NASCAR Racing: NASCARs ownership of numbers, car numbers, first refusal

Question
How does NASCAR distribute car numbers to owners and teams? Do they pay for the number and what if the number isnt being used?

Answer
Any new team starting out is permitted to take any number currently not in use at the beginning of the year. From then on that number "belongs" to the car owner for as long as they continue to use it. They have "first refusal" for any number they have used the previous year. I guess we're speaking of the #8. DEI has thjat number as long as they want and don't have to give it up until they want. Most of the time when a number swaps owners there is money involved. I guess Teresa was asking too much.