The 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series was the 27th season of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the second national professional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway with the Camping World 300, and ended on November 15 at Homestead–Miami Speedway with the Ford 300. This was the first season in which NASCAR's second national series was known as the Nationwide Series, ending the 26-year sponsorship by Anheuser-Busch's Busch Beer. The seven-year agreement gave Nationwide Insurance the exclusive rights to tie its brand to NASCAR's second-most popular racing series.
Schedule
The following table shows the 2008 schedule published by NASCAR.
Race titleTrackLocationDate 1 Camping World 300Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, Florida February 16 2 Stater Brothers 300 Auto Club SpeedwayFontana, California February 23 3 Sam's Town 300 Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, Nevada March 1 4 Nicorette 300 Atlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, Georgia March 8 5 Sharpie Mini 300 Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, Tennessee March 15 6 Pepsi 300 Nashville SuperspeedwayLebanon, Tennessee March 22 7 O'Reilly 300 Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas April 5 8 Bashas' Supermarkets 200 Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona April 11 9 Corona México 200 Autódromo Hermanos RodríguezMexico City, Mexico April 20 10 Aaron's 312 Talladega SuperspeedwayLincoln, Alabama April 26 11 Lipton Tea 250 Richmond International RacewayRichmond, Virginia May 2 12 Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Darlington RacewayDarlington, South Carolina May 9 13 Carquest Auto Parts 300 Lowe's Motor SpeedwayConcord, North Carolina May 24 14 Heluva Good! 200 Dover International SpeedwayDover, Delaware May 31 15 Federated Auto Parts 300 Nashville SuperspeedwayLebanon, Tennessee June 7 16 Meijer 300 Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, Kentucky June 14 17 Camping World RV Rental 250 Milwaukee MileWest Allis, Wisconsin June 21 18 Camping World RV Sales 200 New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayLoudon, New Hampshire June 28 19 Winn-Dixie 250 Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, Florida July 4 20 Dollar General 300 Chicagoland SpeedwayJoliet, Illinois July 11 21 Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 Gateway International RacewayMadison, Illinois July 19 22 Kroger 200 O'Reilly Raceway ParkBrownsburg, Indiana July 26 23 NAPA Auto Parts 200 Circuit Gilles VilleneuveMontreal, Quebec, Canada August 2 24 Zippo 200 Watkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New York August 9 25 CarFax 250 Michigan International SpeedwayCambridge Township, Michigan August 16 26 Food City 250 Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, Tennessee August 22 27 Camping World 300 Auto Club SpeedwayFontana, California August 30 28 Emerson Radio 250 Richmond International RacewayRichmond, Virginia September 5 29 RoadLoans.com 200 Dover International SpeedwayDover, Delaware September 20 30 Kansas Lottery 300 Kansas SpeedwayKansas City, Kansas September 27 31 Dollar General 300 Lowe's Motor SpeedwayConcord, North Carolina October 10 32 Sam's Town 250 Memphis Motorsports ParkMillington, Tennessee October 25 33 O'Reilly Challenge Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas November 1 34 Arizona.Travel 200 Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona November 8 35 Ford 300 Homestead–Miami SpeedwayHomestead, Florida November 15
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew chief Chevrolet CJM Racing 11 Jason Keller Todd Gordon Michael Sibley Scott Lagasse Jr. Front Row Motorsports 24 Eric McClure Cal Boprey Carl Long Brian Simo Jay Robinson Racing 28 Kirk Shelmerdine Kenneth Campbell Bob Keselowski Rick Gay Mark Fordham Chris Rice Brian Keselowski Kenny Wallace JD Motorsports 01 Dwayne Leik Dwayne Leik qualified the No. 01 car at Daytona (race #1), but was replaced in the race by Kertus Davis after he failed to qualify in his own No. 0 car. Kertus Davis J. C. Stout Mike Potter James Hylton Danny Efland Trevor Boys Wheeler Boys Larry Gunselman JR Motorsports 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chad Walter Lance McGrew Cam Strader Mark Martin Martin Truex Jr. Landon Cassill Adrián Fernández Jimmie Johnson Ron Fellows 88 Brad Keselowski Tony Eury Sr. Kevin Harvick, Inc. 33 Kevin Harvick Wally Rogers Rick Ren Jason Meeks Cale Gale (R) Ron Hornaday Jr. Ryan Newman MSRP Motorsports 90 Steve Grissom Jack Walter David Ingram Jr. Scott Lynch Todd Bodine Johnny Chapman Chris Cook Don Thomson Jr. Terry Cook Phoenix Racing 1 Johnny Sauter Jon Wolfe Marc Reno Sterling Marlin Mike Bliss Richard Childress Racing 2 Clint Bowyer Dan Deeringhoff 29 Scott Wimmer Pat Smith Jeff Burton Rusty Wallace Racing 64 David Stremme Steve Darne Dale Ferguson Max Papis 66 Steve Wallace Harold Holly Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 40 Dario Franchitti (R) Brad Parrott Bryan Clauson (R) Scott Pruett Reed Sorenson Kevin Hamlin Juan Pablo Montoya Gillett Evernham Motorsports 9 Kasey Kahne Elliott Sadler Patrick Carpentier Chase Miller (R) A. J. Allmendinger MacDonald Motorsports 81 D. J. Kennington Brad Baker Bryan Clauson Randy MacDonald Shane Huffman P. J. Jones Kevin Hamlin Bobby Hillin Jr. Ford Baker Curb Racing 27 Brad Coleman Shawn Parker Jeff White David Gilliland Burney Lamar Casey Atwood Jason Keller JTG Daugherty Racing 47 Kelly Bires Scott Zipadelli 59 Marcos Ambrose Walter Giles Gary Cogswell Roush Fenway Racing 6 David Ragan Mike Kelley 60 Carl Edwards Pierre Kuettel Drew Blickensderfer Team Rensi Motorsports 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Chris Wright Boris Said Toyota Braun Racing 32 Denny Hamlin Kyle Busch Brian Vickers James Buescher Michel Jourdain Jr. Jacques Villeneuve 38 Jason Leffler Stewart Cooper Paul Wolfe Todd Lohse Germain Racing 7 Mike Wallace Bruce Cook Joe Gibbs Racing 20 Tony Stewart Dave Rogers Wally Brown Doug Hewitt Kyle Busch Denny Hamlin Joey Logano Michael Waltrip Racing 99 David Reutimann Jerry Baxter ChevroletFord Day Enterprise Racing 05 Brett Rowe Danny O'Quinn Jr. Justin Ashburn Burney Lamar Casey Atwood MSRP Motorsports 91 Larry Gunselman Kenny Hendrick Terry Cook Justin Hobgood Scott Steckly Michael McDowell Todd Bodine Specialty Racing 61 Kevin Lepage Brandon Whitt Stanton Barrett Motorsports Stan Barrett ChevroletDodge Faith Motorsports 89 Morgan Shepherd Jay Robinson Racing 4 Robert Richardson Jr. Landon Cassill Derrike Cope Jerick Johnson Sheltra Motorsports Patrick Sheltra DodgeToyota Fitz Motorsports 22 Mike Bliss Paul Wolfe Steve Darne Robby Gordon Rubén Pardo Reed Sorenson Johnny Sauter Josh Wise Andrew Ranger Ryan Newman Jarit Johnson Marc Davis FordChevroletDodge Means Racing 52 Donnie Neuenberger Derrike Cope Scott Gaylord Brad Teague Brad Teague qualified the No. 52 car at Chicagoland (race #20), but was replaced in the race by Kevin Lepage after he failed to qualify in his own No. 43 car. Kevin Lepage Boris Said Tony Raines
Part-time schedule ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew chiefRoundsChevrolet Bob Schacht Motorsports 75 Johnny Sauter Bob Schacht Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 8 Martin Truex Jr. Mike Greci Kerry Earnhardt Elite 2 Racing 84 Mike Harmon Carl Long Kevin Lepage Dale Quarterley JD Motorsports 0 Kertus Davis Gene Allnut Cindy Wosley Brad Hicks Justin Thomas Steve Jenkins Dwayne Leik Mike Potter Danny Efland Donnie Neuenberger Joe Fox J. C. Stout Brad Teague Larry Gunselman Wheeler Boys David Green Jeremy Clements Racing 50 Jeremy Clements Tony Clements JR Motorsports 48 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus 83 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lance McGrew Front Row Motorsports 43 Kevin Lepage Jimmy Means Jay Robinson Racing 49 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Gene Allnut Kenneth Campbell Curtis Aldridge Shane Hall Kertus Davis 82 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Kevin Harvick, Inc. 77 Cale Gale (R) Jason Meeks Key Motorsports 31 Jeff Green Tommy Morgan SKI Motorsports Kenny Hendrick Kenny Hendrick qualified the No. 31 car at Memphis (race #32), but was replaced in the race by Stanton Barrett after he failed to qualify in his own No. 30 car. Shane Huffman Jeff Fuller Stanton Barrett 30 Kenny Hendrick 34 Mike Dayton 93 Mac Hill Motorsports 56 Danny O'Quinn Jr. Tony Lambert Travis Kittleson ML Motorsports 70 Mark Green Tom Sokoloski Brian Ross NEMCO Motorsports 87 Joe Nemechek Mike Boerschinger O'Connell Racing 09 Kevin O'Connell Barry O'Brien R3 Motorsports 23 Robert Richardson Jr. Rob Jones Robert Fuller RB1 Motorsports 71 Ron Young Greg Tester Richard Childress Racing 21 Bobby Labonte Shane Wilson Stephen Leicht Austin Dillon Scott Wimmer Silva Motorsports 65 Stan Silva Jr. Shaun Capener Stott Classic Racing 02 Andy PonsteinCorrie Stott Dominick Casola ThorSport Racing 13 Shelby Howard Chris Rice Transnet Racing 98 Alex García Stan Hover Curb Agajanian Performance Group Johnny Sauter Andy Bean Dodge Beahr Racing Enterprises 57 Jerick Johnson Justin Ashburn Chad Beahr Mike Ege Racing Nick Tucker Michael Guerity Carl Long Racing 46 Carl Long Rick Markle Chip Ganassi Racing 41 Bryan Clauson (R) Brian Pattie Kyle Krisiloff 42 Juan Pablo Montoya CFK Motorsports 73 Larry Gunselman Dom Turse Rick Markle Kertus Davis Kevin Lepage Faith Motorsports 75 Tim Weaver Yullianna Vizzuett Fitz Motorsports 36 Kenny Wallace Rick Gay Bill Farnsworth Rubén Pardo Charles Lewandoski Chad Blount Gillett Evernham Motorsports 19 Chase Miller (R) Kevin Kidd Penske Racing 12 Sam Hornish Jr. Matthew Gimbel Justin Allgaier Robby Gordon Motorsports 55 Robby Gordon Walter Giles Dana Brugman Steve Graham Brian Ickler Sadler-Hamilton Racing 95 Willie Allen Danny Gill TW Motorsports 84 José Luis Ramírez Troy Williams 86 Antonio Pérez Mark Tutor Troy Williams Whitney Motorsports 92 Brian Keselowski Bob Keselowski Ford Baker Curb Racing 37 Brad Baker Jeff White Greg Biffle Burney Lamar John Young Rafael Martínez Borneman Motorsports 83 Johnny Borneman III Kevin Cram Richardson-Haas Motorsports 14 David Gilliland Robert Edwards Roush Fenway Racing 16 Greg Biffle Jamie McMurray Colin Braun 17 Matt Kenseth Jamie McMurray Erik Darnell RAB Racing 09 John Wes Townley Keith Hinkein Blake Bainbridge Ray Hackett Racing 76 Ryan Hackett Rodney Goodman Ray Hackett Specialty Racing 62 Brandon Whitt Doug Taylor Team Rensi Motorsports 35 Danny O'Quinn Jr. Ronald Drake Toyota Braun Racing 10 Brian Vickers Trent Owens Bryan Schaffer Justin Marks Dave Blaney D'Hondt Motorsports 92 Kyle Busch Jerry Pitts Germain Racing 03 Todd Bodine Doug Chouinard Justin Marks Michael Annett Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Kyle Busch Denny Hamlin Joey Logano Marc Davis Michael Waltrip Racing 00 Michael McDowell Bobby Kennedy Josh Wise Paul Wolfe ChevroletDodge CFK Motorsports 78 Nick Tucker Del Markle Johnny Sauter Jennifer Jo Cobb Jason White Derrike Cope ChevroletFord Means Racing 55 Brad Teague Mark Arellano Scott Gaylord Chad Chaffin
Notes
Television
The 2008 TV schedule followed the same format as 2007, with most races broadcast on ESPN2 and three races broadcast on ABC when ESPN2 broadcast larger sporting events. All races were to be shown live on free-to-air TV in Australia on Ten HD. In South America, SPEED broadcast the entire season.
2008 season races
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. Johnny Sauter, Cale Gale, Kertus Davis and David Gilliland all received 25-point penalties for various infractions.
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 RacingAverage race speed: Lead changes: 16 among 8 driversCautions: 4 for 12 laps