There have been more and more discussions about Sprint Cup drivers competing in Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. As you all know, Sprint Cup drivers are not eligible for any points in other series than Sprint Cup.
If we checking the stats for 13 Xfinity Series races so far, then it reveals 8 wins and 26 top-5 for the Sprint Cup drivers. The numbers could be even larger if all Xfinity races was on the same track as the Sprint Cup races (Iowa for example).
Looking into the same stats for CWTS with 8 races so far, 2 wins and 2 top-5 for the Sprint Cup drivers. Its the same here, CWTS is not always at the same track as the Sprint Cup races.
Why do the Sprint Cup drivers race in lower series? Here’s a few answers:
- some drivers owns a racing team
- some drivers drives for the same Sprint Cup owner
- Just like to drive and get more ‘day o day’ experience from the track
- Attract more paying audience
- Earn more money
- Want to feel and test another team and car
This is only a few examples/answers to the question.
If we go ‘reverse’ with this question. Is it ok for CWTS or Xfinity Series driver to race at higher series? Many will maybe instantly say yes to that ‘reverse’ question, but is it OK if you said NO to the first question?
PTR wants the readers opinion. What do YOU think? Right or wrong? Make a comment here! (JS)
There's always going to bee two sides of the coin. First yes driver from Cup doing double or triple duties needs to limited for more reasons then just money as stated above. IMHO Nascar needs to find the proper mix of cup drivers and series regulars. One idea is that each Cup driver can only be in a certain number of races per year, and that there can only be a certain number of Cup drivers per race
This is a subject on which I've done a complete 180º turnabout over the past decade or so. In earlier days of NASCAR racing, I always felt it was a good thing for the young up and coming drivers to be exposed to and learn from those they hoped one day to race and even beat in the Cup Series. However, circumstances have changed, and with them, my thoughts on this one.
In older times, the Cup drivers bought, set up and entered their own cars, which meant they were spending their own funds and assembling their own pit crews to race with the hopefuls in the then Busch Series. None of that holds true today. They go racing in cars owned and prepared by the biggest names in racing.
What we have then is youngsters with small and mostly underfunded Xfinity or truck teams racing against top Cup stars in cars owned and crewed by Rick Hendrick, Joe Gibbs, Roger Penske, etc How could they realistically hope to compete. I don't have as much of a problem with the Cup drivers such as Keselowski and Kyle Busch entering cars they own in those series but driven by kids trying to make the grade.
The argument used to be that having some of the big names in the lesser series increased the attendance. One quick look at any grandstand at any track will tell you that the fans are not turning out for the same guys in a Cup race, so there is no hope of them coming just to see them race with kids.
The big boys don't need the money, though the way NASCAR has it set up, they take it all the same. What they gain from racing in Xfinity and trucks, most often is practice time at a given track. I haven't seen the Xfinity entry list for Chicagoland yet, but since Chi-town is now the first race in the Chase, you can bet there will be Cup drivers making the trip to the mid-west to race there. The big owners can well afford the expense to do that, and practice always helps… sometimes immensely. With regular practice at one time available anywhere, now severely limited by NASCAR, great gains can be made by having a car or even two or three in any given race.
I'd love to see the money and placement given to the youngsters as if those cars virtually did not exist. If the first Xfinity driver finishes 4th, he still gets first place points and pay. That would eliminate some of it, but they would still come. They will tell you it's their love of racing, but it's the practice time. I promise you that.
As to the youngsters coming up to attempt to qualify for a Cup race, why not? One question here has nothing to do with the other. Those youngsters have to either come up with sponsorship or independent funding to pay for what they'll find will be a very expensive afternoon, but in that instance, if they can keep the car in the race and not in the wall, that is the kind of experience one can't get enough of.
Surprisingly I can only find one Cup regular on the entry list ( JJ Yeley ) http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2015/entries/story/_/page/NXS-2015-14-Chicago-Entry-List
PattyKay got some great points here, only thing that I wonder about is how much discount Kyle and Brad gets on the cars and equipment from Gibbs and Penske!! //B
I feel it is necessary for the NSCS drivers to race in the NXS and NCWTS. By being there they are providing challenges that an up and coming driver needs when they make it to the NSCS. Whether it's practice time or just their for the wins and the paycheck, the drivers that hope to make it to the top level one day need this so they are better prepared when they move up.
4th try! In the 90s the Busch series had V-6s a smaller wheelbase car, a whole lot of independent engine builders,yes the cup big boys could run and win but so could the series regulars! Not until Roush made it his own testing grounds,now its the little guy vs.Roush/Yates vs.Gibbs vs. Hendricks (Jr. Motorsports) David vs. Goliath,how many races did KBR win in the Nationwide series its 1st year 0, not until he returned to Gibbs the very next year,then he won a ton of races,and the track promoter's will cry we want big names to fill the seats but that is not enough today!! Which is another question in itself Jens!!