Car Number Histories: No. 33

ATLANTA -- He was known in the garage as Handsome Harry until 1991, when Harry Gant went on a September streak in the No. 33 that's been equalled only three times since then.

Gant's the most successful driver of the No. 33 -- but neither the first or last to win with that numeral.

Lou Figaro drove a Hudson to victory at Gardena in 1951, one of nine races he ran that season.

Three years later, Figaro returned to the circuit, finishing eighth at LeHi, Ark., and ninth at Martinsville. But he was killed in the next race at North Wilkesboro.

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Lloyd Dane drove in five West Coast races over the next two years, finishing second at Gardena and third at Tucson. Bill West piloted a No. 33 Hudson for Jim Dane in 1955 and 1956, finishing third at Las Vegas and 14th at Lancaster.

Back east, George Green was running a No. 33 Chevy for 20 races over three seasons, starting in 1957. His best finish was a fourth at Jacksonville that year.

In 1960, Charles "Reb" Wickersham acquired the numeral for the next two seasons, running 15 events in an Oldsmobile. He was 10th at North Wilkesboro in 1961.

Roy Mayne drove a No. 33 Chevrolet starting in 1963, finishing fifth at Hickory in 19 races, then using the numeral only once in 1964, when he was 26th at Hillsboro.

Open-wheel star Johnny Rutherford piloted a Chevy to a 28th-place finish in the 1966 Daytona 500.

Then Wayne Smith switched from the No. 38 to the No. 33 in 1969. Over the next four seasons, he would run 33 races, including seventh-place finishes at Maryville in 1969 and 1970 and a ninth-place effort in the 1972 Firecracker 400.

At about the same time, Glen Francis was beginning his long association with the numeral out west. From 1970 through 1980, Francis used No. 33 exclusively at Riverside and Ontario, a span of 16 races. In addition, George Follmer, Jeff Handy, Dick May, Elmo Langley, Buck Baker, Earl Brooks, J.D. McDuffie, Morgan Shepherd and John Anderson drove cars sporting No. 33 throughout the '70s.

In 1981, Harry Gant -- having scored nine top-10s in the No. 47 the previous season -- latched onto the No. 33 and was immediately successful, finishing second at Darlington in his first race. He would go on to finish third in the final standings, driving Buicks, Pontiacs and Chevys to three poles and 10 top-10s.

Gant backed up his success the following year, winning at Martinsville and Charlotte and winding up fourth in the points.

He won once in 1983, then scored three victories in each of the next two seasons, including finishing second behind NASCAR champion Terry Labonte in 1984.

Gant was 11th in the final standings in 1986, then went winless the next two seasons. He won at Darlington in 1989 and Pocono in 1990, setting the stage for one of the most dominant months in NASCAR history.

Having won earlier at Talladega, Gant was mired in a slump. But he won the 1991 Southern 500 on Sept. 1, followed that with a victory at Richmond, won at Dover and kept rolling at Martinsville, earning him a new nickname -- "Mr. September."

He was on his way to a possible fifth straight victory at North Wilkesboro when his brakes failed, leaving him second. Gant finished fourth in the final standings.

Since then, only Bill Elliott, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon have matched Gant's amazing run of four straight wins.

Gant won twice more in 1992, once again finishing fourth in the points. But the next two seasons brought no victories and Gant retired after the 1994 season.

Robert Pressley had the full-time ride the next two seasons, followed by Ken Schrader. Joe Nemechek was behind the wheel for the No. 33's last win, at Rockingham in 2001.

In 2003, the No. 33 was used twice, on two very different courses. Christian Fittipaldi finished 35th in the Daytona 500, while Paul Menard was 29th at Watkins Glen.

Other drivers include Phil Parsons, Greg Sacks, Todd Bodine, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Wally Dallenbach, Scott Pruett, Mike Wallace and Kenny Wallace.