NASCAR is very close to making a decision on what level Sprint Cup regulars will be able to participate in the Nationwide Series next year with a formal announcement said to be one or two weeks away. Speculation is the plan will allow Cup drivers to compete in an unlimited number of Nationwide events but not be eligible for the championship. Drivers planning on competing full-time in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide schedules will need to declare which of the two titles they will compete for in 2011. The championship parameters appear to have the inside track over limiting the number of Nationwide starts Cup regulars are allowed to make each season, which would hinder teams trying to find sponsors and funding – an easier task with high-profile and established names as a marketing resource. Track operators, many of whom have been adamant about the value of having Cup drivers in Nationwide fields as a means of selling tickets, also would benefit from an unlimited start policy.(CBS Sports)(11-6-2010)
UPDATE: Nationwide Series changes that will limit Cup drivers from winning the championship (but perhaps not from participating full time) will be revealed in January. “We want to see the Nationwide Series have its own identity, very similar to what college football does for the NFL,” NASCAR CEO Brian France says. “We don’t want to see Sunday and Saturday just completely homogenized. So we want to see Cup involvement absolutely. Fans want to see that. We also want to make sure the Nationwide Series is helping us find stars that stay there for a little while.”(USA Today)(11-19-2010)
UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series teams expect that NASCAR will allow Sprint Cup drivers to compete in as many Nationwide races as they want next year, but that they will not earn points toward the series championship. NASCAR has not announced the change, but Nationwide owners believe that when a driver applies for his NASCAR license prior to the season, the driver must declare whether he is racing for points in Cup, Nationwide or the Truck Series. “I don’t think the Cup guys are going to be getting points at all if they’re running the Nationwide Series,” team owner Rusty Wallace said last week. “Once they get their license, they’re going to have to commit, do you want your points in the Nationwide Series, do you want your points in the Truck Series or do you want your points in the Cup Series? That’s just a guess.” It’s a guess confirmed by other Nationwide team owners and the most likely scenario, according to NASCAR sources. NASCAR Chairman Brian France said an announcement would be made in January about the exact changes.(Scene Daily)(11-24-2010)
