NASCAR Xfinity Series


The NASCAR Xfinity Series is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is considered a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's top level circuit, the NASCAR Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a Cup Series event scheduled for that weekend.
The series was previously called the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series in 1982 and 1983, the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series from 1984 through 2002, the NASCAR Busch Series from 2003 through 2007, and the NASCAR Nationwide Series from 2008 through 2014. It is currently sponsored by Comcast via its consumer cable brand Xfinity.

History

The series emerged from NASCAR's Sportsman division, which had been formed in 1950 as NASCAR's short track race division. It was NASCAR's fourth series. The sportsman cars were not current model cars and could be modified more, but not as much as Modified series cars. It became the Late Model Sportsman Series in 1968, and soon featured races on larger tracks such as Daytona International Speedway. Drivers used obsolete Grand National cars on larger tracks but by the inception of the touring format in 1982, the series used older compact cars. Short track cars with relatively small 300 cubic inch V-8 motors were used. Drivers used smaller current year models featuring V6 motors.
The modern-day Xfinity Series was formed in 1982, when Anheuser-Busch sponsored a newly reformed late-model sportsman series with its Budweiser brand. The series switched sponsorship to Busch in 1984. It was renamed in 1986 to the Busch Grand National Series.
Grand National was dropped from the series' title in 2003 as part of NASCAR's brand identity. Anheuser-Busch dropped the sponsorship in 2007; Nationwide Insurance took over the sponsorship for the 2008 season, renaming it the Nationwide Series. The Nationwide sponsorship was a seven-year contract, and did not include the banking and mortgage departments of Nationwide. The sponsorship reportedly carried a $10 million commitment for 2008, with 6% annual escalations thereafter.
On September 3, 2014, it was announced that Comcast would become the new title sponsor of the series via its cable television and internet brand Xfinity, renaming it the Xfinity Series. In 2016, NASCAR implemented a seven-race Chase system similar to the one used in the NASCAR Cup Series.
On August 21, 2019, NASCAR announced that the field size of the NXS will be cut from 38 to 36

Races held outside the U.S.

On March 6, 2005, the series held its first race outside the United States, the Telcel-Motorola 200. The race was held in Mexico City, Mexico at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, a track that has held Formula One and Champ Car races in the past. It was won by Martin Truex Jr. On August 4, 2007, the series held its second race outside the United States, at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, another road course. It was won by Kevin Harvick, while Quebec native Patrick Carpentier finished second. In July 2008, NASCAR announced that the Nationwide Series would not return to Mexico City in 2009, and in 2012 they announced that it would not be returning to Montreal in 2013.

Chase for the championship

In 2016, the NXS and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series adopted a playoff format similar to the NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship. Unlike the NASCAR Cup Series, whose Chase consists of four rounds, the Xfinity Series and Truck Series both use a three-round format. After each of the first two rounds, the four Chase grid drivers with the fewest season points are eliminated from the grid and Chase contention.

Television broadcasting

United States

In the 1980s, races were sparsely shown, mainly by ESPN if they were covering the cup race at the same track. Starting in 1990, more races began to be shown. By the mid-1990s, all races were shown. Most standalone races were aired on TNN, which helped grow coverage of the series, while races that were companion races with Winston Cup dates mostly aired on the network airing the Cup race. TNN aired some of these races, which also aired on CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC and TBS.
From 2001 until 2006, Fox Sports covered the entire first half of the Busch Grand National season, while NBC and TNT both aired races during the second half, with Turner Sports producing all the coverage for both networks. However, in even numbered years, coverage was changed, with the opening race at Daytona airing on NBC in 2004, on TNT in 2002 and 2006 and the track's July race airing on FX. Large portions of Fox's coverage aired on sister network FX, with a few marquee events on the network itself.
From 2007 until 2014, ESPN was the home of the renamed Nationwide Series. Generally four races per season aired on ABC, with the remainder on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews. Early in ESPN's run, ESPN Classic was used for NNS overflow, however with less carriage of that network, this practice ended. Fox Sports did make a return to the series, airing the 2011 Bubba Burger 250 at Richmond on Speed Channel, due to ESPN giving up its exclusive rights to the race because of programming conflicts.
In 2015, the NXS returned to FOX Sports during the first half of the season. Like the previous time Fox held rights to the series, most of the coverage aired on cable, though this time it aired on Fox Sports 1. Four races aired on Fox itself until 2019, when all races moved to FS1. The second half of the NXS season will be televised by NBC Sports. Four races will air on NBC itself, while the others will air on NBCSN, or during the Olympics, CNBC or USA Network.

Latin America

The NXS is available in most Latin American countries on cable and satellite TV. Since 2006, Fox Sports 3 carries live coverage of all events. The races are also shown on Fox Sports Latin America, some of them live and some tape-delayed depending on the network's schedule. Televisa Deportes also broadcast a 30-minute recap every Sunday morning on national television in Mexico. In Brazil Fox Sports 2 carries all three series.

Australia

's additional high-definition service, ONE, began broadcasting races from the NXS live or near live during the 2008 season. ONE continued to air highlights packages of each race until the end of 2014. Broadcasts of the series are now exclusively shown on the Fox Sports pay TV channels.

Canada

All races are live on TSN channels using FOX's or NBC's coverage. Also, races are broadcast on RDS or RDS2 in French using the world feed produced by NASCAR.

Europe

In 2012, Motors TV broadcasts all Xfinity races live, delayed and highlights, until 2018 when the channel ceased operations.
The Portuguese channel, Sport TV broadcasts every Xfinity races live.

Asia

All races are live on Sports Illustrated Television channels using FOX's or NBC's coverage with highlights on Fox Sports Asia.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the Xfinity Series

Since the early days of the Xfinity Series, many NASCAR Cup Series drivers have used their days off to drive in the NXS. This can be for any number of reasons, most prominent or often claimed is to gain more "seat time", or to familiarize themselves with the track. Examples of this would be Dale Earnhardt, who won the very first NXS race, and Kyle Busch, who has won the most races in NXS history.
In recent years, this practice had been dubbed "Buschwhacking" by its detractors. The colloquialism originated when Anheuser-Busch was the main sponsor of the series by combining the name "Busch" with the term "bushwhacker," but it has gradually fallen out of use since Anheuser-Busch's sponsorship ended. Other nicknames, such as Claim Jumper, and Signal Pirate have never really caught on.
Critics claim that NASCAR Cup Series drivers racing in the NXS take away opportunities from the NXS regulars, usually younger and less experienced drivers. On the other hand, many fans claim that without the NASCAR Cup Series stars and the large amount of fan interest they attract on their own races, the NXS would be inadequate as a high-tier division. In addition, many NXS drivers have welcomed the Cup drivers because it gives them the opportunity to drive with more seasoned veterans.
In 2007, the NASCAR Cup Series began racing with the Car of Tomorrow, a radically new specification different from the NXS. NASCAR Cup Series drivers have admitted that driving the Xfinity car the day before the race does little to help with the NASCAR Cup Series race, as the cars differ greatly. This loosely resulted in the new Nationwide Series car making its debut in the 2010 Subway Jalapeño 250 at Daytona International Speedway. This car has a set-up closer to the current Cup car and some Cup drivers who have tested the car say it has similar handling characteristics. The new car has gone full-time since the 2011 season. In 2007, six out of the top ten drivers in the final point standings were Cup regulars, with Jason Leffler being the only non-Cup driver in that group to win a race in 2007. This number decreased from 2006 when 8 out of 10 drivers were Cup regulars. The decreased number is attributed to Cup regulars running only partial schedules, allowing for more NXS regulars to reach the top ten in points. However, the champions from 2006 to 2010 were all Cup regulars driving the full series schedule. As a result, beginning with the 2011 season, NASCAR implemented a rule stating that drivers could only compete for the drivers' championship in one of three national series of the drivers' choosing.
On October 26, 2016, NASCAR announced plans to limit Cup participation in the lower series starting in 2017. Cup drivers who were competing for points in the Cup Series with at least five years of experience in the series would be allowed to compete in up to ten NXS races, but are banned from racing in the series' regular season finale, Chase, and Dash 4 Cash races.

Xfinity Series cars

Comparison with a NASCAR Cup Series car

With the advent of NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow, NXS cars have become very different from their NASCAR Cup Series counterparts, the main differences being a slightly shorter wheelbase, 100 pounds less weight, and a less powerful engine. In the past, NXS competitors could use makes of cars not used in the Cup series, as well as V-6 engines instead of Cup's V-8s.
In the early 1980s, teams were switching from the General Motors 1971–77 X-Body compact cars with 311-cubic inch engines. Later, teams were using General Motors 1982–87 G-body cars. Ford teams have used the Thunderbird cars consistently.
In 1989, NASCAR changed rules requiring cars to use current body styles, similar to the Cup cars. However, the cars still used V6 engines. The cars gradually became similar to Cup cars.
In 1995, changes were made. The series switched to V-8s with a compression ratio of 9:1. The vehicle weight with driver was set at 3,300 pounds. The body style changes, as well as the introduction of V-8s, made the two series' cars increasingly similar.
The suspensions, brake systems, transmissions, were identical between the two series, but The Car of Tomorrow eliminates some of these commonalities. The Car of Tomorrow is taller and wider than the current generation vehicles in the Nationwide Series, and it utilizes a front "splitter", opposed to a front valance. The Car of Tomorrow has also been setting pole speeds slower than the NXS cars at companion races.
Previously, Busch Series cars used fuel that contained lead. NASCAR conducted a three-race test of unleaded gasoline in this series that began on July 29, 2006, with a race at Gateway International Raceway. The fuel, Sunoco GT 260 Unleaded, became mandatory in all series starting with the second weekend of the 2007 series, with Daytona being the last race weekend using leaded gasoline.
Another distinction between the cars started in 2008: Goodyear had developed a rain tire for NASCAR road course racing in both series but NASCAR never used them under race conditions. The program was abandoned by the NASCAR Cup Series in 2005, but the Busch Series continued to use rain tires in races at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, since the races could not be planned with rain dates. When rain started to fall at the 2008 NAPA Auto Parts 200, the tires were used in the rain for the first time.
Another distinction was added in 2012, when NASCAR changed the fuel delivery system in the Cup cars from carburetion to fuel injection. NXS cars continue to use carburetors.

Specifications

The then Nationwide Series unveiled its "Car of Tomorrow" at the July 2010 race at Daytona International Speedway. Before being fully integrated in the 2011 season, it was also used in 2010 races at Michigan International Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Xfinity CoT has important differences from the NASCAR Cup Series CoT, and the now-retired Generation 4 style car. The body and aerodynamic package differs from the NASCAR Cup Series cars, marketing American pony cars from the 1960s such as the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and Chevrolet Camaro. The Xfinity CoT shares its chassis with the NASCAR Cup Series CoT, but has an extended wheelbase of 110 inches.
Each manufacturer uses a distinct body design, built within strict aerodynamic guidelines provided by NASCAR. The Chevrolet car body currently resembles the Camaro SS, after initially running the Impala and then the Zeta-based Camaro. Ford uses the Mustang GT. Toyota runs the Camry, reconfigured in 2015 to resemble the current production model. Toyota announced they would be running the Supra starting in 2019, replacing the Camry, which had been run in the series since Toyota joined the Xfinity Series in 2007. Dodge teams used the Challenger R/T model, despite the manufacturer pulling all factory support after 2012. Following Dodge's exit, smaller underfunded teams continued to run second-hand Challenger chassis without factory support. As a result of a rules change after the 2018 season, all Challenger chassis were rendered ineligible for competition, as the series made the switch to composite body panels. Since FCA had pulled factory support years earlier, no new body was submitted for competition, ending the possibility of running a Challenger chassis in the series.

Manufacturer representation

Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series (1982–1983)

;Chrysler
;Ford
;General Motors
;Chrysler
;Ford
;General Motors
;Chrysler
;Ford
;General Motors
;Toyota
;Chrysler
;Ford
;General Motors
;Toyota
;FCA US
;Ford
;General Motors
;Toyota
;Xfinity Series
;Nationwide Series
;Busch Series
;Busch Series Grand National Division
;Busch Grand National Series
;Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series
;Late Model Sportsman Division
;Sportsman Division
Drivers highlighted in Bold would eventually go on to win at least one NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Rookie of the Year Award winners

Drivers highlighted in Bold would eventually go on to win at least one NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Drivers highlighted in Italics would eventually go on to win at least one Xfinity Championship.
Drivers highlighted in both Italics and Bold would eventually win at least 1 Xfinity & Cup Championship.
^ = Indicates the driver has won at least 1 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Championship.

All-time win table

All figures correct as of the 2020 Kansas Lottery 250 at Kansas Speedway.
Rank
Driver
Wins
197
249
347
439
538
631
730
829
927
1024
1124
1222
1322
1421
1521
1620
1717
1816
1916
2016
2115
2215
2315
2415
2513
2613
2713
2812
2912
3011
3111
3211
3311
3411
3511
3611
3710
3810
3910
409
419
429
439
449
459
469
479
488
498
508
518
527
537
547
556
566
576
586
596
606
616
625
635
645
655
665
675
685
694
704
714
724
734
744
754
764
774
784
794
804
813
823
833
843
853
863
873
883
893
903
913
922
932
942
952
962
972
982
992
1002
1012
1022
1032
1042
1052
1062
1072
1082
1092
1102
1112
1122
1132
1142
1152
1162
1172
1182
1192
1202
1212
1221
1231
1241
1251
1261
1271
1281
1291
1301
1311
1321
1331
1341
1351
1361
1371
1381
1391
1401
1411
1421
1431
1441
1451
1461
1471
1481
1491
1501
1511
1521
1531
1541
1551
1561
1571
1581
1591
1601
1611
1621
1631
1641

Most wins at each track

Current tracks

TrackDriverWinsRace Name
Atlanta Motor SpeedwayKevin Harvick5EchoPark 250
Auto Club SpeedwayKyle Busch6Active: Production Alliance Group 300
Defunct: CampingWorld.com 300
Bristol Motor SpeedwayKyle Busch9Spring: Alsco 300
Fall: Food City 300
Charlotte Motor SpeedwayKyle Busch8Active: Alsco 300
Defunct: Drive for the Cure 250
Charlotte Motor Speedway Chase Briscoe & A.J. Allmendinger1Drive for the Cure 250
Chicagoland SpeedwayKyle Busch4Active: Chicagoland 300
Defunct: Owens Corning AttiCat 300
Darlington RacewayMark Martin8Active: Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200
Defunct: BI-LO 200
Daytona International SpeedwayDale Earnhardt & Tony Stewart7Late Winter: NASCAR Racing Experience 300
Fall: Coca-Cola 250
Dover International SpeedwayKyle Busch5Spring: Allied Steel Buildings 200
Late Summer: Use Your Melon Drive Sober 200
Homestead-Miami SpeedwayJoe Nemechek32020Census.gov 300
Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKyle Busch4Pennzoil 150
Iowa SpeedwayRicky Stenhouse Jr. & Brad Keselowski3Early Summer: CircuitCity.com 250
Late Summer: U.S. Cellular 250
Kansas SpeedwayKyle Busch4Kansas Lottery 300
Kentucky SpeedwayJoey Logano, Brad Keselowski & Kyle Busch3Active: Alsco 300
Defunct: VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300
Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayMark Martin4Spring: Boyd Gaming 300
Fall: Alsco 300
Martinsville Speedway^Sam Ard5Active: NASCAR Xfinity Series 300
Defunct: Miller 500
Defunct: Zerex 150
Michigan International SpeedwayMark Martin, Todd Bodine, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, & Denny Hamlin		2LTi Printing 250
New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayKyle Busch6ROXOR 200
Phoenix International RacewayKyle Busch11Spring: LS Tractor 200
Fall: Desert Diamond West Valley Casino 200
Pocono RacewayKyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Cole Custer1Pocono Green 225
Richmond RacewayKevin Harvick7Active: Go Bowling 250
Defunct: ToyotaCare 250
Talladega SuperspeedwayMartin Truex Jr.3MoneyLion 300
Texas Motor SpeedwayKyle Busch9Spring: My Bariatric Solutions 300
Fall: O'Reilly Auto Parts 300
Watkins Glen InternationalTerry Labonte & Marcos Ambrose4Zippo 200 at The Glen

^ - Martinsville was added to the 2020 Xfinity Series schedule on April 3, 2019

Former tracks

List of manufacturers' championship winners