Nationwide Series

A NASCAR racing series, formerly known as the Busch Series, it became the Nationwide Series for the 2008 season when title sponsor Busch beer was replaced by Nationwide insurance.

Grand National Champions

2008

Races

2009

Races

2010

Races

Points Standings

2011

For the 2011 season, NASCAR would institute two points system changes that would dramatically alter the championships in its top series as well as the automatic qualification rules.

Aside from bonus points, drivers would be awarded 43 points for first place, 42 for second, 41 for third, and so on until 1 point was awarded for 43rd place.  This had a dramatic effect on the Sprint Cup's "Top 35" automatic qualification rule, as in previous seasons last place was worth 34 points and each position up to 11th place was worth just 3 points.  42nd place was worth 37 points, 41st worth 40 points, and it took getting up to 31st place's 70 points to double the last place total.  With the new points system, teams had more incentive to stay in the race and teams intending to compete were able to climb above the "Start and Park" teams more easily as under the new points system 42nd place was worth twice the points of last place, 41st worth 3 times the points, and 31st place was worth 13 points, 13 times as much as last place instead of a little over twice as much.

The second major change was to require drivers to compete for just one championship, effectively taking the Sprint Cup regulars out of contention for the Nationwide Series championship, ending an era of dual full-time competition that began with Kevin Harvick's simultaneous 2001 Busch Grand National Championship and Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title.

Races

2012

Races

Article Index