Buschwhacker

A Claim jumper (formerly Buschwhacker) is a term for NASCAR drivers who are regulars in the top-level Sprint Cup Series but who also compete in races in the lower-level Nationwide Series. The original coinage of the term Buschwacker comes from the fact the Nationwide Series was previously the Busch Series. The current term is an insurance-related term, relating to NASCAR's current sponsorship of the series in question.

Because the Nationwide Series is essentially a minor league for the major-league Sprint Cup Series, this is a controversial practice. Critics say that claim jumpers are racing against inferior competition and taking opportunities away from younger, less-experienced drivers, but many NASCAR experts contend that without Cup drivers in Busch and the large amount of fan interest they attract, the series would cease to exist. Because the Nationwide Series runs most of its events as undercard races for the Sprint Cup Series, there is almost no time conflict for Cup Series drivers who wish to compete. Cup drivers like to race in Nationwide races, which are usually run on Saturdays, as preparation for the Sprint Cup Series races, usually run on Sundays. Because Nationwide and Cup cars are only subtly different, the primary advantage of running both races is extra practice ("seat time") for the drivers. Some racing experts suggested that when the Cup series moved to the Car of Tomorrow the advantage of Cup drivers racing in Nationwide events would decrease greatly; however, this did not prove true, as each Nationwide Series points title from 2006 to 2010 was won by a Cup Series regular.

Due to NASCAR rules changes that took effect in 2011, claim jumpers are no longer allowed to compete for the Nationwide Series drivers' championship, although they can earn full points toward the owners' championship. Before these changes, the last non-Buschwhacker to win the Nationwide Series points title was Martin Truex, Jr. in 2005.