Driver Competition in Multiple Series
NASCAR has long allowed drivers to compete in as many series and events as they like, with few restrictions. However, in recent years, many Sprint Cup drivers have competed in and dominated the lower tier Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series races on a regular basis, earning Cup drivers the nickname "Buschwhackers". The situation is compounded by the close timing of the races in the two series: a typical NASCAR weekend has a Nationwide race on Saturday followed by a Cup race on Sunday at the same track. Some have wondered why "major league" Cup drivers are allowed to compete in the "minor league" races with such frequency, and whether Nationwide is an adequate developmental series. Sportswriter Bob Margolis noted that much of this is due to the similarities between the cars used in the two series (they are mostly alike except for the engines and the wheelbase), and the desire for Sprint drivers to get as much practice time as possible to learn about the track and car setup before the main race.
In the aforementioned 2008 meetings between NASCAR and Detroit automakers, the automakers also called for the Nationwide Series to become strictly a developmental series, with Cup drivers prohibited from running in the junior series. The request was rejected at that time. However, in late 2010, media reports began to indicate that NASCAR may institute a slightly modified version of this rule for 2011, with Cup drivers allowed to run in Nationwide races but not to compete for the series championship. In January 2011, NASCAR.com confirmed this, adding that drivers will now be allowed to compete for the championship in only one national series in a given season, a change that also affects the Truck Series.
Read more about this topic: Criticism Of NASCAR
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