Martin Truex Jr. celebrates his Busch Series title with team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. Credit: Autostock

By the Numbers: NBS

2004 Busch Series quickly became a race between newcomers

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Two drivers racing the full season for the first time left all the veterans behind in the race for the Busch Series championship.

The series' 23rd season was most special for Martin Truex Jr., who followed in the footsteps of his team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. by winning his first Busch Series title the first season he attempted it.

Busch Series •   Results •   Standings •   Schedule •   Best 25 Over Last Six Races •   Best Starts •   Best Finishes

In 2004, Truex was only one of many who contributed to the latest chapter in the Busch Series' statistical legacy.

The figures below refer to the 34-race 2004 season unless otherwise noted.

2 -- The consecutive number of manufacturers' championships won by Chevrolet.

4 -- The number of races won by Dodge.

4 -- The number of times Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch swapped the lead in the standings in May and June.

5 -- The number of repeat champions in series history, namely Jack Ingram, Sam Ard, Larry Pearson, Randy LaJoie and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5 -- The number of wins by Nextel Cup regular Greg Biffle, the most among such drivers.

6 -- The number of wins by Truex Jr., a series best. It's also Truex's career victory total.

Very early on, it was clear that the battle for the Busch Series title would be between Truex Jr. and Busch. Credit: Autostock

6 -- The number of consecutive seasons in which there has been a different champion.

6 -- The number of first-time race winners, namely Truex Jr., Busch, Jason Leffler, Justin Labonte, Robby Gordon and Mike Bliss.

7 -- The number of Busch Poles won by Truex Jr., the most in the series.

8 -- The number of first-time Busch Pole winners, namely Truex Jr., Johnny Benson, Bliss, Busch, Clint Bowyer, David Stremme, Jamie McMurray and Paul Menard.

9 -- The number of races won by Ford.

9 -- The number of times the lead in the series standings changed hands.

11 -- The total number of manufacturers' championships won by Chevrolet since the Bill France Performance Cup's inception in 1991.

12 -- The number of times the driver winning the most races in a season has also been the champion.

13 -- The number of drivers' championships won by Chevrolet in series history.

15 -- Biffle's leading total of top-five finishes by a Nextel Cup Series regular.

16 -- Busch's leading number of top-five finishes by a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate.

17 -- Truex Jr.'s series leading total of top-five finishes.

18 -- The number of different champions in series history.

MARTIN TRUEX JR. •   Driver Page •   2004 Stats

20 -- The number of consecutive weeks that Truex Jr. held the lead in the standings.

21 -- The number of races won by Chevrolet.

21 -- The number of races that Truex Jr. led and Busch led, the most in the series.

22 -- The number of top-10 finishes by Busch, the most by a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate.

26 -- Truex Jr.'s leading total of top-10 finishes.

27 -- Truex Jr.'s worst position in the standings, after the Daytona season opener.

Kyle Busch won five times in 2004. Credit: Autostock

31 -- The number of weeks Truex Jr. was in the top-five in the standings.

32 -- The number of races won by teams with some affiliation with a Nextel Cup organization.

126.92 -- Busch's total number of unfinished miles, the least of any series regular.

236 -- Jason Keller's leading number of consecutive starts by an active driver.

1,108 -- The number of laps led by Kyle Busch, the most in the series, or 1,387.49 miles.

1,383,515 -- In dollars, Busch's race-purse earnings.