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Why Nationwide Series Needs to Support Development
3/8/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
There is no doubt that having Cup drivers in the Nationwide Series sells tickets and gets more viewers. Fans might moan and groan about the "Claim Jumpers" but then get all excited when their guy is going to race on Saturday! NASCAR, Nationwide, and ESPN need those Cup guys too. But it is time for some subtle changes to encourage teams to take a chance on young drivers. The Nationwide Series needs to be about driver development more than just being Cup-lite.
This Generation Growing Old
Racecar drivers can be productive well into their forties. But the time comes for every driver when it is time to consider stepping out of the car. Each year a handful of Cup drivers show that their talent falls just below the elite of the sport. But these drivers get a second chance with another team because there is a shortage of driver development programs at the Nationwide level. Just look at this year's crop of Cup rookies if you don't think there is a shortage of young drivers getting a chance.
2008 Cup Rookie Class
Did NASCAR impose a rule that before you can race in NASCAR's Cup division you have to first win the Indianapolis 500? The only rookies this season that didn't come from the open wheel ranks are Regan Smith and Michael McDowell. No one in this year's rookie class has shown much at all. The open wheel rookie class doesn't have a complete year of Busch experience between the entire rookie class! If the Nationwide series had more young drivers there would be more to choose from for Cup rides.
Nationwide Claim Jumpers
The concept of more and more Cup drivers invading the Busch series started because of getting more track time. As the cars started being more similar the benefit to driving these cars increased. But a strange thing happened on the way to turning the Busch series into a test session. Teams discovered that some of their associate sponsors on the Cup side would pony up more money to be a primary sponsor for that Cup driver in Busch. Once the genie escaped the lamp it has been tough to cram her back inside! Out of the thirty top ten finishes this season only five have gone to Nationwide-only drivers. The non-claim jumpers have won only one of fifteen top five finishes. How can a young driver move to the next level when the Cup guys are beating him down?
Invasion has Changed
Cup drivers have always dropped down to run the Busch Series. But the big difference is that they were running their own teams most of the time. They spent the same amount of money as the Busch teams and competed on an even level for sponsorship. Now the Cup teams offer their Nationwide sponsors space on their Cup cars. Teams spend much more than their Nationwide only counterparts and the balance of competition has gone out the window. It is impossible to get teams to spend less money by imposing tire or engine rules. The teams that have the money will spend it defeating even smart rule changes. Since the rules have changed over the years the solutions have to change as well.
Reward the Development Teams
If you want to change behavior in racing the solution is always simple…throw money at the problem! NASCAR could get teams to switch to more driver development deals in the Nationwide series by coming up with a separate bonus money awards program. Find some sponsors to put up the cash and reward the Nationwide-only drivers by paying their teams extra cash every week! The Cup teams invading the series do not need the extra purse money. But the Nationwide-only teams can survive if you raise their purse earnings! Reward the development teams and you will see more development drivers instantly!
Catch the Winner Live Sunday on RaceTalkRadio
Tune in Sunday evenings for "Couch Potato Corner." Lori Munro and Dennis Michelsen will recap the weekend in racing and virtually transport the fans to the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center to listen to the full interview live and unedited! Live media center coverage of the winner's press conference is brought to you this week by Rockingham Speedway, home of the Carolina 500 on May 4th! Get your tickets today at RockinghamRacewayPark.com! Our thanks to NASCAR for granting us permission to use this audio every week to virtually put the fans inside the media center! Media Center audio may not be reused without express written consent from NASCAR and RaceTalkRadio.com.
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