We are officially two weeks away until the 58th running of the Daytona 500. Let’s take a look at the history of Number 14 in NASCAR.
Fonty Flock
In 1951, Fonty Flock took over the number 14 and impressed from the start. That year, Flock was able to reel off seven victories, 19 Top 5’s, and 21 Top 10’s in only 33 races. Flock would go on to drive the number 14 until 1955. As a whole, Fonty collected 14 wins while piloting the number 14 in his career.
Jim Paschal
A few years after Flock stepped out of the number 14, Jim Paschal stepped in. In his first year, 1961, Paschal was only in a limited role but put his car into Victory Lane at Spartanburg. Jimmy took five years off from the 14 car but returned in ’66 where he made two Victory Lane appearances. Paschal would continue to drive the number 14 for two more years and collect four more wins. In his career behind the wheel of the number 14, he won seven races, 34 top five finishes, and finished in the top 10 45 times.
Tony Stewart
Like his favorite driver growing up, A.J. Foyt, Tony Stewart, who left Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2008, formed his own race team and dawned the number 14 on the side of his car in 2009. Stewart didn’t disappoint in that inaugural year either. Smoke went on to collect 4 wins and finished sixth in the standings.
In 2011, Stewart pulled off one of the most impressive feats in NASCAR history. Needing a good finish at Richmond, the last race before the chase, Stewart was able to finish 7th and clinched his spot in the playoffs. In the 10 races of the Chase, Stewart reeled off five wins to win the championship that year.
Stewart collected 16 wins in the number 14 which puts him as the all-time winner in that number.
Other Notable Drivers
Other drivers that graced the seat of the number 14 are A.J. Foyt, Coo Coo Marlin, Sterling Marlin, and Ron Hornaday Jr.
This Years Daytona 500
Stewart stepped down after the 2016 season was over. In a move that was in place prior to the start of the ’16 season, Clint Bowyer would be taking Stewart’s place starting in 2017. Bowyer hasn’t won a race since 2012, but is very good at restrictor-plate race tracks. Will Bowyer be able to pilot the number 14 into Victory Lane at Daytona in two weeks? Tune in on February 26th to find out.
