2008 NASCAR Cup Series (Simpsonverse)

From DifferentHistory Wiki

The 2008 NASCAR Cup Series was the 60th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 37th modern-era Cup season. It was contested over thirty-six races, and began on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout exhibition race, followed by the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17 and concluded with the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 16.

Coors Light replaced Budweiser as the Official Beer of NASCAR, thereby becoming the new sponsor of the Pole Award given to pole winner in each Cup Series race. However, Budweiser was still the official sponsor for Bud Shootout at Daytona in February. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was crowned champion at season's end.

This was the first season with the upgraded Strictly Stock Car, dubbed the Strictly Stock Car II, which had more safety features, as well as improved accuracy to the showroom model.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Car(s) Team No. Driver(s) Crew chief Model
Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 01 Regan Smith (R) Dan Stillman Corvette Z06
1 Martin Truex Jr Kevin Hamlin
8 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Tony Eury, Jr.
14 Sterling Marlin Tony Eury, Sr.
15 Paul Menard Doug Randolph
Furniture Row Racing 78 Kenny Wallace Jay Guy Impala
Haas CNC Racing 66 Scott Riggs 35 Bootie Barker Corvette Z06
Max Papis 1
70 Johnny Sauter 9 Dave Skog
Ken Schrader 1
Scott Riggs 1
Tony Raines 12
Max Papis 1
Hendrick Motorsports 5 Jerry Nadeau Alan Gustafson Impala
24 Jeff Gordon Steve Letarte
25 Mark Martin Darian Grubb
48 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus
NEMCO Motorsports 67 Joe Nemechek Gary Putnam 2005 Monte Carlo
87 John Nemechek Eric Phillips
Richard Childress Racing 3 Jeff Burton Scott Miller Corvette Z06
30 Kevin Harvick Todd Berrier
31 Clint Bowyer Gil Martin
33 Steve Park Slugger Labbe
Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates
39 Reed Sorenson Jeff Vandermoss Challenger
40 Casey Mears Steve Lane
41 Kenny Irwin, Jr. Kevin Manion
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Donnie Wingo
Gillett Evernham Motorsports 9 Kasey Kahne Kenny Francis Charger
10 Patrick Carpentier (R) 29 Mike Shiplett
Terry Labonte 1
Mike Wallace 1
A. J. Allmendinger 5
19 Elliott Sadler Kenny Francis
Penske Racing South 06 Sam Hornish, Jr. (R) Chris Carrier Charger
2 Kurt Busch Pat Tryson
12 Ryan Newman Roy McCauley
77 Blaise Alexander Mike Nelson
Petty Enterprises 43 John Andretti Jeff Meendering Challenger
44 Bobby Labonte Mark Tudor
45 Adam Petty Billy Wilburn
46 Austin Petty Chris Hussey
Robby Gordon Motorsports 7 Robby Gordon Frank Kerr Charger
Ford Orr Motorsports 37 Rodney Orr John Page Fusion
Robert Yates Racing 38 David Gilliand Cully Barclough Fusion
88 Jeremy Mayfield Todd Parrott
Roush Fenway Racing 6 David Ragan Jimmy Fennig Roush Mustang
17 Matt Kenseth Chip Boldin
26 Jamie McMurray Larry Carter
60 Greg Biffle Greg Erwin
99 Carl Edwards Bob Osborne
Steele/Favre Motorsports 16 Tim Steele Joey Knuckles Fusion
90 Tony Roper Darrell Bryant
Wood Brothers Racing 21 Bill Elliott 23 Gene Nead Mustang
Johnny Sauter 1
Jeff Green 1
Jon Wood 5
Marcos Ambrose 6
Toyota Bill Davis Racing 22 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Jr. Camry
Hall of Fame Racing 96 J. J. Yeley 21 Brandon Thomas
P. J. Jones 1
Brad Coleman 1
Ken Schrader 11
Joey Logano 2
Joe Gibbs Racing 11 Denny Hamlin Mike Ford
18 Kyle Busch Steve Addington
20 Tony Stewart Greg Zipadelli
80 Jason Leffler Bryant Frazier
Michael Waltrip Racing 00/47 David Reutimann 5 Bill Pappas
Michael McDowell (R) 21
Mike Skinner 3
Kenny Wallace 1
A. J. Allmendinger 1
Mike Bliss 1
Marcos Ambrose 4
51 Dale Jarrett (5) Ryan Pemberton
David Reutimann (31)
55 Michael Waltrip Paul Andrews
Team Red Bull 83 Brian Vickers 35 Doug Richert
Scott Speed 1
84 A. J. Allmendinger 24 Jimmy Elledge
Mike Skinner 7
Scott Speed 4
Brian Vickers 1

Limited schedule

Manufacturer Team No. Race driver Crew chief Round(s) Model
Chevrolet Front Row Motorsports 37 Eric McClure Cal Boprey 1 Corvette Z06
SKI Motorsports 50 Stanton Barrett Ricky Pearson 4 2007 Monte Carlo SS
Earnhardt-Childress Racing (Start Your Engines!) 83 Scott Wimmer Shane Wilson 1 Corvette Z06
Ken Schrader 1
Mike Wallace 1
Phoenix Racing 09 Mike Bliss Marc Reno 12 2005 Impala
Norm Benning Racing 57 Norm Benning 1 2005 Monte Carlo
Furniture Row Racing 87 Mike Wallace Ed Nathman 1 2007 Impala
Dodge Brandon Ash Racing 02 Brandon Ash 1 2005 Charger
Carl Long Racing 46 Carl Long 1 2005 Stratus
Derrike Cope, Inc. 75 Derrike Cope 2 2007 Avenger
E&M Motorsports 08 Carl Long Tony Furr
Charles Swing
1 2006 Stratus
Burney Lamar 3
Tony Raines 2
Johnny Sauter 8
Ford No Fear Racing 60 Boris Said Frank Stoddard 4 2005 Taurus
JTG Racing 47 Marcos Ambrose Frank Kerr 2 2007 Mustang
Toyota Team Red Bull 82 Scott Speed 1 Camry
Joe Gibbs Racing 02 Joey Logano 3
Germain Racing 13 Max Papis Randy Goss 2
Bill Davis Racing 27 Jacques Villeneuve (R) Slugger Labbe 1
Mike Skinner 2
Johnny Benson 1
Dodge
Toyota
BAM Racing 49 Ken Schrader David Hyder 6 2005 Stratus

2007 Camry

Chevrolet
Ford
Front Row Motorsports 34 Jeff Green Scott Eggleston 3 2006 Monte Carlo SS

2005 Taurus

Tony Raines 7
Chad Chaffin 2
Brian Simo 2

Manufacturer Changes

  • Chevrolet replaced the Monte Carlo with the Corvette Z06.
  • After the Avenger proved unimpressive, Dodge opted to replace it with the newly-relaunched Challenger

Changes

Strictly Stock Car II

An idea of what the Strictly Stock Car II looks like.
For 2008, the original Strictly Stock Car was replaced by a second-generation version, officially dubbed the Strictly Stock Car II. The car was created in response to Chevrolet and Ford creating carbodies that exploited numerous loopholes in the NASCAR rulebook, which teams would then stretch even further by skewing the cars out of proportion to create more downforce. These asymmetrical cars, especially the Chevrolet Impala, were dominant on tracks where downforce was important, the only parity being at restrictor plate tracks and road courses, where tall noses and bumpers were the rule at Daytona and Talladega to aid in bump drafting, and the bodies for road courses had to be symmetrical due to the presence of right turns.

In addition to reining in Chevrolet and Ford, the new car was also created to give Dodge and Toyota a better chance, and make the cars resemble their showroom counterparts even more than the original Strictly Stock Car. Several teams continued using the original Strictly Stock Car, but most teams made the switch.

Schedule

No. Race Title Track Date TV
Budweiser Shootout Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach February 10 CBS
Gatorade Duel February 15 CBS
1 Daytona 500 February 18 CBS
2 Subway 400 Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham February 25 Fox
3 UAW-Dodge 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada March 11 Fox
4 Budweiser 400 Riverside International Raceway, Moreno Valley
March 18 MGM
5 Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol March 25 Fox
6 Goody's Cool Orange 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway April 1 Fox
7 Samsung 500 Texas World Speedway, College Station April 15 Fox
8 Old Spice 400 Gateway International Raceway, Madison April 21 CBS
9 Aaron's 499 Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega April 29 Fox
10 The Penguins of Madagascar 400 Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth May 6 Fox

Nickelodeon

11 Howard Johnson's 400 Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain May 13 CBS
NASCAR Open Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord May 19 Speed
NASCAR All-Star Challenge Speed
12 Coca-Cola 600 May 27 Fox
13 Music City 420 Presented by TNN Music City Motorplex, Nashville June 4 TNN
14 Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond June 10 MGM
15 McDonald's 400 Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero June 17 TBS
16 LifeLock.com 400 Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet June 24 TBS
17 LifeLock 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn July 1 MGM
18 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon July 7 MGM
19 Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach July 15 MGM
20 Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway July 29 MGM
21 Jacob's Grand Prix Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown, Kent, England August 5 ESPN
22 Centurion Boats at the Glen Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen August 12 ESPN
23 Sega 350 Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan August 21 TBS
24 Keystone Light 400 Milwaukee Mile, West Allis August 25 ESPN
25 Mountain Dew Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington September 2 ESPN
26 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond September 8 MGM
27 Tyson Holly Farms 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro September 16 ABC
28 Camping World RV 400 Presented by AAA Dover International Speedway, Dover September 23 MGM
29 Camping World RV 400 Presented by Coleman Kansas Speedway, Kansas City September 30 ABC

ESPN2

30 AMP Energy 500 Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega October 7 ABC
31 Bank of America Roval 500 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord (Roval) October 13 MGM
32 Tums QuikPak 500 Auto Club Speedway, Fontana October 21 ABC
33 Ford 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead October 28 MGM
34 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway, Sonoma November 4 MGM
35 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix November 11 MGM
36 Pep Boys Auto 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton November 18 MGM

2008 season races


Races

No. Race Pole position Most laps led Winning driver Model
Budweiser Shootout Kurt Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Gatorade Duel 1 Jimmie Johnson Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Gatorade Duel 2 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Denny Hamlin Toyota Camry
1 Daytona 500 Sterling Marlin Kyle Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2 Subway 400 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jerry Nadeau Chevrolet Impala
3 UAW-Dodge 400 Kyle Busch Carl Edwards Tim Steele Ford Fusion
4 Budweiser 400 Jeff Gordon Kyle Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
5 Food City 500 Jimmie Johnson Tony Stewart Jeff Burton Chevrolet Corvette Z06
6 Goody's Cool Orange 500 Jeff Gordon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Denny Hamlin Toyota Camry
7 Samsung 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Carl Edwards Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
8 Old Spice 400 Ryan Newman Jimmie Johnson Mark Martin Chevrolet Impala
9 Aaron's 499 Joe Nemechek Tony Stewart Regan Smith Chevrolet Corvette Z06
10 The Penguins of Madagascar 400 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Regan Smith Blaise Alexander Dodge Challenger
11 Howard Johnson's 400 Jeff Burton Jeff Burton John Andretti Dodge Challenger
Sprint Showdown Elliott Sadler A. J. Allmendinger A. J. Allmendinger Toyota Camry
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Kyle Busch Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
12 Coca-Cola 600 Kyle Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Adam Petty Dodge Challenger
13 Music City 420 Presented by TNN Greg Biffle Greg Biffle Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
14 Pocono 500 Kasey Kahne Kasey Kahne Kasey Kahne Dodge Charger
15 McDonald's 400 Kyle Busch Jimmie Johnson Tony Stewart Toyota Camry
16 LifeLock.com 400 Kyle Busch Kyle Busch Kyle Busch Toyota Camry
17 LifeLock 400 Kyle Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Burton Chevrolet Corvette Z06
18 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Patrick Carpentier Tony Stewart Kurt Busch Dodge Charger
19 Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt Jr. Paul Menard Chevrolet Corvette Z06
20 Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Adam Petty Dodge Challenger
21 Jacob's Grand Prix Jimmie Johnson Mark Martin Max Papis Chevrolet Corvette Z06
22 Centurion Boats at the Glen Kyle Busch Kyle Busch Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Corvette Z06
23 Sega 350 Brian Vickers Carl Edwards Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Impala
24 Sharpie 500 Carl Edwards Kyle Busch Carl Edwards Ford Roush Mustang
25 Pepsi 500 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jerry Nadeau Chevrolet Impala
26 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Kyle Busch David Reutimann Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
27 Tyson Holly Farms 400 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sterling Marlin John Nemechek 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
28 Camping World RV 400 Presented by AAA Jeff Gordon Matt Kenseth Greg Biffle Ford Roush Mustang
29 Camping World RV 400 Presented by Coleman Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson John Andretti Dodge Challenger
30 AMP Energy 500 Jeremy Mayfield Tony Stewart Regan Smith Chevrolet Corvette Z06
31 Bank of America Roval 500 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jeff Burton Chevrolet Corvette Z06
32 Tums QuikPak 500 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Impala
33 Ford 400 David Reutimann Carl Edwards Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Corvette Z06
34 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Kasey Kahne Kyle Busch Kyle Busch Toyota Camry
35 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
36 Pep Boys Auto 500 Jimmie Johnson Carl Edwards Matt Kenseth Ford Fusion