By the Numbers: Busch Series

MADISON, Ill. -- The NASCAR Busch Series is as much a trove of statistics, and numerology as Winston Cup racing is.

Coming into Saturday's Charter Pipeline 250, the Busch Series has run 10 races in the 2003 season, which is the series' 22nd year of existence.

Since 1982, the Busch Series has created a sizeable log of statistical nuggets interspersed with facts and notes about the drivers in the sport's No. 2 series.

1 -- The position in the standings of the top Winston Cup regular in the series, Todd Bodine, who has led the points since he won at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on March 17.

2 -- The leading number of Busch Series victories this season, by Winston Cup drivers Kevin Harvick, Joe Nemechek and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3 -- The narrowest margin of victory in the Busch Series championship, by Joe Nemechek over Bobby Labonte in 1992.

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4 -- The most victories scored in the 2002 Busch Series season by Busch regulars, a tie amongst the top three drivers: Champion Greg Biffle, Jason Keller and Scott Wimmer.

5 -- The most victories scored in the 2002 Busch Series season by a Winston Cup "Buschwhacker," Jeff Burton.

6 -- The most first time winners in one Busch Series season, in 2002 when Bobby Hamilton Jr., Jamie McMurray, Scott Riggs, Johnny Sauter, Jack Sprague and Scott Wimmer all won.

7 -- The most career Busch Series pole positions won at one track, by Tommy Ellis at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Mark Martin at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

8 -- The number of Busch Series starts this season by Jamie McMurray, who in 11th place in the standings is the second highest Winston Cup driver after leader Todd Bodine.

9 -- The most career Busch Series wins from the pole position, by Sam Ard and Mark Martin.

10 -- The most wins in a Busch Series season, by Sam Ard in 1983.

	St.. Louis native Mike Wallace Credit: Autostock

11 -- The most pole positions in a Busch Series season, by Jeff Gordon in 1992.

16 -- The most top-10 finishes scored in the 2002 Busch Series by a Winston Cup regular, Jeff Green.

18 -- The age of the youngest driver to win a Busch Series race, Casey Atwood, who was 18 years, 10 months old when he won at The Milwaukee (Wis.) Mile on July 4, 1999.

19 -- The highest finish in the 2002 Busch Series standings by a Winston Cup regular, Jeff Green.

20 -- The number of career Busch Series victories by Jeff Burton, the most by any driver currently competing in the series, which ranks him eighth all-time.

22 -- The best finish in the Busch Series standings by a female driver, Patty Moise in 1990.

23 -- The most career pole positions by a driver currently active in the Busch Series, Jeff Green, who ranks fourth all-time.

24 -- The most different pole winners in a Busch Series season, 1998.

25 -- The leading number of top-10 finishes in the 2002 Busch Series, by champion Greg Biffle.

	Randy LaJoie won the Bud Pole at Gateway in 2002. Credit: Autostock

28 -- The leading number of career Busch Series pole positions, by Tommy Ellis.

29 -- The leading number of career Busch Series short track wins, by Jack Ingram.

30 -- The most top-10 finishes scored in a Busch Series season, by Sam Ard in 1983.

36 -- The leading number of career Busch Series superspeedway wins, by Mark Martin.

42 -- The furthest back starting position of a Busch Series winner, by Chad Little in the 1995 Goody's 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

45 -- The leading number of career Busch Series victories, by Mark Martin.

56 -- The age of the oldest driver to win a Busch Series race, Dick Trickle, who was 56 years, 11 months old when he won at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Sept. 5, 1998.

63 -- The leading number of career victories in the Busch Series by a car owner, by Jack Roush with drivers Mark Martin (38), Jeff Burton (16) and Greg Biffle (9).

133 -- The most starts by a female driver in the history of the Busch Series, by Patty Moise.

178 -- The number of consecutive Busch Series starts by Jason Keller, second-best behind consecutive starts leader Randy LaJoie.

198 -- The most career top-10 finishes in the Busch Series, by Tommy Houston, the father of NASCAR drivers Andy and Marty Houston.

208 -- The most career Busch Series races started without a victory, by Ed Berrier from 1984-1998 before he won at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

228 -- The current leading consecutive starts streak in the Busch Series, by former two-time champion Randy LaJoie, beginning with the Feb. 17, 1996 Gargoyle's 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

360 -- The most consecutive starts in Busch Series history, by Tommy Houston from 2/13/82 - 2/26/94.

417 -- The leading number of starts in the Busch Series, by Tommy Houston.

616 -- The widest margin of victory in a Busch Series championship, by Jeff Green over Jason Keller in 2000.

640 -- The number of races held in the history of the NASCAR Busch Series.