Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Homestead marked the final time NASCAR's number two series operated under that name. It was announced in August that the series will be known as the Xfinity Series, after the Comcast Xfinity cable and internet service, effective January 1. Matt Kenseth won the race on Saturday and will therefore be known as the winner of the last-ever Nationwide Series race, although he has been a Cup driver since 2000. Similarly, rookie Chase Elliott, who clinched the title in Phoenix last week, has the honor of being the last Nationwide Series champion, as well as the first rookie and youngest champion of a NASCAR national series.
This was also the last series broadcast for ESPN and the broadcasting team of Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. ESPN had been the exclusive home of the series for eight seasons, starting in 2007 when it was still known as the Busch Series. It was renamed the Nationwide Series in 2008. Starting next year and through 2024 the series will be split between Fox and NBC, as it was from 2001 to 2006. Nationwide is not leaving NASCAR; in fact, it is expanding its presence as it has been selected as the official insurance provider of NASCAR. Nationwide is also replacing the National Guard as one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s primary sponsors in the Sprint Cup Series on the #88 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports. Nationwide already appeared on Earnhardt's Cup car in a few races this year.
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