Fitz supports any kind of change if it served to let the Nationwide Series develop its own identity. “I definitely think it’s necessary and I would support it,” Fitz declared. “Kevin Harvick is third in points and he’s run 22 or 24 of 33 races. Here’s what NASCAR has to decide. What is the Nationwide Series? They have to decide what its purpose is. Is it to develop drivers and crew chiefs and pit crew guys? Are we going to have our own identity or are we just going to be a mini Cup Series? Here’s Fitz’s proposal. If you look at it from the perspective of the privateer teams, it makes sense, and it even makes sense if you look at it from a track promoter’s standpoint. “If you have 20 Cup guys in the race, don’t let them have a guaranteed starting spot,” Fitz began. “They should be racing for those last 13 spots, not Eric McClure, not Kyle Krisiloff … not the guys who have been there all year long. If you have 15 Nationwide guys against 20 Cup guys, that’s not going to make a difference, but Jeff Burton should have to be out-qualifying Harvick and David Ragan and Edwards. He shouldn’t have to be out-qualifying Eric McClure and Kyle Krisiloff. If you have 13 Cup guys in the race, do you think that’s going to make a difference in the attendance? If they get the points, I do think it is an issue when you have Harvick third in points when he’s only running 24 races. That person should have to earn his way in. He should be out-qualifying his peers, not the guys who have been there all year.”(NASCAR.com)(11-28-2007)
