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Cure for the Common Claim Jumper
3/4/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
Every once in a while we need to re-examine the involvement of Cup racers at the Nationwide Series level. Race promoters and television partners need to have a healthy heap of Cup drivers in order to sell tickets. But lately this whole game has turned into a joke with driver development opportunities snuffed out in exchange for Cup-lite in NASCAR's second most popular series. Perhaps the time has come for a better solution to the problem than wiping out the points. The solution is so simple and has been in use for years at short tracks all over the country! Today I present the perfect cure for the common claim jumper.
Invert the Field
Need to pump up the competition in short track racing…just invert the field! Put the fastest guys in the back and even if they go on to dominate the event they will do it in an exciting way! This works quite well in a variety of short track tours and local tracks. Why not use this in NASCAR too? It is no different than handicapping racehorses by adding weight! Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, and other Cup guys still get a chance to race in the series. But they have to race their way to the front from the back at the start of the race! We saw over the weekend at Las Vegas that they can do it. Make them start in the back every week!
Better Than Point's Solutions
Ten thousand different ways have been suggested to limit the Cup drivers in the Nationwide Series. But the problem with all of the solutions presented is the fact that NASCAR, the television network, and the tracks NEED those Claim Jumpers! Any driver that is in the top twenty in Cup points has shown that he is one of the elite drivers in NASCAR. Handicap them by making them start in the back. Some sponsors and teams might prefer to have their driver with a shot at the pole and to start up front so they might put a Nationwide-only driver in the seat.
Crowning a True Champion
If all you do is award points to the Nationwide-only drivers starting next season you will not have a real champion. NASCAR can award first place points to the top Nationwide driver but fans will know that guy finished in eighth place! But if you handicap the race by starting the Cup guys in the back of the field you are adding that extra challenge to the crew chief and driver. Pit strategy might help get a driver to the front but he will have to race hard on older tires to stay up front and win! This will level the playing field with the best the Nationwide Series has to offer. Let's handicap the field by inverting the Cup guys and crown a true champion! This is the cure for the common claim jumper.
Tune in Wednesday night at www.racetalkradio.com to hear Mike, Lori, and Dennis discuss this and other topics on "Quick Change" at 9pm Eastern. Do you have a comment on this subject? Email us at dennis@racetalkradio.com and the best fan comments will be used on the show!
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