How are NASCAR numbers assigned?

Question

Example: Michael Waltrip chaged racing teams but kept his main sponsor (NAPA Auto Parts) and number 55.

Answer 1

In NASCAR, numbers are assigned to owners and not specific drivers. Drivers that spend a long time on a single race team often keep their numbers as long as they drive for the same owners. When drivers change teams, however, they take a new number that is owned by that team. Jeff Burton, for example, has raced for 3 different teams, and had 4 different numbers in that time. In 1994 and 1995 he raced the #8 car, then owned by the Stavola Brothers. From 1996 to mid 2004 he raced for Roush Racing, and drove the #99 car. After leaving Roush Racing for Richard Childress Racing, he changed to car #30 (for the rest of the 2004 season) and now races #31 (also an RCR car). The #99 car he used to drive for Roush is now driven by Carl Edwards.

...at least these are different things I've heard...

Hopefully this answered your question.

Answer 2

Numbers are not owned by a specific team, the design of the numbers are however, you will never see another 8 that looks like Juniors, or a 20 that looks like Stewarts. Teams just request numbers from Nascar and are given them, as long as they have cars in their garage for the number they will get the number. Finances play a part in keeping numbers, Waltrip kept his sponsor and his number because they paid to keep it, they were associated with it. Nascar fans would look at a 55, and think Napa, as well as thinking Waltrip. When I look at the 40 I think of Coors light and Marlin for some reason. Numbers get recycled with different teams, and usually sponsors stay with a team not the driver.

Answer 3

Last year for Michael Waltrip was a stop gap for both Bill Davis and Michael Waltrip. It gave BDR (Bill Davis Racing) a second full-time effort while Michael had a year to formulate his own team for a full-time effort in '07. NASCAR numbers are in fact owned by the owners. NASCAR does not retire numbers, they tried to retire the #43 but Petty Enterprises wanted to run the number again after only one year. The #3 is still owned by Richard Childress who refuses to release it or run it unless Junior gets in the car. Numbers can be bought and sold between owners - I know DEI got the #1 and #15 from teams that stopped running Cup. Mikey did not get to take the #15 to BDR because Teresa didn't want to sell it to him (Dale bought 15 from a previous owner Bud Moore). Thusly, Mikey picked #55 and that was probably because it is a similar number - Waltrip was shown as the owner of the #55 in '06 so keeping was expected by all parties involved.

Stylized number art is just marketing for recognition - you see a bold slanted white 3 with red outline then you know it's a Senior fan. Teams can change number colors and font if they wish but ALL paint schemes have to be NASCAR approved - Boris Said found that out the hard way in '06 when they had to redo a paintjob.

Answer 4

shn_hldn was nearly correct.

Nascar allows teams to use any number between 0 and 09 (basically because these numbers fit within the NASCAR rules for the display of the numbers on the roof).

Owners may use any number within those allowed, as long as that number is not currently in use or 'owned' by a particular race team. Ownership is not established on a per pay basis. Any team that has used a number in five races within a season holds 'ownership' number. Ideally this would be the first five races of the season. that team doesn't lose ownership of that number until the end of the next season after the last season the used it.

(An example would be when Richard Petty quit racing in '92, he was under threat of losing ownership of the #43 at the end of '93's season, he retained ownership by fielding a #43 with a different driver in the '94 Daytona 500 and subsequent races.)

Ownership of a particular number associated with a particular driver is simply a convenience designed to enhance name recognition and is the general rule within race teams with established drivers.

Answer 5

Most numbers in NASCAR are owned by the teams. For example no one can be 3 because Richard Childress Racing has it. As for sponsors switches, sponsors go with a driver, not the number.

Answer 6

Numbers are owned by the teams. Each team gets rights to certain numbers and they have certain rules they have to meet to keep those numbers. If they don't meet them or they give the number up, then it is up for grabs for the first team who wants it.

The sponsors however have contracts. A lot of the sponsors have contracts with the teams to stay for a certain amount of years as long as the driver stays the same. If the driver leaves, they have the right to stay, terminate their contract, or move with the driver. NAPA chose to go with MW. Another example is Budweiser, they REFUSE to sign a contract until AFTER Dale Jr has signed it as the driver. If Dale Jr leaves DEI, Budweiser will go with him. Then sometimes, sponsors will choose to stay with the team if they like the new driver.

Answer 7

#88 is not Dale Jarrett anymore, he is #44. I guess I'll have to get a new NASCAR #44 wardrobe. LOL Remember the commercial where Dale Jr. was going to change his #8 to something else, and his loyal fans had the #8 on a Quilt, A trimmed bush, Garage door, etc. That is just about the state of shock I was in, just like those fans. But this is for real.

Answer 8

numbers are bought by the owners. For example, the number 3 is currently owned by richard childress. He has a contract with nascar that allows him to own that number as long as he wants as long as he pays for it.

Answer 9

Certain teams own specific numbers and can be bought by other teams.

Answer 10

I don't think they are assigned, I believe they are chosen by the driver.