Someone… somewhere… must have a drawer full of Goody’s Headache Powders…
Whoever it is that tracks car numbers for NASCAR must be on the edge of their sanity. As the Daytona 500 grows closer more new driver announcements and number assignments are coming to the forefront. The dart board used by the NASCAR Car Numbering Committee (or whatever it’s called) must be filling up. Where do these numbers come from? Is it like some kind of Lottery…? And where is ESPN when that goes down? Football has hours of TV for the player draft (could ANYTHING be more boring to watch…?).
Where is the NASCAR Numbering Show…? Wouldn’t it be cool to have all the drivers together and each is called to the stage to carry away their assigned number on a big placard?
Whatever… It seems NASCAR owns the numbers. Each team submits some kind of form request to use that number each year. They pay some kind of fee to get it. Then they have the paint scheme designed and incorporate the number into the car, the driver’s suit, the promotion, and on and on…
What if Jeff Gordon’s “Number Guy” is sick that day…? Could the paperwork get shuffled or lost or eaten by the dog and his Chevy turns up at the Daytona 500 with a big “189” on the side…? Well… No… Not even… IF the Gordon team somehow did not get their request in, and someone at NASCAR didn’t pop an email saying “Hey Jeff…? Number…? Our operators are standing by…”, then it would be possible for the number “189” to be assigned. However, only 2 digits can be displayed. So the actual number on the car would be “89”.
That is, of course, hypothetical and simplified. For new teams and such the process is the same. Pay a fee, submit a form, get the unused number box out of the closet down the hall marked with a Sharpie, reach inside and pick one….
*These are merely speculations based on an extensive GOOGLE search of the NASCAR numbering system… We’re almost as confused by it as we were by the Platform 9 3/4 for the Hogwart’s Train…
Here’s the thing… The Daytona 500 is ten days away and still more teams and drivers are being announced.
Michael Waltrip, who is also an owner, will be driving yet another car outside of the MWR stable for the Daytona 500. He’ll be in the #40 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Hillman Racing, which is apparently a one time ride for the 500. (MRN)
Michael McDowell, has picked up a 2012 ride with Phil Parsons Racing in the #98 Ford Fusion. (MRN)
Terry Labonte is going to run the 500 with FAS Lane Racing and the #32 Ford. (MRN)
Timmy Hill, the Nationwide Series 2011 Rookie of the Year, will be moving to Sprint Cup and going for “Rookie of the Year” for this series. Rick Ware Racing has signed him for the #37 Ford ride. However, Mike Wallace will run the car in the 500 and Hill will take the seat later. (MRN)
Then we also have Australian Aric Almirola in one of the most famous numbers in racing… He’ll be in the #43 for Petty for 2012.
Take into account, also, that several numbers are out, for the moment, for 2012. The Roush-Fenway Racing #6, Richard Childress Racing #33, Red Bull Racing #4, and TRG Motorsports #71.
That is at least four new numbers that haven’t been “regulars” on NASCAR pavement. The “Numbers” folks at NASCAR should get a decent vacation once the Daytona 500 runs. All of this shuffling and assigning and paperwork must be exhausting.
Plus they get to tape up the “Numbers Box” and toss it back in the closet down the hall…