The 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series was the 30th season of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the second national professional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season included thirty-four races, beginning with the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. During the 2010 season, NASCAR announced a few notable calendar changes, including race additions at Iowa Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway, and the removal of Gateway International Raceway from the schedule. Jack Roush won the Owners' Championship, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of Roush Fenway Racing won the Drivers' Championship with a second-place finish at the final race of the season. Ford won the Manufacturers' Championship with 212 points.
Teams and drivers Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamNo.DriverCrew chief ChevroletFaith Motorsports89Morgan ShepherdGary RavanJD Motorsports01Mike WallacePatrick MageeJeremy Clements Racing51Jeremy ClementsRicky PearsonJR Motorsports 7Danica Patrick Tony Eury Jr. Chris Heroy Josh Wise Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ron Fellows Kasey Kahne Jimmie Johnson Jamie McMurray 88Aric AlmirolaTony Eury Sr.Kevin Harvick, Inc.2Elliott SadlerErnie Cope 33Clint Bowyer Chris CarrierKevin Harvick Paul Menard Austin Dillon Max Papis David Mayhew Scott Speed TriStar Motorsports14Eric McClure Gary Cogswell Paul Clapprood Mike Bliss 19Mike Bliss Paul Clapprood Gary Cogswell Eric McClure 44Jeff Green Todd MyersCharles Lewandoski (R) Angela Cope Turner Motorsports 30Jason Leffler Eddie Pardue Stewart Cooper Ryan Newman Reed Sorenson James Buescher Mikey Kile Kasey Kahne Ricky Carmichael Boris Said Nelson Piquet Jr. 31Justin AllgaierJimmy Elledge 32Reed Sorenson Trent OwensMark Martin Brian Vickers Ron Hornaday Jr. James Buescher 38Kasey Kahne Stewart Cooper Eddie Pardue Jason Leffler Key Motorsports40Scott Wimmer Gary ShowalterCharles Lewandoski (R) Chase Miller Tim Andrews Josh Wise T. J. Duke DodgePenske Racing22Brad Keselowski Todd GordonJacques Villeneuve Sam Hornish Jr. Kurt Busch Parker Kligerman FordGo Green Racing39Josh Wise Clinton CramCharles Lewandoski (R) Danny O'Quinn Jr. Danny Efland Luis Martinez Jr. Will Kimmel Matt Frahm Joey Gase Casey Roderick Fain Skinner Matt Carter Roush Fenway Racing6Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Mike Kelley60Carl Edwards Mike BeamBilly Johnson Rick Ware Racing 15Timmy Hill (R)Mike Hillman Jr. Bobby Burrell ToyotaGermain RacingTodd Bodine Joe Gibbs Racing11Brian ScottKevin Kidd 18Kyle Busch Jason Ratcliff Adam Stevens Kelly Bires Michael McDowell Drew Herring Joey Logano Denny Hamlin RAB Racing09Kenny WallaceScott ZipadelliRusty Wallace Racing62Michael AnnettRick Viers66Steve WallaceDoug RandolphChevroletDodgeJay Robinson Racing28Derrike Cope Curtis AldridgeDennis Setzer Means Motorsports52Bobby Santos III Timothy BrownDaryl Harr Tim Schendel Tony Raines Danny Efland Kevin Lepage Dan Clarke Louis-Philippe Dumoulin MacDonald MotorsportsBlake Koch (R) Corrie Stott RacingJamie Dick MacDonald Motorsports81Donnie Neuenberger David Ingram John Monsam Blake Koch (R) Maryeve Dufault Scott Wimmer ML Motorsports70Shelby Howard Mark GutekunstDavid Stremme Scott Wimmer Jay Robinson RacingDennis Setzer Randy Hill RacingCasey Roderick MacDonald MotorsportsBlake Koch (R) Tri-Star MotorsportsAngela Cope R3 Motorsports23Robert Richardson Jr. Greg ConnerScott Riggs Alex Kennedy Jay Robinson RacingDavid Green Dennis Setzer TriStar MotorsportsAngela Cope FordChevrolet Rick Ware Racing 41Patrick Sheltra Doug Richert Sterling Laughlin Steve Kukyendall Carl Long Jennifer Jo Cobb Jeffrey Earnhardt Doug Harrington Fain Skinner Matt Carter Tomy Drissi Johnny Chapman Stanton Barrett ChevroletToyotaNEMCO Motorsports87Joe Nemechek Billy WilburnKevin Conway Scott Wimmer Kyle Busch MotorsportsKimi Räikkönen
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew chiefRoundsChevroletCorrie Stott Racing02Jamie DickCorrie Stott Carl Harr WestWorld MotorsportsDaryl Harr Day Enterprises Motorsports05 David StarrNewt Moore Willie Allen Danny Efland Racing07Danny EflandMicah Horton Faith Motorsports55Brett RoweMorris Van Vleet Jay Robinson Racing48Dennis SetzerMike Miller 49Brad TeagueMark Fordham Dennis Setzer David Green Mark Green JD Motorsports0James HyltonBrad Hicks Brad Teague Tim Schendel JR Motorsports5Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chris Heroy Tony Eury Jr. Jim Long Ron Fellows Kevin Harvick, Inc.4Kevin HarvickBruce Cook Tony Stewart 9Key Motorsports42Tim AndrewsDoyle Myrick Scott Wimmer Chase Miller Erik Darnell Josh Wise Scott Speed 46Tim AndrewsJ. C. Hall Chase Miller Brett Rowe 47Danny EflandClint Myrick Scott Wimmer Charles Lewandoski (R) Brian Keselowski Scott Speed Josh Wise Keystone Motorsports93Amber CopeJamie Lathrop Mike Harmon Racing 74Mike Harmon Daniel Kolanda J. J. Yeley Jake Crum Tony Raines Phoenix Racing1Landon CassillNick Harrison Jamie McMurray R3 Motorsports03Charles Lewandoski (R)Stephen Gonzales Chris Lawson Alex Kennedy Scott Riggs Scott Wimmer Marc Davis Jean-François Dumoulin 50Brian Simo MAKE MotorsportsT. J. BellBrad Parrott Richard Childress Racing21Tim George Jr.Greg Kennon Jr. Turner Motorsports34 James BuescherMichael Shelton Doug George Ricky Carmichael DodgeMacDonald Motorsports80D. J. KenningtonJoe Draper 82Blake Koch (R)John Monsam David Ingram J. J. Yeley Scott Wimmer Reed Sorenson NDS Motorsports53Andrew RangerJames Lynch Penske Racing12Sam Hornish Jr.Chad Walter Alex Tagliani Robby Gordon Motorsports77Robby GordonSamuel Stanley FordBaker Curb Racing27J. R. FitzpatrickWayne Grubb Justin Marks J. J. Yeley Go Canada Racing 67J. R. FitzpatrickNewt Moore Andrew Ranger Go Green Racing04Charles Lewandoski (R)Leo Desrocher Jr. Kelly Bires Danny Efland Danny O'Quinn Jr. Tim Andrews Casey Roderick Benny Gordon Fain Skinner Randy Hill Racing08Casey RoderickJeff Spraker David Ragan Richard Petty Motorsports 9Marcos Ambrose Chad Norris Rick Ware Racing71Matt CarterDavid Mitchell Carl Long Clay Greenfield 75Carl LongScott Stolzenberg Johnny Chapman Andy Ponstein Chris Cook Tomy Drissi Roush Fenway Racing16Trevor BayneChad Norris Chris Andrews Chris Buescher Kevin Swindell Matt Kenseth Team Rensi Motorsports24Kevin LepageChris Wright 25Kelly BiresRichard Russell Chad Finley 2nd Chance Motorsports79Jennifer Jo Cobb (R)Ben Leslie Chris Lawson Tim Andrews ToyotaJoe Gibbs Racing 20Joey Logano Adam Stevens Jason Ratcliff Denny Hamlin Drew Herring Ryan Truex James Carter Racing72John JacksonDave Fuge Jake Crum Pastrana-Waltrip Racing 99Michael Waltrip Jerry Baxter Mike Greci Ryan Truex (R) David Reutimann Cole Whitt Patrick Carpentier Rusty Wallace Racing64David ReutimannLarry Carter Jason Bowles ChevroletToyotaNEMCO Motorsports97Joe NemechekMike Boerschinger Kyle Kelley ChevroletFordFleur-de-lis Motorsports68Carl LongCraig Partee Morris Van Vleet Matt Carter Chase Miller Jeremy Petty Rick Ware RacingTim AndrewsSterling Laughlin DodgeFordJJC Racing13Jennifer Jo Cobb (R)Steve Kuykendall Rick Crawford T. J. Bell D. J. Kennington
Team changes Turner Motorsports ran four full-time teams during the season and switched to Chevrolets. They also used Hendrick Motorsports engines as well as getting technical support from Kevin Harvick, Inc.
Discontinued/suspended operations Germain Racing discontinued their Nationwide Series team this season because Michael Annett and sponsor Pilot Travel Centers moved to Rusty Wallace Racing. They, however, ran the No. 15 Toyota at Daytona with Todd Bodine sponsored by Tire Kingdom. Germain transferred the owners points of the No. 15 over to Rick Ware Racing who ran the No. 15 Ford for rookie Timmy Hill starting at Phoenix. Hill could not run Daytona because he was under 18. Richard Childress Racing has merged its Nationwide program with Kevin Harvick, Inc. Roush Fenway Racing discontinued the No. 98 car due to Paul Menard leaving for KHI. The owner points were sold to Go Green Racing. Due to a lack of sponsorship, Baker Curb Racing suspended all operations indefinitely for the season, though there are reports of the team putting together a car for Canadian J. R. Fitzpatrick for Daytona Due to the new rules package for the Nationwide Series, K-Automotive Motorsports decided to shut down its Nationwide program and focus on running Brian Keselowski in the Sprint Cup Series for Rookie of the Year. Stratus Racing Group failed to run a car during the season because owner/driver Derrike Cope moved back to Jay Robinson Racing after a 4-year hiatus from the team.
Driver changes Aric Almirola drove for JR Motorsports this season in the 88 car. Colin Braun was released by Roush-Fenway Racing because the team was focusing on sponsorship for Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne for this season. Elliott Sadler drive for KHI during 2011 in the 2 car. Sam Hornish Jr. drove the No. 12 Dodge for 10 races due to the No. 77 Sprint Cup team being renumbered to the No. 22 in The Cup Series.
Entering the series Travis Pastrana was to make his NASCAR debut with Pastrana-Waltrip Racing, running 7 races this season with sponsorship from Boost Mobile, beginning at Indianapolis.Travis Pastrana to make Nationwide Series debut at Indianapolis, lands sponsorship from Boost Mobile SceneDaily.com However, due to injuries sustained at X Games XVII, his debut was delayed until 2012. Pastrana-Waltrip Racing intended to field Ryan Truex for 20 races for ROTY honors, but the team was forced to pull out of the championship due to a lack of sponsorship. ARCA driver Timmy Hill ran for Rookie of the Year honors with Rick Ware Racing. Jennifer Jo Cobb was a ROTY campaigner with 2nd Chance Motorsports and planned to run the full season. However, she got into a heated argument with team owner Rick Russell at Bristol, and ran a few races with Rick Ware Racing.
Changed teams Paul Menard moved to Kevin Harvick, Inc., after two years with Roush-Fenway Racing. Michael Annett, along with sponsor Pilot Travel Centers, moved to Rusty Wallace Racing this season, after two seasons with Germain Racing, replacing Brendan Gaughan, who is heading back to the Camping World Truck Series with that team. Justin Allgaier joined Turner Motorsports this season, after two years with Penske Racing. Trevor Bayne signed with Roush-Fenway Racing during the 2010 season after Diamond Waltrip Racing was unable to renew their contract and has now signed on for a full year with the team. He'll drive the No. 16 vacated by Colin Braun. Eric McClure and sponsor Hefty left Team Rensi Motorsports after two years to drive for TriStar Motorsports in 2011 Brian Scott was released by Turner Motorsports during the 2010 season and finished the season with RAB Racing. Scott moved to Joe Gibbs Racing to drive their No. 11 Toyota with Kevin Kidd as crew chief. Kenny Wallace drove for RAB Racing this season, after three seasons with Jay Robinson Racing. Mike Bliss leaves Key Motorsports to drive for TriStar Motorsports in the No. 19 Chevrolet. Scott Wimmer returned to full-time status for 2011, driving Key Motorsports' No. 40 Chevrolet. Jeremy Clements drove his No. 51 full-time in 2011, leaving Davis Motorsports. Shelby Howard left ML Motorsports before the Aaron's 312. David Stremme and Dennis Setzer filled the seat. Reed Sorenson was released by Turner Motorsports before the Kansas Lottery 300. Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers replaced him for Kansas, Charlotte, and Texas. Derrike Cope moved back to Jay Robinson Racing after 4 years of driving his own car.
Exiting the series Brendan Gaughan returned to the Camping World Truck Series this year with Germain Racing, bringing sponsor South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa along with him.
Rookie entries