NASCAR will cut the purses for the Nationwide Series by 20 percent next season, a move designed to make hosting the second-tier series a more profitable proposition for race tracks. It’s the second consecutive year the purse will be reduced in Nationwide. NASCAR also cut the purses in the premiere Sprint Cup Series before this season. “The health and maintenance of the tracks is essential to the health of the entire industry,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston told The Associated Press. “Like in all facets of our business, we have made financial adjustments to ensure the long term strength of the sport.” The Nationwide Series has run a 35-race schedule since 2005, but NASCAR has announced only 34 dates for next year. Gateway International in St. Louis has declined to host either of its two races next year, and Auto Club Speedway in California lost a race when NASCAR cut that track down to a single racing weekend. It left NASCAR trying to fill the void, which it did by giving Iowa and Chicago two Nationwide races next season. But, going forward, the sanctioning body needs to ensure that track operators don’t lose money hosting the Nationwide Series. The decision comes as NASCAR is making an overall effort to give the second-tier Nationwide Series its own identity. The sanctioning body wants the series to have its own stars and be a breeding ground for future Sprint Cup drivers, but the opportunities are limited because of drivers who race at both levels. Justin Allgaier is the only driver to win a Nationwide race this year who doesn’t also run in the Sprint Cup Series, and the top three drivers in the standings are full-time Cup stars. Martin Truex Jr. in 2005 was the last non-Cup driver to win the series title. NASCAR is considering not allowing Sprint Cup regulars to race for the drivers championship next season, and wants to do a better job marketing future stars such as Allgaier, Trevor Bayne and Parker Kligerman.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(8-22-2010)
