It is my understanding car numbers actually are owned by NASCAR, not teams.
Example 1, #29:
Was Harvick's last year at
RCR. Has been used by Matt Crafton and Joe Nemechek in 2 (failed) race attempts this year,
RAB Racing Toyotas.
Example 2, #41:
RPM's Almirola ran a #41 Ford in one 2013 race (second Martinsville date, for a Maurice Petty HoF induction tribute). That number is in use this season by another team and driver,
SHR's Kurt Busch.
Example 3, #52:
Used by various
Ford drivers running for
Bob Keselowski in 2013, it entered this year's Daytona 500 with Bobby Labonte in a
HScott Motorsports Chevrolet.
Example 4, #99:
A
RFR Ford in Cup.
A
RAB Racing Toyota driven by James Buescher in Nationwide. RFR is in Nationwide so if the #99 belonged to the
team how can a driver from another team running another engine can have the number ?
A
T3R Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Bryan Silas in Trucks.
Lastly,
this tells me #99 doesn't have that much other, separate history for Ford/RFR, no offense to Jeff Burton!