2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the 65th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 42nd modern-era Cup series season.
The 2013 season was the first season using the New Body Program carbody, the SC-13 body, and marked the return to the qualifying procedure that was used before the 2005 season. However, at the two road courses on the schedule drivers qualified in groups instead of single laps. In September 2012, NASCAR removed a ban introduced in the 2008 season on testing at tracks that were on any of the premier series' schedules.
==Teams and drivers==
===Complete schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports	98 	Shane Hmiel 	 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	1 	Martin Truex Jr. 	Kevin Manion 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	3 	Kevin Harvick 	Gil Martin 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Tony Eury Jr. 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	30 	Jeffrey Earnhardt 	Shane Wilson 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	31 	Jeff Burton 	Drew Blickensderfer	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Kurt Busch 	Todd Berrier 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Jerry Nadeau 	Lance McGrew 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick 	Alan Gustafson 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Landon Cassill 	 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brad Keselowski 	Steve Letarte 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Louise Kennedy 	 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Boston Reid 	 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Austin Dillon 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Bobby Labonte 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Owen Kelly 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Ryan Truex 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Mike Bliss 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Justin Allgaier 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Michael McDowell 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing (Finch)
Phoenix Racing (Scott)	51 	Kyle Larson 	Nick Harrison
Jimmy Elledge	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	10 	Danica Patrick (R) 	Tony Gibson 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	14 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	39 	Ryan Newman 	Matt Borland 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	61 	Mark Martin 	Steve Addington 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Victor Gonzalez Jr. (R)	Joe Lax 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	107	Dave Blaney 	Tommy Baldwin Jr. 	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	107	Justin Marks 	Tommy Baldwin Jr. 	2013 SS
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	James Kulwicki 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Jeff Gordon 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Jason Leffler 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Scott Wimmer 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Jamie McMurray 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Bryan Clauson 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	42 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Kasey Kahne 	Kenny Francis 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Wally Rogers 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	McDuffie Racing 	170	Crissy Hillsworth 	 	2013 Dart
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Brendan Gaughan 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	02 	Joey Logano 	Todd Gordon 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	2 	Blaise Alexander 	Paul Wolfe 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	12 	Paul Menard 	 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	42 	Aric Almirola 	Steve Reis 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	John Andretti 	Sammy Johns 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Chad McCumbee 	Drew Blickensderfer	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	Todd Parrott 	2013 Charger
Ford 	Brett Favre Racing 	15 	Tim Steele 	 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Brett Favre Racing 	90 	Parker Kligerman (R) 	 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	DGB-Medallion Racing 	09 	Marcos Ambrose 	 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Terry Labonte 	Frank Stoddard 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Ken Schrader 	Frank Stoddard 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Timmy Hill (R) 	Frank Stoddard 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Boris Said 	Frank Stoddard 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	34 	David Ragan 	Jay Guy 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	35 	Josh Wise 	Steve Lane
Derrick Finley
Todd Anderson	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	35 	Michael McDowell 	Steve Lane
Derrick Finley
Todd Anderson	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	David Gilliland 	 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Germain Racing 	13 	Casey Mears 	Bootie Barker 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Regan Smith 	 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Greg Biffle 	Matt Puccia 	2013
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (R)	Scott Graves 	2013
Ford 	Roush Racing 	99 	Carl Edwards 	Jimmy Fennig 	2013
Ford 	Yates Racing 	28 	Clifford Allison 	 	2013
Ford 	Yates Racing 	88 	Jeremy Mayfield 	 	2013
Ford 	Yates Racing 	96 	J. J. Yeley 	 	2013
Toyota 	BK Racing 	93 	Travis Kvapil 	Todd Anderson
Mike Ford
Dale Ferguson	2013 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	David Reutimann 	Pat Tryson
Doug Richert	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Denny Hamlin 	Darian Grubb 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Kyle Busch 	Dave Rogers 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Matt Kenseth 	Jason Ratcliff
Wally Brown	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	17 	Clint Bowyer 	Brian Pattie 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	55 	Brian Vickers 	Rodney Childers
Scott Miller	2013 Camry
Toyota 	NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing 	87 	Joe Nemechek 	Scott Eggleston 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing 	87 	Tomy Drissi 	Scott Eggleston 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Swan Racing 	30 	Michael Waltrip 	Steve Lane 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Swan Racing 	30 	David Stremme 	Steve Lane 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Swan Racing 	30 	Cole Whitt 	Steve Lane 	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Swan Racing 	30 	Kevin Swindell 	Steve Lane 	2013 Camry
=== Limited schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Circle Sport 	140	Landon Cassill 	John Rahlf
Mike Abner	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Circle Sport 	140	Tony Raines 	John Rahlf
Mike Abner	2013 SS
Chevrolet 	Max Q Motorsports 	137	J.J. Yeley 	James Parrott 	2013 SS
Dodge 	Brian Keselowski Motorsports
Hamilton Means Racing	52 	Brian Keselowski	Bob Keselowski
Ben Leslie	2013 Dart
Dodge 	Brian Keselowski Motorsports
Hamilton Means Racing	52 	Morgan Shepherd 	Bob Keselowski
Ben Leslie	2013 Dart
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	12 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Greg Erwin 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Phil Parsons Racing 	198	Michael McDowell	Gene Nead 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Phil Parsons Racing 	198	Johnny Sauter 	Gene Nead 	2013 Charger
Dodge 	Xxxtreme Motorsports 	144	Scott Riggs 	Tony Furr
Walter Giles	2013 Dart
Ford 	Go Green Racing 	52 	Paulie Harraka 	Ben Leslie 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Leavine Family Racing	95 	Scott Speed 	Wally Rogers 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Leavine Family Racing	95 	Reed Sorenson 	Wally Rogers 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Leavine Family Racing	95 	Scott Riggs 	Wally Rogers 	2013 Fusion
Ford 	Leavine Family Racing	95 	Blake Koch 	Wally Rogers 	2013 Fusion
Toyota 	Humphrey Smith Racing	119	Mike Bliss 	Peter Sospenzo	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Humphrey Smith Racing	119	Alex Kennedy 	Peter Sospenzo	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Humphrey Smith Racing	119	Scott Riggs 	Peter Sospenzo	2013 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	81 	Elliott Sadler 	Chris Goyle 	2013 Camry
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Toyota/Save Mart 350 	Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma 	January 27 	Fox
 	Sprint Unlimited 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 10 	CBS
 	Budweiser Duels 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 14 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 17 	CBS
3 	Subway Fresh Fit 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	February 24 	Fox
4 	Kobalt Tools 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 3 	Fox
5 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	March 10 	Fox
7 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 17 	Fox
8 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 24 	Fox
9 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	March 31 	Fox
10 	STP Gas Booster 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	April 7 	Fox
11 	NRA 500 	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth 	April 13 	CBS*
12 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	April 21 	Fox
13 	Toyota Owners 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	April 27 	Fox
14 	Aaron's 499 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	May 5 	Fox
15 	Auto Club 400 	Auto Club Speedway, Fontana 	May 12 	Fox
 	Sprint Showdown 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 18 	Speed
 	NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 18 	Speed
16 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 26 	CBS
17 	FedEx 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	June 2 	Fox
18 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 9 	TBS
19 	Motorcraft 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 16 	TBS
20 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 23 	TBS
21 	Quaker State 400 	Kentucky Speedway, Sparta 	June 30 	TBS
22 	Coke Zero 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 6 	CBS
23 	Camping World RV Sales 301 	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon 	July 14 	TBS
24 	Music City USA 420 	Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville 	July 21 	TBS
25 	Crown Royal 400 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	July 28 	ABC
26 	Gobowling.com 400 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	August 4 	ESPN
27 	Cheez-It 355 at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 11 	ESPN
28 	Pure Michigan 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 18 	ESPN
29 	Irwin Tools Night Race 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 24 	ABC
30 	Bojangles' Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 1 	ABC
31 	Federated Auto Parts 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 7 	ESPN
32 	GEICO 400 	Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet 	September 15	ESPN
33 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 22	ESPN
34 	AAA 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	September 29	ESPN
35 	Hollywood Casino 400 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 6 	ESPN
36 	Bank of America 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 12 	ABC
37 	Camping World RV Sales 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 20 	ABC
38 	Iowa Corn 400 	Iowa Speedway, Newton 	October 27 	ESPN
39 	AdvoCare 500 (Atlanta) 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	November 3 	ABC
40 	AdvoCare 500 (Phoenix) 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 10 	ESPN
41 	Ford EcoBoost 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead 	November 17 	ESPN
42 	EA Sports 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 24 	ABC
43 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	December 1 	ABC
44 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	December 8 	ABC
==Technical changes==
2013 marked the completion of the New Body Program, with the introduction of the SC-13 body. The body was the culmination of five years of development starting in 2008 shortly after a meeting between NASCAR and Detroit automakers.
The goal of the SC-13 body was to update the look of the cars to better match their showroom counterparts. The NC-07 body introduced in 2007 did not reflect the car design trends of the early 2010s, as cars had become taller than the low-slung Sprint Cup Series cars. Not helping matters was the fact the Nationwide Series had switched to a different body in 2011, the NW-11 body, colloquially known as the Muscle Body, that was meant to better represent the cars in showrooms; the NW-11 body was half-successful, as while the Chevrolet Impala bore little resemblence to any Chevrolet model (gaining the derogatory nickname "Frankenpala"), and the Toyota Camry was too boxy compared to its street counterpart, the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger were universally well-received for being nearly-identical to their showroom counterparts.
For the SC-13 body, all four manufacturers were told to make the cars as stock-looking as they could while still staying within NASCAR's guidelines. Chevrolet replaced the Impala with the new Chevrolet SS (really a rebadged Holden Commodore for the American market), while Ford, Dodge, and Toyota continued using the Fusion, Charger, and Camry, respectively; Dodge also offered the Dart as an optional bodystyle, with McDuffie Racing running the full 2013 season with a Dart.
The SC-13 body received universal acclaim for its appearance while still maintaining the high-quality racing that the NC-07 body had come to be associated with.