NASCAR is considering limiting the number of Nationwide and Truck series races that Sprint Cup drivers can participate in.
For years Cup drivers have dominated the Nationwide series, winning just about all of the races in that series every year. Cup drivers haven’t dominated the Trucks series like they have the Nationwide series however. Kyle Busch is the only Cup driver who runs Truck races. He won the Truck season opener at Daytona last week. The Nationwide series race last week at Daytona was almost won by a Cup regular. Nationwide series teams get sponsorships easier by having Cup drivers drive for them, according to Sporting News. With the Cup driver dominating the Nationwide series the last couple of years, there are fans who believe that Cup drivers shouldn’t race in the Nationwide series and leave that series to the sports up and coming drivers.
"We're definitely aware of the fan messaging we get,” NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O’Donnell said. There's a balance we get, especially talking to the tracks, of having a Cup driver or two in the Trucks or Nationwide. … Take Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. or Brad Keselowski, the only reason why Brad got in (Earnhardt's) car, you sell Junior, and I'm going to have this young driver come along and endorse this driver.It's something we are really studying.”
Sponsors aren’t the only ones who benefit from the Cup drivers racing in the Nationwide series. Nationwide series drivers benefit because they are competing against drivers who are at NASCAR’s top level and can learn from them. Tracks, NASCAR, and NASCAR’s tv partners also benefit from Cup drivers doing double duty, according to the Associated Press.
NASCAR should limit the number of times that Cup drivers can do double duty. Limiting the number of Nationwide series races that Cup drivers can participate in will bring identity to the series, which has been lost. This change is long overdue and should happen.