Is "Busch Whacking" good for NASCAR? Do you like it? Why or Why not?

Answer 1

I think this should have a couple of rules.

1) If you are a Nextel driver you can race in the Busch series, but not for points.

2) Only Busch dedicated drivers can race for points.

This way Busch drivers can still race for a championship and Nextel drivers can't slack down to another division and get a trophy. If they want to race to get a feel for a track, let them. But, that's all they will be racing for.

Answer 2

"busch whacking" should be abolished, period. Busch should be the stepping stone up to cup... a series where the little guy can have the same success as the big guys do on Sunday, not have to compete directly with them. Makes me not want to watch the race, even though my company has a Busch team, just because the chances of our Busch driver actually winning is so diminished by having 8 - 10 cup drivers out there getting all the publicity.

Answer 3

I think that full-time Cup drivers should be limited in the number of Busch races they can run.

Busch is supposed to be a developmental series for up-and-coming drivers, not an ability for those who have already made it to make more money or get more seat time.

You don't see pros in any other sports going down and playing most of the AAA games, why are they allowed to do it here?

Money. Yes, having the big names in the Busch series brings in the bucks, but in the long run I think it will have a bad impact on both Cup and Busch, because new drivers won't have the ability to get experience and practice in the Busch series before being promoted up to the Cup races and "running with the big dogs". That's asking for trouble. Can you say "David Ragan"? Knew ya could.

The other problem is that running so many Busch-whackers means that new teams and drivers are getting pushed out of the competition, because the prize money is going to the Cup drivers and the newcomers can't afford to keep racing.

Answer 4

The positive side for NASCAR says that the Busch Whackers keep the interest in the Busch Series because the fans know they are going to see the "SuperStars" race along side of the "Rookies", it's been said that the Nextel Cup Drivers draw the crowds.

The negative side for NASCAR is that the "Rookies" don't have a chance to really race because the Cup Drivers are winning the majority of the races and seem to be "stealing" the show.

I have come to the conclusion that the Nextel Cup Series Drivers should not be allowed to race in the Busch Series, so that the "Rookies" have a chance to prove themselves or fail, without blaming the Cup Drivers.

Answer 5

I understand why the guys do it. Most are reconning the track for the Cup race. I have no problem some of them driving the big tracks like Daytona and Talledaga, but to do the whole season is a bit much. Busch is like the minors for racing. The last Busch race last season was 85% Cup racers. It's supposed to be a developmental series for Cup hopefuls. It comes down to greed I think. Apparently the 1.5 million the drivers make in Cup isn't quite enough. If they want to own the Busch team, fine, but let future Cup rookies drive.

Answer 6

I think they should limit the number of "Busch whackers" that can be in a Busch race. They need to go find new talent and give some new guys a chance. I think it is good in a way because it helps prepare the younger drivers for Nextel Cup competition. But still, we need new talent and if the cup regulars keep driving the Busch cars then we won't have any new talent.

Answer 7

Let's limit the number of Busch races a Cup 'regular' can run to 3 races a season.

The big boys are chewing-up all the second-tier sponsorships...leaving the full-time Busch guys with little chance and money of performing at the same level.

Answer 8

No, I don't really like it. I don't mind having a couple of Cup guys sprinkled in here and there at each race, but I hate seeing the top 10 finishers in a Busch race being all Cup guys. Busch should be for up and coming drivers and veterans who just like it better than Cup or can't quite make it in Cup. They should limit how many Busch races each Cup guy can race.

Answer 9

i think that if a race team wants to pay an entry fee in a race or qualify by time into a 43 car field,then by all means let them race.
it adds more excitement to the busch races.like last year,i would be willing to bet that harvick shot ratings through the roof in the busch series.that means more money.nascar is not gonna stop anyone from making them more money.
also i think it makes the busch series regulars better drivers by having to compete with the "varsity" squad.just the same as anyother sport.the better teams u play the better u will be.the boys that race in the busch series full time will be better drivers because of having to race against the busch whackers

we do not have a cup race where i live.i am about 150 miles from indianapolis ms.but i can go to kentucky speedway about 1 hour and get to see some of the regulars.in short............yes i say let them race.

Answer 10

What I care about is seeing good Cup series racing and ensuring that it continues to get better for years to come. I really don't care about NASCAR's need to sell seats or ony of the marketing issues.
The Busch Series is undergoing an evolution in that it's not so much a feeder series as it is a training series that allows the new Cup drivers to climb the steep learning curve that they face upon entering the Cup series. During this learning stage, experience is key. And "Buschwacking" is the best way to get extra experience against Cup competitors. The primary hurdle in the transition into the Cup series is not the difference in cars, it is facing the stiffer competition. If you eliminate, or severely limit the buschwackers, you lower the competition level in the next generation of Cup racers.

Answer 11

what you really mean is do you think it's good that the busch race has simply become a cup practice session??
sigh...i have a lot of mixed feelings on this.. but here goes.
first, i understand that the owners of busch teams are the same owners in a cup series.. so of course they are going to use driver's they know can perform. can't blame them on that one.
second, can't blame a driver for doing what he loves best.. DRIVING.
third, it does bring more money/sponsership/fans to the busch series with some known names to the series..so again, can't blame anyone on that from a business standpoint..

fourth, unfortunately, there seems to be a hardship for good drivers right now..which SUCKS..

but here's my thing with it. i think they need to start limiting something b/c it's starting to get ridiculous and it's starting to get to the point where it's hard to get new names into the sport b/c of the old names dominating it. now, i also believe that if you can't run with half of the big boys on saturday night you aren't going to be albe to run with all of them on sunday afternoon..so this theory that it's unfair to the younger driver's is stupid. don't you think they're happy to get the chance to race against the top guys in this sport?? however, i also get disgusted with this theory that "whoo-hoo Kevin harvick won the busch championship" okay, the man dominated, but hello, he was in conention for the cup so if he couldn't run well in the busch series it would look pretty pathetic. it's kind of almost saying like "omg.. look the senior in high school can outread the kindergartner"
i just think that perhaps nascar should look into limiting some of it or perhaps limiting the points or not even allowing them to run for a championship. money, and wins sure..but not a championship.. i didn't have a problem with the drive'rs that ran every bush race as a full time driver (except for the couple of crazy shcedule weekends that they couldn't) but those that step in just for practice or an easy win upsets me..

so yeah..again mixed feelings. the sport does benefit from it, but in the long run i think it could also hurt from it..but i think they're going to start making it a bit harder (crazier schedules, and sponsers are going to start putting their foot down.. i/e from injuries on busch races it's impacting the driver they put down big money for on sunday) so i think you'll see less people using it for practice and more of just the driver who want to run the whole series..