In 1982, NASCAR changed the Late Model Sportsman series to the Busch Grand National Series, now known as the Nationwide Series, becoming the number two NASCAR touring series behind the premier Cup Series. The first race for the new series was the Goody’s 300 at Daytona.
NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt would take the victory in that first event. He went to win the season opener six more times in his Nationwide Series career including five in a row from 1990 to 1994.
The series, though not officially deemed so, is a stepping stone to the Cup Series. A place where up and coming drivers can hone their skills. There are, however, several very talented, very accomplished drivers who stayed in the series and made a career of it.
The first series champion, Jack Ingram, was one such driver. Ingram was known for his aggressive, hard driving style. He raced hard every lap, start to finish. Ingram had an amazing season in 1982. He scored seven wins, 23 top-5’s, and 24 top-10’s en route to the inaugural championship. Ingram has been chosen to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2014.
He was known for driving No. 11. Elliott Sadler, who carries the number this season, is paying tribute to Ingram this weekend in the Virginia College Savings Plan 250, by carrying a paint scheme that has the stylized number 11 that Ingram used for years.
Ingram compiled 275 starts, scoring 31 wins, 122 top-5’s and 164 top-10’s. The 78 year old driver was still racing a NASCAR Late Model as recent as September 2012 at Greeneville-Pickens Speedway in Greeneville, SC. He finished a very respectable fifth.
Another Nationwide Series legend is Sam Ard. Ard’s career was cut short by brain injury resulting from a hard crash in 1984. After finishing second to Ingram in the points standings in 1982, Ard went on to win the series title in 1983 and 1984. His final race was at Rockingham in the next to last race of the season. Even though he did not compete in the final race, he still won the championship.
Like Ingram, Ard made a number and paint scheme famous. He drove the familiar white and red No. 00 Thomas Brothers Country Ham car. Ard compiled one of the most impressive list of stats in any NASCAR series. In just 92 starts, Ard scored 22 victories, 67 top-5’s, and 79 top-10’s. That is an 85.8% top ten average. A record that would be envied by any driver. It is impossible to tell how great his career could have been if not cut short by injury.
Though this series is billed as NASCAR’s number two series, it has written many interesting stories of its own over the last 1,000 races. This season is no different. The 2013 Nationwide Series season is one of the most competitive in series history. Recent changes in the points system that does not award points to series’ non-regulars, has given series regulars a better chance at the limelight. Also, Cup teams who field Nationwide team are now moving to assigning drivers to their cars full time instead of splitting amongst several drivers. This has opened up full-time, quality rides to accomplished drivers that have found themselves without one. All of these factors are a recipe for a highly competitive, successful series.
As we celebrate the 1,000th race, we look forward to the next 1,000 and to what legendary drivers find their home in the Nationwide Series.
(Images used in this article are courtesy of ISC archives/Getty Images)
