Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Oct. 21, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CLXXXIX
Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff
NASCAR Decrees Only One GWC at Talladega
Phoenix's Quicken Loans 500 Is Sold Out
New NASCAR-Themed Reality Show Coming in January
Editor's Note: Professor of Speed will return next week. In its place, we have a special commentary from one of our up and coming writers.
Today's Featured Commentary
Most of the time, we in the NASCAR media are the first to criticize a new rule the sport enacts. And, yes, most of the time those criticisms are warranted. But there is one rule NASCAR has enacted in the last five years that deserves a lot of praise.
After the 2010 season, the Sprint Cup Series announced a new policy for its drivers; each one would have to declare which series they would run for points. It was the same deal with XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series as well. Each driver was still free to race anywhere they wanted to, but they would only have points scored in the series they selected prior to the season.
There's a reason, of course these rules were put into place. A problem arose between the XFINITY and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series when the two divisions began to run more companion races. It was very hard for a driver to compete for a championship in the Truck Series and another division because the Trucks run a lot more standalone events. However, a driver winning both the XFINITY Series and Cup championship in the same year became very possible.
If you look the NASCAR XFINITY Series champions from 2006-10 they all consisted of full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. It made it almost impossible for a young, up-and-coming talent to compete. Not only did Cup drivers have the experience, talent and resources to beat XFINITY Series teams they would also bring down their Sprint Cup Series pit crew for races. It was hard for young drivers to finish inside the top 5 in points, let alone win the championship.
So NASCAR decided to make a change. It was a curious move because NASCAR ran the risk of running Cup drivers out of the lower series entirely. With the rule intact, there became little incentive for Cup drivers to race full-time in the XFINITY Series. It also helped level the playing field for drivers who ran exclusively there. Younger drivers could now race, compete for the championship in the lower divisions and wouldn't have to worry about Cup drivers coming in and stealing all the glory.
Since the rule has been enacted, we have seen some talented young drivers win the championship in the XFINITY Series. That is something that could not have been done prior to the rule. It has also helped young drivers get sponsorship. Take a look at 2015 points leader Chris Buescher. Buescher has ran the entire season for Roush Fenway Racing with little sponsorship. However, with the championship close in sight Advocare came aboard the No. 60 Ford as a backer in several races later in the season. Had Buescher been fifth in the point standings behind four Cup Series drivers that deal would probably not have happened.
It has also helped drivers like Buescher become household names. 2014 XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott was always a talented driver but his success helped showcase his skills and that has led to him replacing Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 Sprint Cup car next season. The same can be said for 2013 champion Austin Dillon and two-time XFINITY Series titlist Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. The rule has allowed both of these drivers to become recognized names, helping their advancement into the Sprint Cup Series.
In all, the "pick a series" program has worked better than advertised.
Clayton Caldwell is a contributor for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at clayton.caldwell@frontstretch.com.
TODAY AT FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... Why Talladega Is Still NASCAR's Heart Attack In Waiting
by Tom Bowles
NASCAR Mailbox: Underdogs at Talladega & Who Retires Next?
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1991, Buddy Baker was a bit of a "dart without feathers" in the DieHard 500 at Talladega, triggering two big wrecks. What happened?
COMING TOMORROW
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2015 Frontstretch.com
--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Frontstretch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thefrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
No comments:
Post a Comment