Should NASCAR continue to allow full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers to

move down and race against drivers in a lower-tier series? There is good

reason that NASCAR should place limits on Sprint Cup drivers moving

down to compete in the two main lower-tier series. Full-time Sprint Cup

drivers who invade the two main lower-tier series occupy rides that

should go to drivers who are trying to work their way up, occupy finishing

positions that would otherwise go to drivers competing full-time in that

series (thus affecting points and standings), and have an unfair

advantage against drivers with less experience (thus overshadowing

drivers trying to make a name for themselves).

NASCAR is the sanctioning body of many racing series in the United

States, as well as a few other countries. Most of these are relatively

small and regional. However, there are three primary series that race

throughout the United States: the Sprint Cup Series (NASCAR’s highest

series), the Nationwide Series (second highest series), and the Camping

World Truck Series (third highest series) (“NASCAR for Dummies”). Most

race car drivers race in regional series (some sanctioned by NASCAR,

many not), and never make it to one of NASCAR’s top three series. If a

driver does make it to one of the top three series, they typically start at

the Truck Series or Nationwide Series and try to make their way up to the

Sprint Cup Series. Each of the three series has its own point system,

based on finishing position and laps led, that determine the standings

and the champion at the end of each season (Noterman). Drivers can

compete in any series they want (as long as they can get a ride), but

have to choose one series to earn points in - typically the highest series

they have a full-time ride in (assuming they have one).

Full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers (also known as Sprint Cup regulars)

moving down to compete in the two lower series is nothing new. Up until

the 2011 season, NASCAR awarded points to any driver in any series

(Noterman). But as a result of Sprint Cup regulars invading and

dominating in the Nationwide Series, the most frequently invaded series,

NASCAR took a step in the right direction and announced that drivers

must pick one series that they want to earn points in, and would not earn

points in any other series they race in (Noterman). This new rule was

intended to discourage drivers from racing in series that they did not

earn points in (drivers typically choose the highest series they race in),

but drivers continued to move down to race in the two lower series

anyway. Now, it is time to think of a different solution to keep Sprint Cup

regulars out of the two lower series and causing problems. Unfortunately,

not everyone agrees. There are some people who believe that sponsors

would flee or that nobody would watch the two lower series if Sprint Cup

regulars did not race in the lower series. And believe it or not, there are

some opponents who simply believe that drivers who have earned a ride

in the Sprint Cup Series have also earned the right to invade the two

lower series.

One big problem with Sprint Cup regulars competing in the two lower

series is that they occupy rides. And a ride that is occupied by a Sprint

Cup regular in one of the lower series is a ride not available to a driver

wanting to compete for points in one of the lower series. Most of the

time, Sprint Cup regulars race for the best teams when they race in a

lower series. In other words, it is not average rides that up-and-comers

are kept out of, it is quality rides that they are kept out of. That is part of

the reason why Sprint Cup regulars invading the Nationwide Series is

such a big problem even though there are three or less invaders in most

Nationwide Series races. Although this happens in the Truck Series as

well, it is not as big of a problem in that series since it is not invaded by

Sprint Cup regulars as often.

There is an example of a Nationwide Series driver being kept out of a

good ride next year. Sam Hornish had a full-time ride in 2013, but he may

be out of a ride in 2014 because his ride is losing sponsorship (Long). Yet,

the team he races for, Penske Racing, fields another full-time car in the

Nationwide Series, and fills the seat with two different Sprint Cup

regulars for most races. The current plan is to continue letting Sprint Cup

regulars race in that car instead of letting Hornish have a full-time ride.

Bah humbug! Some people who support Sprint Cup regulars invading the

two lower series worry that sponsors may leave rides (thus reducing the

number of rides) if Sprint Cup invaders leave on the assumption that

some sponsors are there specifically to sponsor Sprint Cup regulars at a

discount. However, opponents do not consider that sponsors may be

more willing to sponsor drivers in the lower series if they do not have to

worry about attention being taken away by Sprint Cup regulars.

Another big problem with Sprint Cup regulars invading the two lower

series (particularly the Nationwide Series) is that they occupy finishing

positions. Sprint Cup invaders occupying finishing positions may not

seem like a big problem since there are only a few in any given

Nationwide race (and do not race in many Truck Series races), but it is a

huge problem in the Nationwide Series, where the vast majority of races

are won by Sprint Cup invaders. In fact, in the 2013 season, twenty-six

out of thirty-three Nationwide Series races were won by Sprint Cup

regulars (“2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results”). Even the 2013

Nationwide Series champion, Austin Dillon, failed to win a race.

Points that determine the standings and the champion are mostly

awarded by finishing position, and the winner gets the most points if

they earn points in that series (Noterman). In other words, drivers

competing for points in the Nationwide Series are not only kept from

winning by Sprint Cup invaders, they are also kept from getting the extra

points that come with winning. Thus, Sprint Cup regulars competing in

the two lower series affect the standings of the two lower series

(particularly the Nationwide Series), and even affect who becomes the

champion in those series. Incidents and on-track battles between Sprint

Cup regulars and point contenders can also affect standings by affecting

the outcome of races. Sprint Cup regulars who do not earn points in the

two lower series are more willing to make risky moves than drivers who

earn points in the lower series knowing there is less to lose if something

ends up going wrong.

Arguably the biggest problem with Sprint Cup regulars competing in the

two lower series is that they have an unfair advantage. Obviously, if a

driver has made it to the top, they are going to have more experience

than a driver trying to work their way up. This statement is backed up by

results. As stated in the previous paragraph, twenty-six out of thirty-

three Nationwide Series races in 2013 were won by Sprint Cup regulars

(“2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results”). That is more than three

quarters of all Nationwide Series races, and that is despite there being

around three or less Sprint Cup regulars in most Nationwide Series races.

As a result, drivers who belong in the two lower series (drivers

competing for points in one of the two lower series) are being deprived of

wins. Yet there are people who fail to see how Sprint Cup regulars reduce

competition at the front of the field in lower-tier races. NASCAR president

Mike Helton recently stated: “…the battle between Sam Hornish and

Austin Dillon is example of how competitive that series [Nationwide] still

is and has become” (Engle). 2013 Nationwide Series champion Austin

Dillon did not win any races, and runner-up Sam Hornish only won one

race (“NASCAR Nationwide Standings for 2013”). Talk about competitive!

With how much Sprint Cup regulars dominate whenever they race in a

lower-tier series, they get much more media attention than those who

belong in one of the two lower series. Many racing fans want the two

lower series to stand on their own and for the drivers who earn points in

those series to be the stars of those series. People who side with the

opposition worry that nobody would watch the two lower series if Sprint

Cup regulars did not invade and dominate them, implying that Sprint Cup

regulars draw people in. The opposition likes to forget that people have

quit watching or do not watch the two lower series because of the

reduced competition as a result of Sprint Cup invaders dominating

against drivers who belong in the series.

With all of the problems that come with Sprint Cup regulars racing in the

two lower series, NASCAR should limit Sprint Cup regulars moving down

to compete in the two lower series. A potential solution would be to limit

drivers from racing in series that they do not collect points in to only five

or six races a year. That allows drivers to race in other series for just a

few races for whatever reason. A couple of examples could include (but

should not be limited to) a driver substituting for another driver in

another series or a driver wanting to race at a track that his series does

not race at. It would not be a total end to drivers invading a lower series,

but would prevent any particular driver from dominating in a lower series

throughout most of a season.

Unfortunately, NASCAR president Mike Helton appears to be in opposition

of placing limits on Sprint Cup regulars invading the two lower series, as

indicated by what he said at a pre-race press conference: “We believe it’s

in NASCAR’s best interest currently to have an open model for its three

national series and not restrict who participates in them” (Engle). Based

on this statement, it appears that drivers who compete for points in the

two lower series will continue to be restricted by Sprint Cup regulars

invading their series until there is a change in mindset from NASCAR’s

leaders.

Engle, Greg. “NASCAR at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nov. 2013: Mike

Helton Part 1.” YouTube. YouTube, 15 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Long, Mark. “Penske, Hornish Part Ways After Decade Together.”

Associated Press. AP.org, 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

“NASCAR for Dummies.” Dummies. Dummies.com, n.d. Web. 23 Nov.

2013.

Noterman, Ryan. “NASCAR Rule Changes: 2011 Changes to the Points

System and More.” Bleacher Report. BleacherReport.com, 27 Jan.

2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

“2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results.” Racing-Reference. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

“NASCAR Nationwide Standings for 2013.” Racing-Reference. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Nov. 2013.