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Published 26-11-2007 02:20 by RacingOne.com

Fixing NASCAR: Nationwide Series

After 26 years, what was known as the Busch Series will cease.

Anheuser-Busch decided to end its long-time sponsorship of NASCAR's number two division after the 2007 season opening the door for Nationwide to take over as the title sponsor.

It's fitting that a new company and name will come on board for the series in 2008, which many believe will be the first in a long series of changes for the venerable circuit.

What was once a place for young talent to hone their skills before having a chance to move into the premier NASCAR Cup Series, the Nationwide Series has evolved into "Cup Lite" the last several years.

The last two seasons in particular have seen tremendous dominance by Cup regulars on the series, with Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards winning the 2006 and 2007 championships by huge margins.

Among the ideas being floated around to help differentiate the series from its Cup big brother is the introduction of a new car in 2009, perhaps a "pony car" model allowing manufacturers to employ and market a different car in the two circuits.

Limiting Cup drivers' participation has been a source of conversation for several years and NASCAR is reportedly considering a system that would not award Nationwide Series points to any driver holding a Top 35 spot in the Cup Series standings.

Some have suggested creating a schedule that isn't as dependant on Nationwide-Cup Series doubleheaders would be a better way to separate the two divisions, holding more stand-alone NW events away from the Cup Series.

ABC/ESPN's exclusive contract to televise the series was supposed to help build a new identity, but the network's debut season didn't really look much different from Cup telecasts.

A new on-air look with different announcers and talent would seem to be a good way to create a differentiation between the two.

In short, the Nationwide Series is at a crossroads and it will be interesting to see what moves are made to help rebuild what was once a much stronger circuit than it is today.

What do you think?

Comments

dalejrfanfreak said:
I agree completely, minus the weekend double header argument. The Nationwide Busch series used to be a lot of fun to watch when people like Dale Jr and Kenseth were duking it out each weekend, before they were NASCAR superstars, but now it is basically, as you said, cup lite. In fact, in 2007 only two non cup regulars won a race! What in the world is going on here? Do pro football, basketball, or baseball players go down to smaller divisions over the weekend and play in those games? No way. I don't mind having a few cup guys in a Nationwide Busch race but now it is clearly out of hand. I think this is why the trucks are so much fun to watch. You have very different vehicles, an awesome commentating crew, and best of all a completely different roster of drivers to cheer for. I hope some changes are made because I think if the Nationwide series can become something different it would actually be a series worth getting excited for.
November 26, 2007 6:48 PM
most said:
I agree, it used to be ok when 3-5 guys ran most of the races but 20-25 in a race is terrible!  It also makes the sport look bad when people like Edwards, Harvick and Busch run so many races, read the ESPN boards, people who aren't big NA$CAR fans think it is insane that the top stars run in lower series.  It makes those guys look bad also!  

What we will have is a dry spell like we almost had last season.  Look at Robert Yates, he had to go with Ricky Rudd which was ok, but he mainly did it because the talent pool is real dry.  This silly season, we haven't seen it because the Indy guys are coming over, however, when that is over, the teams will realize that there isn't much out there.  A bunch of young kids with 2 half Nationwide seasons but no one who has experience.  I can only see Bill Elliott or Terry Labonte come out of retirement so many times!  

Sure Childress and Roush are making money and winning titles, but they are also passing up on the future of the sport.  The Tony Raines' and David Stremme's of the sport will retire someday, who will replace them as ride swappers?  There won't be enough good drivers to attract sponsors, without sponsors teams leave, without teams there is less competition... need I go on?
November 27, 2007 9:05 AM
Kenworth1 said:
How about limiting current cup teams to only 1 Busch team to be shared by their Cup drivers that want to drive it. Driver may only compete in their Cup owners Busch car. No going to other Busch teams to drive. Also, if a cup driver owns a Busch team he is not allowed to compete in his own car.(i.e. Kevin Harvick-who is my favorite driver by the way.) Less "Buschwacker" owners & drivers, more sponsors to spread around to the regular Busch owners.
November 27, 2007 10:05 AM
Burnout_29 said:
I disagree 100% with some of the ideas being tossed around eliminating the cup drivers from competition.  I think we need to use reverse psychology here and keep the cup drivers to make the series more successful.  But, we do need to make a change.  This change needs to be that a cup driver needs to run a majority of the nationwide schedule.  This would eliminate the Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr., and Kyle Busch invasion.  It is the drivers that only run companion events that are bad.  If a driver like Clint Bowyer wants to run for a championship, why should he not get the chance, because he it top 35 in cup points?  That doesn 't make since.  Let's face it, running both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series Schedule is tuff on non-companion weekends.  Especially on let's say the Sonoma, California, Milwakee Mile weekend.  If the driver is going to put the effort out for both series, by all means he deserves points.  I think in order for a cup to race in the Nationwide Series, they must be entered in at least 25 events on order to participate.  

Now about the ESPN/ABC coverage.  I totally agree with the fact that it's needs a separate look from the cup broadcasts and it's own broadcast crew.  The reason for only one tv network for the series was that idea, but have you noticed ... it seems like we have 3 crews.  Allen Bestwick, Marty Reid, and Jerry Punch seem to trade shifts along with the pit reports.  I must say that Marty Reid seems like a better broadcaster than Dr. Punch as well.
November 27, 2007 10:07 AM
Kenworth1 said:
Coverage is ok at best. Dr. Punch should be on pit road, Allen Bestwick should be lead in the booth & for the love of God, please get rid of Rusty. It's a good thing the other 2 are up there to say something or he'd have nothing to repeat & make it look like he's the first to say it. I am so sick of his aero tight or aero loose crap I could puke. I can't hardly stand to watch the races because I know I have to listen to him. I respected him as a driver but not all drivers make good commentators. Is it to late to sign Dale Jarrett to replace Rusty next year?
November 27, 2007 10:29 AM
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