What Is 1987 NASCAR Busch North Series

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1987 NASCAR Busch North Series was the inaugural season of a regional NASCAR touring series, featuring 11 races and won by Steve Park with 4 victories. It served as a developmental circuit for drivers aiming for national NASCAR series.

Key Facts

The 1987 NASCAR Busch North Series was the first season of the regional touring series.
Steve Park won the championship with 4 race victories despite not running the full schedule.
The season consisted of 11 races held primarily in the northeastern United States.
The series was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and branded under the Busch name.
It evolved into the NASCAR Busch East Series and later the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

Overview

The 1987 NASCAR Busch North Series marked the beginning of a structured regional racing platform designed to develop talent for NASCAR’s national series. Originally conceived as a short-track series, it provided a competitive environment for drivers from the northeastern United States to gain experience and visibility.

With support from NASCAR and sponsorship from Anheuser-Busch, the inaugural season featured a compact 11-race schedule, primarily held on paved oval tracks. The series quickly established itself as a proving ground for future stars aiming to climb the NASCAR ladder.

1987 was the inaugural season of the NASCAR Busch North Series, officially sanctioned by NASCAR and backed by Anheuser-Busch.
The series included 11 races, all held in the northeastern U.S., with events in New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.
Steve Park won the championship despite missing several races, securing 4 victories and consistent top-five finishes.
Races averaged 150 to 200 miles in length, with formats designed to mirror national NASCAR events while accommodating regional logistics.
The series was created to bridge the gap between local short-track racing and the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, now known as the Xfinity Series.

How It Works

The NASCAR Busch North Series operated under a points-based championship system similar to NASCAR’s national series, rewarding consistency and race wins. Drivers earned points based on finishing position, laps led, and race participation, with bonus points awarded for top finishes.

Championship Format: Drivers accumulated points across the 11-race schedule, with the highest total at season’s end winning the title. Ties were broken by number of wins.
Car Specifications: Competitors used V6 or V8 engines in modified stock cars, adhering to strict NASCAR technical regulations to ensure parity and safety.
Race Structure: Each event featured practice, qualifying, and a main race, typically lasting 75 to 150 laps depending on the track length.
Driver Eligibility: Open to licensed NASCAR drivers, with many participants also competing in local short-track series on weekends.
Sponsorship Model: The series was heavily backed by Anheuser-Busch, with the Busch name integrated into the title, mirroring the national Busch Grand National Series.
Development Role: The series functioned as a feeder system, with top performers often moving to the Busch Grand National Series or Craftsman Truck Series.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1987 Busch North Series to other NASCAR series highlights its regional focus and developmental purpose.

Series	Races in 1987	Champion	Primary Region	Series Purpose
NASCAR Busch North Series	11	Steve Park	Northeastern U.S.	Regional development
Busch Grand National Series	30	Rob Moroso	Nationwide	National touring series
Winston Cup Series	29	Dale Earnhardt	Nationwide	Top-tier NASCAR series
ARCA Menards Series	20	Bill Venturini	Midwest & South	Regional feeder
Tran-American Series	8	Tommy Houston	East Coast	Short-track development

The table illustrates how the Busch North Series occupied a niche role, smaller in scale than national series but vital for driver development. Its regional focus allowed lower operating costs and closer fan engagement, distinguishing it from larger, cross-country NASCAR circuits.

Why It Matters

The 1987 NASCAR Busch North Series laid the foundation for structured regional racing in NASCAR’s ecosystem, influencing how talent is scouted and developed. Its success led to the expansion and rebranding of the series over the following decades, cementing its legacy in American motorsports.

The series gave early exposure to future NASCAR stars like Steve Park, who later competed in the Cup Series.
It established a model for regional touring series that NASCAR later replicated in the K&N Pro Series East and West.
Tracks such as Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway gained national recognition through consistent series inclusion.
The sponsorship by Anheuser-Busch demonstrated the commercial viability of regional motorsports, attracting other brands.
It provided a structured pathway for drivers unable to afford the high costs of national series competition.
The series evolved into the NASCAR Busch East Series, later renamed the K&N Pro Series East before being discontinued in 2020.

By creating a clear developmental tier, the 1987 Busch North Series played a crucial role in democratizing access to professional stock car racing and shaping NASCAR’s long-term talent pipeline.