The Nationwide Series is NASCAR’s second-highest racing series, often referred to as the equivalent to baseball’s AAA.

The series began in 1950 as the Sportsman division, which focused on short-track racing. In 1968, it changed its name to the Late Model Sportsman series as the series incorporated larger tracks.

The modern Busch Series began in 1982 when Anheuser-Busch became a sponsor, though the series did not change its name to the Busch Grand National Series until 1986 (Grand National was dropped from the title in 2003).

In 2008, Nationwide Insurance came on as title sponsor, becoming just the second series sponsor.

Nationwide Series cars are slightly smaller than Sprint Cup cars and use less powerful engines.

The series was viewed as a development league for future Sprint Cup drivers, but in recent years it has become populated with Sprint Cup drivers, many of whom now race full-time in each of the series. These drivers are referred to as “Busch-wackers.”

See also:

• The Chase for the Sprint Cup
• The Sprint Cup
• The Sprint Cup Drivers
• The Camping World Truck Series