Full time Nextel drivers running in Busch races...?

Question

Do you think that the continued trend of Full time Nextel cup drivers running extended or full schedules on the Busch series will hurt Nascar in the end? Will it stunt the ability to develop new talent? Personally I think that it will hurt the development of new talent. The Busch series is supposed to be a developmental league for future Cup drivers... How can they get on the track, if we continue to have half the field comprised of Cup drivers? I do agree that it is beneficial for younger/new Cup drivers to run in the Busch series to get more experience at certain tracks... I would like to see Cup drivers limited to the number of Busch races they can run, and also make them ineligible for points...

Answer 1

I could not agree with you more, and if you look at the rookies who have been developed since the cup guys took to Busch full time is nearly proof. Although I understand it has to be fun for the cup guys I agree that they should be limited to the number they can run. These are some of the best drivers in the world, and if they take chances away from aspiring drivers by driving in the Busch series full time then we could see all the great drivers disappear after they retire. If they would put developmental drivers in the Busch series and have the cup guys come over and help at some tracks, I think we have a much better chance at seeing a rookie class that will produce a real driver. Great question. I don't think many people consider the long term effect on the sport, it's fun to see your guy as much as you can, but not at the expense of losing the sport.

Answer 2

This is something that a lot of people have complained about for years. I agree with you on some things like limit the number of races that the regular cup drivers can run in. I don't think you can mess with the point thing.
What I do think they should do is pick a number of regular top Busch teams let say 30 or 35 and lock them into the show on points, and give the cup drivers 8 spots or what ever number they want to come up with to fill the field.

Answer 3

The Cup drivers are likely to slow down racing the Busch Series over the next couple of years. A lot of the reason they race in the Busch Series now is more track time to help learn something for the Cup race the next day. With the COT being introduced versus the old/current car the information cross-over from Busch to Cup will be obselete since there is such a big difference in the 2 cars. There will be some drivers racing some of the races, but probably not all of the companion races.

Answer 4

When the Busch series was the Late Madel Sportsman series new talent gota chance to showcase themselfs.Then the change in cars and the LMS cars were closer to the CUP cars and the cup drivers relaxed by running the Busch series.
Then sponsors got into it and only wanted the "TOP drivers "
running their cars.
New Talent runs but in the Hooters Cup or one of the NASCAR local touring divisions.
If cup drivers want to race Busch fine just limit the number.
Then the ones they choose could not be "companion" events.
If a cup driver leads the Busch standings he has to commit to the Busch series and stand down from cup.
With 18 to 25 cup drivers running the Busch companion race I go watch it and skip the cup event.

Answer 5

First Off.... As the Godfather of Motorsports Dave Moody says.....
WHY FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BROKEN???

There is nothing wrong with Cup guys running in the busch series... If a regular wins, he can say he beat some of the best cup guys too.
I don't understand how you can police something like this. When you go to your local short track, pay your pit gate fee and race your street stock or sprint car or whatever, you get to race. They won't say you can't race unless you have an unsafe car or a suspension etc. What is to stop me from going out and buying a Busch Series Legal car, getting all my gear and hauling to the races to race. Nothing except a NASCAR lisence. Whats to stop the drivers if they haul in a car and sign up to race. NASCAR could do something if they really wanted, but it would definetely hurt the fans/sponsors/tv exposure.

Answer 6

It's sports, which means money controls it all....owners want the fastest drivers to win money, drivers want a chance to earn the money, and sponsors want the best driver they can get to run up front. Easy translation is the Cup drivers peform and earn the money......though I also think it allows drivers to gain valuable experience to drive trackswhen they were younger......amd at the same time the drivers that drive who have the experience can gain test laps........I know everyone mentions the positive aspect of driving Busch and Cup, but two leagues are time consuming and fatiguing....which is why Johnson and Gordon prefer not to run Busch,so they save energy for the Cup races....all in all....let em run, their choice

Answer 7

Some body asks these questions every week. yes. cup drivers should be allowed to run Busch races and, be eligible for points. if the cup drivers didn't compete in Busch, fan interest would be a lot smaller and, so would the purses. also, the Busch drivers whose main goal is to get into the cup series, get invaluable experience, racing against the best drivers in the world.

Answer 8

It is a great dilemma!

On one hand, the big names draw big crowds. Who wouldn't want to see Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte stage a finish like they had at Talledega? Big crowds mean bigger purses and big money in all of the NASCAR pockets.

On the other hand, Busch racing was meant to be the AAA league where the up-and-comers could get experience. The only part of the whole deal that I see as a bit unfair is that the drivers who race Busch get an extra 200 to 300 miles of testing that the ones who don't.

Answer 9

I whole heartedly agree! It's like letting Peyton Manning go back and quarterback on a college team, Michael Jordan going to play college basketball. I don't think Cup drivers should be banned from Bush races, just limited. Having a Cup driver in a Bush race can be benificial for the driver as well as ticket sales, but if a Cup driver does race I don't think it should be for points.

Answer 10

IT WILL END UP BEING LIKE WHEN DODGE CAME BACK A FEW YEARS AGO ALL THE NEW DRIVERS YOU NEVER HEARD OF AND THAT COULDNT DRIVE

THEY SHOULD LIMIT FULL TIME CUP DRIVERS TO NO MORE THAN 20 RACES IN BUSCH