Budweiser Over the Years

Hello and welcome race fans to my Budweiser over the years slide show featuring past drivers who have worn the red and white colors and had that in-famous three letters on the car BUD. Budweiser first broke in to the sport of NASCAR in 1983 with an up and coming Junior Johnson team.

26 years later there name still is worn proudly by driver Kasey Kahne.

Terry Labonte1983, 1987-1989

Labonte first began driving for Bud with team owner Bill Hagan in 1983. In 1983 Labonte would have three pole one win 11 top 5's and 20 top 10's all in Buds first year in the then Winston Cup and a fifth place points finish, after Budweiser left Hagan to Join Junior Johnson after the 83 season.

Then came 1987 and a Bud / Labonte reunion when Labonte joined JJ Racing and gave Bud another four wins and five poles and a best points finish of 12th in 87 third in 88 and fourth in 89

Labonte drove a total of four seasons with the BUD on his hood and then 1987 with JJ.

Darrell Waltrip 1984- 1986

From 1984 when BUD left Hagan for a 30-year-old driver from Owensboro KY named Darrell Waltrip til the end of the 1986 season.

After only one visit to Victory Lane for Bud in 1983 there rookie season, Bud's sophomore season would not disappointed with a total of seven wins and a fourth place points finish.

If Bud was happy with that the 1985 season would bing BUD there first Winston Cup championship followed up by a second place points finish i 86.

Waltrip is probably one of the most popular Bud drivers, along with Jr.

Neil Bonnett 1984 - 1986

Bonnett ended up driving as a team mate to Darrell Waltrip and Budweiser Bonnett ended up with three wins and a fourth place points finish with JJ Motorsports.

Geoff Bodine 1990-1991

Bodine joined Hendrick and Budweiser sponsorship ended up with six wins from 90-92 with a best points position of third.

Bill Elliot 1992-1994

93 94 After jumping ship from rival Coors Beer sponsorship which Elliot and owner Harry Melling had along run with to JJ and Bud in 1992 Elliot would drive the famed No.11 Budwiser Car from 1992- 1994 he would pull of a best of second in the points standings and grab another six wins for sponsor Budweiser.

Ken Schrader 1995- 1996

In 1995, Bud would join Hendrick Motorsports the not so dominate version we all know today with driver Ken Schrader, it wasn't what BUD was use to ending the '95 and '96 season with a zero in th win column and a best points finish of 12th in '95.

Ricky Craven 1997- 1998

Ricky Craven joined Hendrick in the 50th year of NASCAR in the old No. 25 car renumbered the No. 50 Craven would also not get Bud back in Victory Lane and ending the 1998 season early after an injury after 11 races best points finish of 19th.

Wally Dallenbach Jr. 1998- 1999

After Craven was injured Hedrick brought in Dallenbach to salvage the 1998 season but with only one top five in the season a half Bud had had enough with Hendrick and his lack to find success (don't they wished they would have just waited out those learning years).

Dale Earnhardt Jr 1999-2007

The 2000 season would bring Bud back to the grace of fame when they moved over to Dale Earnhardt Inc. to sponsor the most popular driver Little E himself and if Bud wanted wins Jr scored 17 of them and a best finish in the points of third.

Jr would become the most popular Budweiser driver since D.W.

Kasey Kahne 2008- current

When Jr left to go to Hendrick Motorsports Bud jumped to Gillet Evernham Motorsports and driver Kasey Kahne So far Kahne has two wins for Bud team last season and now joining The King, Richard Petty's, race team Bud should be happy with this seasons out come should produce wins.