The 2003 NASCAR Busch Series began February 15 and ended November 15. Brian Vickers of Hendrick Motorsports won the championship.
2003 teams and drivers
Full schedule
ManufacturerTeamDriver Chevrolet Bill Davis Racing 23 Scott Wimmer FitzBradshaw Racing 12 Kerry Earnhardt Tim Fedewa GIC-Mixon Motorsports 44 Mike Harmon Hendrick Motorsports 5 Brian Vickers Lewis Motorsports 46 Ashton Lewis Jr. Richard Childress Racing 2 Ron Hornaday Jr. 21 Kevin Harvick Johnny Sauter ST Motorsports 59 Stacy Compton Dodge Carroll Racing 26 Kevin Grubb Lance Norick Chad Blount (R) Ford Akins Motorsports 38 Kasey Kahne Moy RacingEntries were fielded in a collaboration with Means Racing. 77 Donnie Neuenberger Brad Teague Bruce Bechtel Dana White Jimmy Kitchens Jason Rudd Ryck Sanders Derek Hayes ppc Racing 10 Scott Riggs 57 Jason Keller Team Rensi Motorsports 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Pontiac Brewco Motorsports 37 David Green ChevroletPontiac 27 Chase Montgomery (R) Hank Parker Jr. Joey Clanton (R) Day Enterprises Racing 16 Larry Gunselman Evans Motorsports 7 Randy LaJoie Greg Biffle Todd Bodine Joe Nemechek Hank Parker Jr. Mike Skinner Innovative Motorsports 48 Shane Hmiel Jeff Green Todd Bodine Randy LaJoie Kerry Earnhardt Carlos Contreras Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Coy Gibbs (R) 20 Mike Bliss DodgeChevrolet Phoenix Racing 1 Jamie McMurray David Stremme (R) FordPontiac Jay Robinson Racing 49 Derrike Cope Chris Bingham (R) Carlos Contreras Jason White (R) Shane Hall Tammy Jo Kirk
Limited schedule
ManufacturerTeamDriverRounds Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 55 Paul Menard BACE Motorsports 33 Tony Raines Damon Lusk (R) 74 Kerry Earnhardt Bennett Motorsports 02 Lowell Bennett Bost Motorsports 22 Jeff Fuller Regan Smith (R) Tina Gordon Wayne Edwards Brian Tyler Stan BoydStan Boyd qualified the No. 22 car at Michigan (race #23) but he was replaced in the race by Justin Ashburn who failed to qualify his No. 61 car. Justin Ashburn Dana White Phil Bonifield Bill Hoff Blake Mallory Jeff Streeter Jerry Reary Kevin Conway Brian Weber Racing 84 Joe Buford Brian Weber Gus Wasson Greg Pursley Norm Benning Racing Norm Benning 81 8 Chance 2 Motorsports Dale Earnhardt Jr. Steve Park Hank Parker Jr. Tony Stewart Martin Truex Jr. 81 Leik Motorsports Dwayne Leik Competitive Edge Motorsports 32 Mike Garvey Team Amick Lyndon Amick Jeff Green Craig Motorsports 86 Jeff Fultz DLP Racing 07 Steve Grissom Mike Bales Brett Oakley Davis Motorsports Brad Teague 0 Morgan Shepherd Jason White (R) J. R. Robbs Dude Teate Jay Sommers Gus Wasson 70 Brian Conz Morgan Shepherd Don Satterfield Mike Potter Gus Wasson Jason Rudd Jason White (R) Ken Alexander Racing Robby Benton Jimmy Kitchens DCT Motorsports 36 Steve Grissom FitzBradshaw Racing 14 Casey Atwood 82 Jimmy Spencer Randy LaJoie Frank Cicci Racing 34 Mike McLaughlin GIC-Mixon Motorsports 41 Jimmy Kitchens Haas CNC Racing 00 Troy Cline Jason Leffler Henderson Motorsports 75 Jay Sauter Hendrick Motorsports 87 Kyle Busch Herzog-Jackson Motorsports 92 Todd Bodine Jeff Green Holman Motorsports 78 Caleb Holman Innovative Motorsports 47 Regan Smith (R) Michael Waltrip Racing 99 Michael Waltrip Kenny Wallace NEMCO Motorsports Joe Nemechek Morgan–McClure Motorsports 05 Eric McClure PBM Racing 65 Vern Slagh PF2 Motorsports 94 Joe Buford A. J. Alsup Jerry Robertson Jamie Aube Daniel Johnson Kenny Hendrick Brian Tyler Rich Bickle Premier Motorsports 85 John Hayden Lackley Motorsports Robby Benton RB1 Motorsports 71 Ron Young Shane Wallace Kenneth Appling Racing Jeremy Clements 51 Ware Racing Enterprises Stan Boyd Richard Childress Racing 29 Mardy Lindley Kevin Harvick Michael Lewis Johnny Sauter Smith Brothers Motorsports 67 C. W. Smith Streeter Racing 83 Jeff Streeter TC Motorsports 35 Wayne Anderson Team Bristol Motorsports 54 Hermie Sadler Truex Motorsports 58 Martin Truex Jr. White Knight Motorsports 28 Drew White Dodge Braun Racing 19 Chad Blount (R) Casey Mears 30 Jimmy Vasser Steadman Marlin Lance Norick Billy Boat David Stremme (R) 40 Jamie McMurray Carroll Racing 90 Lance Norick Kevin Grubb Creech Motorsports 13 Carl Long Franklin Butler III Cunningham Motorsports 06 Justin Labonte Evernham Motorsports 79 Jeremy Mayfield Jason Rudd Motorsports 01 Jason Rudd Team Jesel 66 Chad Blount (R) Tommy Baldwin Racing 6 Damon Lusk (R) Jimmy Spencer Ted Musgrave Paul Wolfe Windward Racing Enterprises 08 Scott Lynch Ford Akins Motorsports 98 Mark Green Glidden Motorsports 04 Dion Ciccarelli 84 Havill-Spoerl Racing 73 Jason Schuler Ron Barfield Jr. Freddy Tame Lavender Racing 08 Jody Lavender Long Brothers Racing 8 Joe Buford Means Racing 52 Brad Teague Mike Potter Wayne Jacks Donnie Neuenberger Ryck Sanders Bruce Bechtel Jay Robinson Racing 89 Shane Hall ppc Racing 15 Jon Wood PPM Racing 03 Anthony Lazzaro Reiser Enterprises 17 Matt Kenseth Jeff Burton Wally Dallenbach Jr. 89 Victory in Jesus Racing Morgan Shepherd 9 Roush Racing Jeff Burton Greg Biffle 60 Stanton Barrett Santerre Racing 01 Mike McLaughlin Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Kevin Ray David Keith Schuler Racing 67 Josh Richeson Brad Mueller Jason Schuler Team Rensi Motorsports 35 Elliott Sadler Vahsholtz Racing 90 Clint Vahsholtz Pontiac Gerhart Racing 55 Bobby Gerhart ChevroletDodge Curb Agajanian Motorsports 43 Johnny Sauter Kevin Grubb Shelby Howard Brewco Motorsports Justin Hobgood Gary Baker Racing 28 Brad Baker ChevroletFord Marsh Racing 31 Dave Blaney SCORE Motorsports 02 Hermie Sadler ChevroletPontiac Aramendia Motorsports 79 Joe Aramendia Troy Cline Biagi Brothers Racing 4 Mike Wallace Rick Carelli Day Enterprise Racing 81 Mark Day 6 Justin Ashburn 60 61 DCT Motorsports Toby Porter Steve Grissom Hoff Motorsports 93 Bill Hoff Johnny Henderson 63 Jimmy Henderson MacDonald Motorsports 72 Randy MacDonald Michael Dokken Stan Boyd Jason Hedlesky Mac Hill Motorsports 56 Tim Sauter Jeff Spraker Regan Smith (R) Markle Motorsports 68 Rick Markle Montgomery MotorsportsEntries were fielded in a collaboration with Brewco Motorsports. 80 Chase Montgomery (R) Justin Hobgood Mark Green NEMCO Motorsports 87 Jeff Green Joe Nemechek David Reutimann Jeff Fuller 88 David Reutimann Joe Nemechek Ortec Racing 96 Brad Baker Gus Wasson Kenny Hendrick Tim Edwards Josh Richeson Brent Moore Mark Green Brad Loney Stanton Barrett Motorsports 97 Kenny Hendrick Jimmy Kitchens Jeff Spraker Jeff Fuller S.W.A.T. Racing 62 Larry Hollenbeck Tennessee Mountain Boys Racing 53 Joe Buford Brad Teague Gene Allbert Jr. Butch Jarvis FordDodge Jay Robinson Racing 39 Mike McLaughlin Joe Buford Clint Vahsholtz Jason White (R) Shane Hall Chris Bingham (R) Brad Baker Jamie Mosley Blake Mallory Dan Pardus Derrike Cope Jerry Reary Dana White Mark Green ChevroletFordPontiac Stanton Barrett Racing 91 Ron Barfield Jr. Eddy McKean Andy Belmont Jeff Fuller Jason Hedlesky Kenny Hendrick Stanton Barrett Jimmy Kitchens Dan Pardus Martin Truex Jr.
Notes
Schedule No. Race title Track Date1Koolerz 300Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 152Rockingham 200North Carolina Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 223Sam's Town 300Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las VegasMarch 14darlingtonraceway.com 200Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 155Channellock 250Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolMarch 226O'Reilly 300Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthMarch 297Aaron's 312Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaApril 58Pepsi 300Nashville Superspeedway, LebanonApril 1291–800–Pitshop.com 300California Speedway, FontanaApril 2610Hardee's 250Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMay 211Charter Pipeline 250Gateway International Raceway, MadisonMay 1012Goulds Pumps/ITT Industries 200Nazareth Speedway, NazarethMay 1813Carquest Auto Parts 300Lowe's Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 2414MBNA Armed Forces Family 200Dover International Speedway, DoverMay 3115Trace Adkins Chrome 300Nashville Superspeedway, LebanonJune 716Meijer 300 presented by Oreo HappyKentucky Speedway, SpartaJune 1417GNC Live Well 250The Milwaukee Mile, West AllisJune 2918Winn-Dixie 250Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 419Tropicana Twister 300Chicagoland Speedway, JolietJuly 1220New England 200New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 1921TrimSpa Dream Body 250Pikes Peak International Raceway, FountainJuly 2622Kroger 200Indianapolis Raceway Park, BrownsburgAugust 223Cabela's 250Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1624Food City 250Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2225Winn-Dixie 200 presented by PepsiCoDarlington Raceway, DarlingtonAugust 3026Funai 250Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 527Stacker 200 presented by YJ StingerDover International Speedway, DoverSeptember 2028Mr. Goodcents 300Kansas Speedway, Kansas CityOctober 429Little Trees 300Lowe's Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 1030Sam's Town 250Memphis International Raceway, MillingtonOctober 1831Aaron's 312Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonOctober 2532Bashas' Supermarkets 200Phoenix International Raceway, PhoenixNovember 133Target House 200North Carolina Speedway, RockinghamNovember 834Ford 300Homestead-Miami Speedway, HomesteadNovember 15
Races
Koolerz 300
The Koolerz 300 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole but was unable to race due to suffering from the flu. Jeff Green started Nemechek's car from the rear of the field.
Top ten results #8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. #17 - Matt Kenseth #21 - Kevin Harvick #4 - Mike Wallace #1 - Jamie McMurray #92 - Todd Bodine #25 - Bobby Hamilton Jr. #38 - Kasey Kahne #43 - Johnny Sauter #27 - Chase Montgomery
Failed to qualify: Mark Day (#81), Jay Sauter (#75), C. W. Smith (#67), Joe Buford (#84), Brad Teague (#52), Larry Hollenbeck (#82)-Withdrew, Ron Barfield (#91)-Withdrew Open-wheel veteran Jimmy Vasser made his NASCAR debut in this race, starting 5th and finishing 28th after crashing out late. Vasser would make one more start at Milwaukee in June.
Rockingham 200
The Rockingham 200 was scheduled for February 22, but rain pushed it back to Monday February 24 at North Carolina Speedway. David Green won the pole.
Top ten results #1 - Jamie McMurray #37 - David Green #92 - Todd Bodine #7 - Randy LaJoie #57 - Jason Keller #20 - Mike Bliss #26 - Kevin Grubb #5 - Brian Vickers #43 - Johnny Sauter #21 - Kevin Harvick
Failed to qualify: Justin Ashburn (#61), Michael Dokken (#72), Jeff Fultz (#86)
Sam's Town 300
The Sam's Town 300 was held on March 1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Stanton Barrett won the pole.
Top ten results #87 - Joe Nemechek #21 - Kevin Harvick #20 - Mike Bliss #8 - Steve Park #57 - Jason Keller #37 - David Green #99 - Michael Waltrip #60 - Stanton Barrett #2 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #23 - Scott Wimmer
Failed to qualify: Steadman Marlin (#30), Wayne Jacks (#52), Morgan Shepherd (#0), Mike McLaughlin (#01), Troy Cline (#00), Scott Lynch (#08)
darlingtonraceway.com 200
The darlingtonraceway.com 200 was scheduled for March 15 but instead held on Monday March 17 at Darlington Raceway due to rain. Stanton Barrett won the pole as the field was set by 2002 Busch Series owner points due to said rain.
Top ten results #92 - Todd Bodine* #1 - Jamie McMurray* #10 - Scott Riggs #59 - Stacy Compton #21 - Johnny Sauter #27 - Hank Parker Jr. #5 - Brian Vickers #38 - Kasey Kahne #2 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #57 - Jason Keller
Failed to qualify: none This was Bodine's last career Busch Series victory. This race is known for the intense final lap battle between Jamie McMurray and Todd Bodine. On the last turn of the last lap, the two banged fenders and McMurray was spun as Bodine took the checkers. This happened one day after Ricky Craven beat Kurt Busch in the closest Cup Series finish at the time.
Channellock 250
The Channellock 250 was held on March 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway. David Green won the pole.
Top ten results #21 - Kevin Harvick #33 - Tony Raines #57 - Jason Keller #37 - David Green #20 - Mike Bliss #25 - Bobby Hamilton Jr. #48 - Shane Hmiel #7 - Randy LaJoie #92 - Todd Bodine #43 - Johnny Sauter