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February 25, 2007
NASCAR's not doing enough
This weekend at California shows just how much NASCAR isn't doing enough for it's lower series, Busch and Truck. Neither series had a full field for the California race and that's with about half of the Busch race being Cup drivers.
NASCAR keeps saying that Cup drivers racing in the Busch Series helps it, if so, why was there not a full field? Why were half of the drivers Cup drivers and it still not be a full field?
I read an article that pointed to one of the reasons, money. If you don't finish in the top, you can't even cover the costs of going there to race. I thought NASCAR had made all these rule changes to help cut costs, but it doesn't appear to be working. The purses are a lot lower in the Busch and Truck series races, but yet the cost of running in those series keeps going up, it's not fair to the teams.
NASCAR needs a way to cut costs to the teams and not need the Cup drivers to fill the field for these races, plain and simple, it seems everything they do it doesn't help the teams unless the teams are associated to Cup teams.
Another thing NASCAR needs to do, and I've said this before, have REAL qualifying for all three series. No guaranteed spots because of your position in points, the fastest 43 make the race, plain and simple and if a big name goes home, so be it.
NASCAR seems to be ignoring or pushing aside it's lower series and if they don't do something about it, both will become a distant memory.
Your thoughts? What should NASCAR do to change the apparent downward spiral?
February 25, 2007 in NASCAR, NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Permalink
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Comments
The Cup drivers are the ones who have attracted the big sponsor and TV dollars to the Busch series. In the 80's the Busch series was barely afloat and nobody even watched it. Be careful not to bite off the hand that feeds you.
Posted by: Michael | Feb 28, 2007 4:33:15 PM
cup drivers in busch. this is like the big fish in the little pond. will a major league baseball player go down to the minors for a game to feel big ? not allowed in all other sports. give the smaller teams the chance. nascar already to costly for teams, not to mention the everyday fan. (another story.) keep it one or the other. ownership ok. for cup drivers.
Posted by: gene | Feb 28, 2007 1:12:04 PM
independent contractors = drivers.
no "restriction of trade" = FTC.
drivers can qualify and drive
whenever/whatever/and for whoever.
Tiger Woods can play you at your
golf club for $20 if y'all agree,
and the PGA will sanction it.
Tony Stewart can drive 'em all.
yeah, it's money, but it's freedom, too.
Posted by: john of sparta | Feb 27, 2007 9:56:00 PM
Keith, that's true that in the NHL and MLB players do head down to the minors for short stints but it's usually to recover from injuries and to get back in shape before rejoining the main team. Plus there are rules as to how many games they can play at that level before they have to adjust their contracts, it's not open ended. Also those are more team sports than what racing is (in terms of the driver vs. an individual player). Additionaly the Cup teams often lend their pit crews (the best of the best) to the Busch efforts further diminishing the smaller Busch teams ability to compete. The list goes on and on. It's simply unfair and it's killing the Busch series. The IRL and Champ Car don't allow full time drivers to race in the developmental series of each of those respective groups, why should Nascar? There isn't going to be a Busch series in a little while if it goes on this way.
Posted by: canucken | Feb 27, 2007 7:50:10 PM
Short and sweet...Nascar has ruined stock car racing!!! It just plain stinks these days!
Posted by: John | Feb 27, 2007 7:37:20 PM
Another Joe,
How would that be a problem for Waltrip...Chances are he won't qualify for the cup race anyway...LOL.
Posted by: Keith | Feb 27, 2007 3:00:11 PM
Yes, whatever happened to the days when you could watch a Busch race without it being Cup Jr. I remember enjoying Busch races when they were Busch races, when Dale Jr. was coming up through the ranks, and Matt Kenseth, all the guys that used it for what its for. A cup affiliated team is good for a Busch driver to drove for because they get to race in the best equipment possible, but a cup driver in a cup affiliated team car is just horse crap. I say after Daytona reverse the schedule for the Busch Series, lets see if Michael Waltrip would wanna use that much Jet fuel to race Busch, sorry couldnt help myself.
Posted by: another joe | Feb 27, 2007 4:01:53 AM
Jeff,
I agree, that is what it is for. The problem comes in when a Cup owner fields a car in the Busch Series and he puts a Cup driver in the car.
Posted by: Jon | Feb 26, 2007 6:59:57 PM
A Cup owner with a Busch driver would be considered driver development. Thats what it should be for.
Posted by: jeff | Feb 26, 2007 6:48:47 PM
There are two elements in Buschwhacking: driver and team owner. If Kevin Harvick drives a car for RCR, that is Buschwhacking by any definition. What if Harvick drives a car for KHI, which doesn't have a Cup team? Or if Tony Stewart runs for JR Motorsports? Is that Buschwhacking? Or what if Kertus Davis or Jason Keller drives the RCR car? And which of these is hurting Busch?
Cup owner + Cup driver = Buschwhacker, a bad thing
Cup owner + Busch driver = ?
Busch owner + Cup driver = ?
Busch owner + Busch driver = Busch racing team, a good thing
Posted by: Doug | Feb 26, 2007 2:49:36 PM
Kathy,
As a fan of Nascar since 1969, I know that the fan is not the number 1 thought of Nascar! MONEY is the #1 thing for NASCAR!
I would like to see a competing league start and cater to the fans. heck! NASCAR has abandoned some great tracks! Let's race there.
Posted by: Mike Cripps | Feb 26, 2007 2:05:05 PM
The V-6 BGN engines were more costly! 9:1 V-8's are a fine package used on many local tracks as well as in BGN. The engines are pretty close, but, I believe it's aero and all the extra practice time Cup guys get. To keep things even aero wise a standard body would be a good idea in the BGN series.
It's a tough situation for NASCAR. They limit Cup drivers the crowds dwindle, allow Cup drivers the BGN regulars dwindle.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 26, 2007 1:32:36 PM
~"NASCAR keeps saying that Cup drivers racing in the Busch Series helps it, if so, why was there not a full field? Why were half of the drivers Cup drivers and it still not be a full field?"`
EXACTLY.......now you're getting it!
I have a simple solution for the fear of declining ticket sales at Busch races if cup drivers are limited. ALL tracks should sell Busch and Cup race tickets as a package only, you want cup tickets you have to buy Busch tickets. There, now the tickets are sold, you don't have to show up for the Busch race but the seat is paid for and NASCAR gets to claim a "sell out crowd" on the air and no one will be the wiser.
Posted by: Bill | Feb 26, 2007 1:29:26 PM
Canucken,
Actually you do. Baseball and Hockey both allow major leaguers to play at a lower level and not just for injury. And, I'd say Busch drivers benefit from the experience of driving against the cup guys. But, you are correct that it's gotten ridiculous and needs to be roped in. It's one thing to be getting experience. It's another to be going home poorer.
Come on there Pope Brian. Show us your cahungas are bigger than your wallet and don't let Busch become "Cup-Lite."
Posted by: Keith | Feb 26, 2007 11:11:39 AM
22 Cup regulars in the Busch Race out of 41 entered. Does anyone wonder why the small budget teams don't go? It's a joke. I've never understood as long as I've been a fan of Nascar (about 25 years) why they allow the Cup guys to run in Busch. It's the only professional sport I'm aware of (and please correct me if I'm wrong) where the top drivers/athletes are allowed to compete in two different series of (supposed) different calibers! You don't see NHL guys playing Jr. A at the same time, nor do you see MLB players heading out to play AAA (unless coming back from injury) at the same time either. I don't get it. The series is screwed, it's been destroyed in a few short years by the short sightedness of Nascar management. I can't blame, nor can I understand why any team owner who can't afford to compete in Cup would even bother with the Busch Series. The odds of not making the race each weekend is enourmous. I feel for these guys.
Posted by: canucken | Feb 26, 2007 10:50:27 AM
Guys,
Changing cars/bodies/engines etc. won't stop the Cup onslaught. These guys like to race cars and, with the support they have, it's easy money to boot. Besides, what's to lose? They're already at the event. Even radically different cars will give them a feel for the track...and did I say it's easy money?
You can't take points or not allow positions, because they were legal to race, "under the rules." Me, I'd sue and win. You have to limit the number that are able to make the race. I like the "Top 35" qualified Busch teams are in and the remaining Busch teams and Cuppers race into the show. But, I'm sure there are other methods.
Posted by: Keith | Feb 26, 2007 10:13:18 AM
Cut costs by using composite (fiberglass/steel) bodies and spec engines, maybe even V6's like they used to.
Not only would this reduce the money needed to compete effectively, it would discourage Busch-whacking. Using the Busch races as a test session for the Cup drivers would no longer be an issue.
Posted by: ronmon | Feb 26, 2007 9:48:39 AM
Don't look now, but Mark Martin is leading the points? Too bad he's retired.
Meanwhile, doesn't driving the #3 look much better to Jr right now? You have to wonder how much of this he can put up with.
About Busch racing, limit the cup guys to eight-to-ten races a year. The series doesn't get fans unless they know a cup driver is driving. It's like sending Jeter to Columbus for a couple of weeks. But, unlike AAA-ball, I like that the Busch guys have to perform at the top of their game each week, because if they can't run with and occasionally beat a cup driver, they don't belong there.
Posted by: buddynoel | Feb 25, 2007 11:35:25 PM
No purse and no points for entries with a full time Cup driver. Hopefully the COT will take care of that problem. These weekend sweeps are getting boring. Or maybe a new series sponsor will up the ante. But if they don't fix the problems now, who would want to step up and take over the series sponsorship.
Posted by: jeff | Feb 25, 2007 10:27:06 PM
Does anybody believe the big mouths on the telly when they suggest that The Car of Tomorrow will make it useless for Cup guys to run in Busch?
Posted by: Awad Assad | Feb 25, 2007 10:23:37 PM
It's real simple. Seven Cup races and you are no longer a rookie. Seven Cup races and you no longer can compete in Busch races. It's the only sport that I know of where you can compete in both the Major and
Minor League levels. Busch is supposed to be a division where drivers can gain experience in order to advance up to the Cup races. A few years ago I heard the "excuse" that by having Cup racers in Busch, the drivers got to compete against the best and therefore that gave them more experience than if the Cup drivers weren't there. SURE !!!!! What ever happened to "seat time" and racing against your peers. All that the Cup teams are doing is using the Busch series as a testing ground for their Cup cars. I think next year I'm going to take my bat and go play in Little League. Figure I should hit 80-90 home runs if we have enough games.
Posted by: jcee | Feb 25, 2007 10:00:06 PM
I big part of the problem in the Busch and Truck Series is that it is costing them more and more money to run a single team and the purse money has been squat. Why would a small time team drive across the country with two cars in a hauler and not even get a shot at making it into the race or even if they make it only the winner of the reace really makes enough money to cover the expenses. For the most part the entire purse of Busch Series or Truck Series races is equal to or sometime less than the winners share of the NEXTEL Cup race purse.
Posted by: Jon | Feb 25, 2007 3:00:54 PM
I big part of the problem in the Busch and Truck Series is that it is costing them more and more money to run a single team and the purse money has been squat. Why would a small time team drive across the country with two cars in a hauler and not even get a shot at making it into the race or even if they make it only the winner of the reace really makes enough money to cover the expenses. For the most part the entire purse of Busch Series or Truck Series races is equal to or sometime less than the winners share of the NEXTEL Cup race purse.
Posted by: Jon | Feb 25, 2007 2:59:58 PM
PARDON ME.
I MISS NOTED MY TIME IN NASCAR...
IT'S 43 YEARS ......
WOW TIME IS GOING BY FASTER THEN I CAN KEEP UP NOW..... ;-O
Posted by: LAURA | Feb 25, 2007 2:09:48 PM
NASCAR...SUXS NOW
BRIAN FRANCE HAS RUINED NASCAR!!!!
ALL THE DAMN STUPID RULES AND CRAP.
I JUST LOVE ALL OF THE STUPID TEMPLATES WHO THE HE** THOUGHT UP THAT TEMPLATE FOR THE RESTRICTOR PLATE ..IT RESEMBLE A FINIAL FOR A CURTAIN ROD...AND GAS CAN RULES AND FUEL CELL RULES AND RULES RULES...CACA
NO CONSISTENCY IN THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE...THE PRIVILEDGED CHARACTER TEAMS AND DRIVERS..
THE WHOLE NASCAR CONCEPT IS ABOUT THE TOP TEAMS AND MONEY!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$
THE CHASE SUXS
ONLY FOR THE CHOSEN FEW $$$$$$$$$$$$
MARK MARTIN WAS CHEATED OUT OF HIS DAYTONA WIN...AND HIS TRUCK WIN AT CALIFORNIA..
WHAT A SHAME!!!!
ME... BEEN A NASCAR PERSON FOR OVER 36 YEARS
BUT IF THINGS KEEP GOING THE WAY THEY ARE IN NASCAR ...I WILL NOT BE PART OF THE CRAPOLA MUCH LONGER!!!!!
GOOD OLE ARCA AND THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS FOR ME!!
Posted by: LAURA | Feb 25, 2007 2:03:15 PM
Well, first we are assuming that NASCAR even cares about Busch being a developement series with up and coming drivers. Maybe, they're just more concerned with TV dollars and people in the stands. But assuming again that they are, here's what I'd do...
1) Top 35 "Busch Teams" are in the show. Non-"Busch teams" qualify on time. Busch Teams" could be determined by...
a)The driver having to have fewer than a certain # of cup races the previous year. Say, a # below what's required to remain a rookie.
b)The driver complies with that # during the current year.
This makes all the big Cup teams have to race in on times against each other. And, limits their numbers in the races.
2) Pay a purse where even the last place guy in the race didn't hock the farm or sell the wife into slavery to make the event, just to end up going home poorer with a pissed off wife.
Roush, Evernham, Childress etc. have the fat wallets. Heck they have to bring all their people anyway. It's no biggie to them. For a genuine Busch team to scrimp to make the show, only to be going home with less money, makes little sense.
Posted by: Keith | Feb 25, 2007 1:51:20 PM
Nascar,
You need to remember who got you where you are today...the fans, not BIG MONEY! You Nascar have forgotten what it was to drive on a Friday or Saturday to the race track to watch qualifing.
The guy's & gal's need the chance to race and that is by qualifing, which is do your best in qualifing or go home. Who cares about qaulifing now if you are in the top 35 owner points already.
As far as Nascar driver's being in the Busch,truck series that ant right peroid, enough said. Find some new faces
Posted by: Andy Fisher | Feb 25, 2007 1:46:58 PM
NASCAR is looking at ways to cut costs to Cup teams, and not the two lower series. The reasons for the short Busch field at California--the same reason that the Busch Series (according to me) is given 5 years to live. The amount of Buschwhackers that enter these races--it raises the costs to the stand-alone Busch teams, just to try to keep up. And because of the Harvick's and the Biffle's, and the Edwards' and others, sponsors want to sponsor the big guys, not the little ones. Hence why you are seeing the 'little ones' closing shop, partnering up...or putting big names in their seats, to secure the sponsors and to be plain and simple...to survive.
Its a shame, because the series used to be able to stand on its own. Now, it cannot survive without the Cup drivers. NASCAR created the problem--and I don't think they will solve it.
Posted by: John | Feb 25, 2007 1:36:28 PM
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