Clint Bowyer dominated the race, leading for 119 laps. However, the move of the race came on lap 164 when Bowyer and eight others stayed out on the track as rain began to hit the track. Up to that point, Bowyer had been fending off a charging Kasey Kahne for the past 40 laps before the rains hit. The cars would be pulled onto pit road on lap 171 and Bowyer would be declared the winner after a 47 minute rain delay.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 2 | Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne |
Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 3 | 99 | David Reutimann |
Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 4 | 88 | Brad Keselowski |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 22 | Mike Bliss |
Dodge | Fitz Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 38 | Jason Leffler |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 7 | 33 | Kevin Harvick |
Chevrolet | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | ||||
| 8 | 6 | David Ragan |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 64 | David Stremme |
Chevrolet | Rusty Wallace Racing | ||||
| 10 | 7 | Mike Wallace |
Toyota | Germain Racing | ||||
| Average race speed: 78.74 mph (126.72 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 6 among 3 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 7 for 30 laps | ||||||||
[edit] Pepsi 300
The Pepsi 300 was held on March 22 at Nashville Superspeedway. Kyle Busch won the pole. As usual, Busch would dominate the race, leading 125 laps. However, his bad luck would continue as he spun coming out of turn 4. This move handed the lead to Bristol winner Clint Bowyer who held the top spot until teammate Scott Wimmer passed him with 20 to go. Wimmer would hang on to snap his 57 race winless streak (since Pikes Peak in 2003) and become the first non-Sprint Cup driver to win a race in 2008.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 29 | Scott Wimmer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 2 | 2 | Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 3 | 60 | Carl Edwards |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 4 | 88 | Brad Keselowski |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 5 | 47 | Kelly Bires |
Ford | JTG Racing | ||||
| 6 | 64 | David Stremme |
Chevrolet | Rusty Wallace Racing | ||||
| 7 | 32 | Denny Hamlin |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 8 | 33 |  Cale Gale |
Chevrolet | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | ||||
| 9 | 99 | David Reutimann |
Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 10 | 25 |  Bobby Hamilton Jr. |
Ford | Team Rensi Motorsports | ||||
| Average race speed: 134.095 mph (215.805 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 10 among 4 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 3 for 20 laps | ||||||||
[edit] O'Reilly 300
The O'Reilly 300 was held on April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Kevin Harvick started from the pole after qualifying was rained out. Kyle Busch won the race, it was his first Nationwide Series win of the 2008 season. Busch led four times for 126 laps, including the final 43 laps of the race. Kevin Harvick who led 55 laps broke an axle on his first pit stop and lost 21 laps while his crew replaced it, he finished 34th. Tony Stewart went down a lap with an unscheduled pit stop on lap 71 after cutting his right rear tire. He had run over a lug nut on pit road during a green-flag pit stop on lap 56. Only 14 cars finished on the lead lap.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 29 | Jeff Burton |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 3 | 2 | Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 4 | 21 | Bobby Labonte |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 5 | 16 | Jamie McMurray |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 32 | Brian Vickers |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 7 | 5 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 8 | 2 | David Ragan |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 9 | 38 | Jason Leffler |
Toyota | Braun Racing | ||||
| 10 | 64 | Tony Stewart |
Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| Average race speed: 151.707 mph (244.149 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 12 among 8 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 4 for 13 laps | ||||||||
Failed to make race as qualifying was canceled due to rain: None only 43 cars.
[edit] Bashas' Supermarkets 200
The Bashas' Supermarkets 200 was held on April 11 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kyle Busch won the pole. As usual, the race would be dominated by Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch. Busch hoped to make history by being the points leader in all three of NASCAR's top racing circuits.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 60 | Carl Edwards |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 3 | 20 | Denny Hamlin |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 4 | 33 | Kevin Harvick |
Chevrolet | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | ||||
| 5 | 6 | David Ragan |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 6 | 1 | Mike Bliss |
Chevrolet | Phoenix Racing | ||||
| 7 | 21 | Stephen Leicht |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 2 | Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 9 | 99 | David Reutimann |
Toyota | Michael Waltrip Racing | ||||
| 10 | 64 | David Stremme |
Chevrolet | Rusty Wallace, Inc. | ||||
| Average race speed: 98.764 mph (158.945 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 14 among 5 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 9 for 36 laps | ||||||||
[edit] Corona México 200
The Corona México 200 was held on April 20 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico. Colin Braun won the pole. Kyle Busch won the race after passing Scott Pruett with 9 laps remaining. Busch warned over his radio that Pruett would get dumped if he kept blocking him, a reference to the 2007 race. The win was Busch's first on a road course and his third straight Nationwide Series win. Scott Pruett led 36 of the 80 laps and wound up finishing third. Road course veteran Boris Said struggled for most of the day and was spun out by Marcos Ambrose with 28 laps remaining. The damage took Said out of the race, and he angrily ponited at Ambrose. Boris commented that "He either made a mistake or he's incredibly stupid, and I don't think he'd make a big mistake like that. I wouldn't expect it from him. "I'm not going to get mad, I'm just going to get even."[10] Ambrose finished the day in second place, his best finish in the Nationwide Series.
| Top Ten Finishers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | ||||
| 1 | 20 | Kyle Busch |
Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
| 2 | 59 |  Marcos Ambrose |
Ford | JTG Racing | ||||
| 3 | 40 | Scott Pruett |
Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | ||||
| 4 | 60 | Carl Edwards |
Ford | Roush Fenway Racing | ||||
| 5 | 9 | Patrick Carpentier (R) |
Dodge | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | ||||
| 6 | 2 | Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 7 | 29 | Scott Wimmer |
Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | ||||
| 8 | 88 | Brad Keselowski |
Chevrolet | JR Motorsports | ||||
| 9 | 1 | Mike Bliss |
Chevrolet | Phoenix Racing | ||||
| 10 | 66 | Steve Wallace |
Chevrolet | Rusty Wallace, Inc. | ||||
| Average race speed: 68.124 mph (109.635 km/h) | ||||||||
| Lead changes: 10 among 7 drivers | ||||||||
| Cautions: 7 for 18 laps + (2 red flags) | ||||||||
Failed to Qualify: Brett Rowe (#05), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Derrike Cope (#49), Joe Fox (#0)
[edit] Aaron's 312
The Aaron's 312 was held on April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway, in Talladega, Alabama. Tony Stewart won the pole and later went on to win the race. Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. dominated much of the race running in first and second place respectively. 2007 IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti blew a tire on lap 11 and spun around onto the apron in Turn 3 into the path of the #91 car driven by Larry Gunselman who slammed into the driver's side of Franchitti's car. Franchitti suffered a fractured left ankle and minor contusions from the hard impact,[11] the injury would sideline him for 5 Sprint Cup Series races. The big wreck (often dubbed "The Big One") occurred on lap 71 when Kevin Lepage was coming off pit road and merged immediately in front of the lead pack traffic. Lepage was only running around 115 mph when the wreck happened compared to the leaders who were running 191 mph. Several contenders were taken out including Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. The race was red flagged to clean up debris. Around 16 cars were involved in the wreck, during the race several drivers were penalized for blending onto the track to early, instead of blending at Turn 2. Lepage publicly apologized for