The 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series was the 32nd season of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the second national professional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season was contested over thirty-three races and started on February 23, 2013 at Daytona International Speedway, with the DRIVE4COPD 300, and ended on November 16 with the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead–Miami Speedway. Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing won the Drivers' Championship, becoming the first driver in the three major NASCAR series to do so without recording a win. The No. 22 entry of Penske Racing won the Owners' Championship, while Ford won the Manufacturers' Championship.
Teams and drivers Complete schedule TeamManufacturerRace DriverCrew Chief Go Green Racing Ford 79Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) Mark DurginBen LesliePaulie HarrakaJoey GaseKyle FowlerBryan SilasMaryeve DufaultT. J. DukeHarmon-Novak RacingDodgeChevrolet 74Mike Harmon Dave Fuge Jr.Gregg MixonCarl LongDave GouletMike HarmonKevin LepageJuan Carlos Blum (R)Danny EflandKevin O'ConnellCarl LongJD MotorsportsChevrolet01Mike WallaceMarc BrowningJohnny DavisDave Fuge4Danny EflandDave SmithJohnny DavisKertus DavisMarc BrowningPatrick MageeCarl HarrClinton CramDaryl HarrLandon CassillKevin LepageJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet51Jeremy ClementsNick HarrisonRicky PearsonEddie PearsonRyan Sieg Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota11Elliott SadlerChris Gayle20Brian VickersKevin KiddDenny HamlinDrew Herring54Kyle BuschAdam StevensJoey CoulterDrew HerringOwen Kelly JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5Kasey Kahne Mike BumgarnerJimmie JohnsonBrad SweetJeffrey Earnhardt (R)Johnny O'ConnellRon FellowsJamie McMurray7Regan SmithGreg IvesKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota77Parker KligermanEric PhillipsML MotorsportsChevrolet70Johanna LongMark GutekunstDerrike Cope Mark GutekunstJay RobinsonJay Robinson RacingToyotaBrad TeagueTony RainesJeff GreenTomy DrissiNEMCO Motorsports87Joe NemechekSteven GrayKevin LepageTravis SauterTeam Kelley RacingChevroletKyle Kelley Penske Racing Ford12Sam Hornish Jr.Greg Erwin22Brad Keselowski Jeremy BullinsJoey LoganoRyan BlaneyA. J. Allmendinger RAB Racing Toyota 99Alex Bowman (R) Chris RiceBlake KochRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2Brian ScottPhil Gould3Austin DillonDanny Stockman Jr. 33Tony Stewart Ernie CopeNick HarrisonKevin HarvickTy DillonDakoda ArmstrongMax PapisPaul MenardMatt CraftonRyan GiffordBrendan Gaughan Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 43Michael AnnettPhilippe LopezAric AlmirolaReed SorensonR3 MotorsportsChevroletFord 23Robert Richardson Jr. Sterling LaughlinGeorge ChurchWalter GilesBen LeslieTony Eury, Sr.Rick Ware RacingHarrison RhodesCarl LongScott RiggsStanton BarrettRichard HarrimanAnthony GandonJuan Carlos BlumDonnie NeuenbergerJennifer Jo CobbTimmy HillRoush Fenway RacingFord 6 Trevor BayneMike KelleySeth Barbour 60 Travis PastranaChad Norris SR² Motorsports Toyota 24Blake Koch Benny GordonChris WrightJohn MonsamBobby BurrellJason WhiteBryan SilasKen Butler IIIDerek WhiteBrett ButlerAlex KennedyRyan EllisKelly Admiraal The Motorsports Group Chevrolet 40Reed Sorenson Curtis Key, Sr.Gary ShowalterJosh WiseT. J. Bell TriStar Motorsports Toyota 14Eric McClureJohn MonsamTodd MyersJeff Green 19Mike Bliss Paul ClapproodDakoda Armstrong 44Hal Martin (R) Greg ConnerRandy CoxCole WhittChad Hackenbracht Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet30Nelson Piquet Jr. (R)Chris CarrierPat Tryson31Justin AllgaierScott Zipadelli32Kyle Larson (R)Trent Owens
Limited schedule TeamManufacturerRace DriverCrew ChiefRoundsBiagi-DenBeste RacingFord98Kevin Swindell (R)Jon HansonCreation-Cope RacingChevrolet73Derrike CopeJacob RichardsonAlx DanielssonDeware Racing GroupFord 86Tim Cowen Larry Balsitis ChevroletKevin LepageRicky EhrgottRick MarkleDGM RacingChevrolet90Martin RoyMario GosselinGerhart RacingChevrolet85Bobby GerhartBilly GerhartMark Skibo Hamilton Means Racing ToyotaChevrolet 52Joey GaseTimothy BrownDerek ThornDonnie NeuenbergerKevin LepageTim SchendelRyan Ellis Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 18Matt Kenseth Matt LucasMichael McDowellDrew HerringJoey CoulterJR MotorsportsChevrolet88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Ryan PembertonSteve Letarte KH Motorsports Ford 92Dexter Stacey (R) George IngramTim Andrews Leavine Family Racing Ford 95Reed Sorenson Wally RogersMAKE MotorsportsChevrolet50Danny EflandPerry MitchellNDS Motorsports Dodge53 Andrew Ranger Zach D'AmbraMichael Sibley Penske Racing Ford 48Joey Logano Kevin BuskirkRyan BlaneyBrad KeselowskiPhoenix RacingChevrolet1Kurt BuschNick HarrisonRAB RacingToyota29Kenny WallaceRobby BentonKeith Hinkein Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21Brendan Gaughan Shane WilsonMarcus RichmondDakoda ArmstrongKevin Harvick Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 9Marcos AmbroseSeth BarbourCorey LaJoieMike Shiplett Rick Ware Racing FordChevrolet 15Juan Carlos Blum (R) George ChurchSterling LaughlinStephen SteffyGordon AustinScott RiggsStanton BarrettCarl LongChase Miller Roush Fenway Racing Ford 16Chris Buescher Seth BarbourRobbie ReiserRyan ReedBilly JohnsonRicky Stenhouse Jr.RSS RacingChevrolet39Ryan SiegKevin StarlandRusty Wallace RacingFord66Steve WallaceBlake BainbridgeShepherd Racing VenturesDodgeChevrolet89Morgan ShepherdLucas BowmanMike MalamphyClaude Townsend SR² Motorsports Toyota 00Jason White Jamie LathropNewt MooreKevin EagleJ.C. HallBlake KochBryan SilasKen Butler IIIDavid GreenBrett Butler Michael McDowell 27 Kevin EagleJason WhiteSunEnergy1 RacingToyota75Kenny HabulBryan BerryMatt Lucas TeamSLRTommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 8Scott Lagasse Jr.Brad ParrottRyan PreeceZach McGowanThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet42Josh WiseCurtis Key, Sr.Mike SroufeJ. J. YeleyT. J. BellChase MillerSteven MaynardMike SroufeDerek Seyerle46J. J. YeleyDavid JonesT. J. BellDexter Stacey (R)Matt DiBenedettoTim SchendelJason BowlesDerek Seyerle47Steven MaynardScott Riggs TriStar Motorsports Toyota 10Jeff Green Todd MyersGreg ConnerBlake ClimoLarry WilcoxRandy CoxChase MillerCole WhittMike BlissMichael McDowell 91Todd MyersChase MillerBlake Climo Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 34Danica PatrickMike GreciJames BuescherMichael SheltonJeb BurtonMike Hillman Jr.Venturini MotorsportsToyota25John Wes TownleyDan Deeringhoff Vision Racing ToyotaDodge 17Tanner Berryhill Dave GouletBenny GordonDavid Starr Dodge 37Matt DiBenedetto Dave GouletBenny GordonAdrian BerryhillTanner Berryhill Viva Motorsports with Frank Cicci Chevrolet 55Jamie Dick Jason MillerDavid StarrYoung RacingDodge26John YoungEd Ash
Driver changes The 2013 season sees significant driver changes. With Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. moving to the Sprint Cup Series with Roush Fenway Racing, Trevor Bayne, who ran a partial Nationwide schedule with Roush, inherited the No. 6 Ford for 2013. Runner-up Elliott Sadler announced his departure from Richard Childress Racing in 2012, and signed to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing full-time in the No. 11 Toyota. In addition to Sadler, Brian Vickers, after running a partial Cup schedule, return to the Nationwide Series full-time for the first time since his championship season in 2003. JGR's former driver Brian Scott took over Elliott Sadler's old No. 2 ride at RCR, signing a multi-year deal with the team. Truck Series driver Parker Kligerman signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports for 2013, driving the No. 77 Toyota for the season. Former Sprint Cup driver Regan Smith drove the full season for JR Motorsports in the No. 7, replacing Danica Patrick. Kasey Kahne and his USAC driver Brad Sweet also moved from Turner Motorsports to JRM, sharing the No. 5 Camaro for the season. TriStar Motorsports fielded a car for Louisiana native Hal Martin, running for Rookie of the Year. Jeffrey Earnhardt, after driving a limited schedule, drove the full season with Go Green Racing. Schedule The final calendar was released on November 13, 2012, containing 33 races. No.Race titleTrackLocationDate1DRIVE4COPD 300Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaFebruary 232Dollar General 200Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaMarch 23Sam's Town 300Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, NevadaMarch 94Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips 300Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, TennesseeMarch 165Royal Purple 300Auto Club SpeedwayFontana, CaliforniaMarch 236O'Reilly Auto Parts 300Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasApril 127ToyotaCare 250Richmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaApril 268Aaron's 312Talladega SuperspeedwayLincoln, AlabamaMay 49VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200Darlington RacewayDarlington, South CarolinaMay 1010History 300Charlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaMay 25115-hour Energy 200Dover International SpeedwayDover, DelawareJune 112DuPont Pioneer 250Iowa SpeedwayNewton, IowaJune 9†13Alliance Truck Parts 250Michigan International SpeedwayCambridge Township, MichiganJune 1514Johnsonville Sausage 200Road AmericaElkhart Lake, WisconsinJune 2215Feed the Children 300Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, KentuckyJune 2816Subway Firecracker 250Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaJuly 517CNBC Prime's "The Profit" 200New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayLoudon, New HampshireJuly 1318STP 300Chicagoland SpeedwayJoliet, IllinoisJuly 2119Indiana 250Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, IndianaJuly 2720U.S. Cellular 250Iowa SpeedwayNewton, IowaAugust 321Zippo 200 at The GlenWatkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New YorkAugust 1022Nationwide Children's Hospital 200Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, OhioAugust 1723Food City 250Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, TennesseeAugust 2324Great Clips / Grit Chips 300Atlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, GeorgiaAugust 3125Virginia 529 College Savings 250Richmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaSeptember 626Dollar General 300Chicagoland SpeedwayJoliet, IllinoisSeptember 1427Kentucky 300Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, KentuckySeptember 21285-hour Energy 200Dover International SpeedwayDover, DelawareSeptember 2829Kansas Lottery 300Kansas SpeedwayKansas City, KansasOctober 530Dollar General 300Charlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaOctober 1131O'Reilly Auto Parts ChallengeTexas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasNovember 232ServiceMaster 200Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaNovember 933Ford EcoBoost 300Homestead–Miami SpeedwayHomestead, FloridaNovember 16
Schedule changes On October 5, 2012, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's promoter François Dumontier announced that the series would not return to the circuit for the 2013 season. The event was later replaced by Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course located in Lexington, Ohio.
Changes
Rule changes After banning all testing on tracks where any of the three premier series sanction races in 2008, NASCAR announced on September 29, 2012, that they will implement limited testing at tracks which sanction a race on the schedule. However, NASCAR stated that each team would only be allowed to test two different times, with each test at a different track. Rookie of the Year participants will also be allowed one extra test session, while NASCAR will choose two other events for extra testing during the race weekend. NASCAR also announced that the Nationwide Series's grid would decrease from 43 cars to 40.
Season summary The Nationwide Series kicked off the 2013 season at Daytona International Speedway in the DRIVE4COPD 300. Following a big crash with 14 laps to go that resulted in a red flag, Regan Smith took the lead, attempting to take his second consecutive win. On the final lap, Smith attempted to block a pass attempt by Brad Keselowski and got turned into the outside wall, causing a big crash behind. Stewart drove to the inside and won his seventh career Daytona Nationwide race. However, the win was overshadowed by the last lap crash. Kyle Larson, who was collected into the crash, had his car lift off the ground and slam into the safety fence. The car's engine and front wheels landed in the grandstands, injuring 33 fans (all of whom survived).