Farm Team - NASCAR

NASCAR

NASCAR, the principal body for stock car racing in North America, has an extensive system of developmental series, with the ultimate goal for drivers being a ride in the top-level Sprint Cup Series. Most Cup Series teams are involved in at least one of NASCAR's two other national series, either running vehicles in the junior series or affiliating with teams that run exclusively in those series:

• The second-level Nationwide Series is the main proving ground for potential Cup drivers. Most races are run on the same weekends, and at the same tracks, as Cup Series races, and Nationwide cars are largely similar to Cup cars (though with some differences, most notably less powerful engines).
• The third-level Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck-based series. Most races are held in conjunction with Nationwide Series races, with many also serving as support events for Sprint Cup races. Relatively few drivers jump directly from the Truck Series to the Cup Series; most spend at least some time in the Nationwide Series first.

Below the two national series are multiple regional series. Cup Series teams generally do not participate at these levels, but extensively scout them for future talent.

• The K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West, which use stock cars with full fenders similar to those in the Cup and Nationwide Series.
• The Whelen Modified Tour, operating mostly in the Northeast U.S., and Whelen Southern Modified Tour, operating in the Southeast U.S., race open-wheeled cars with bodies similar to those of other NASCAR cars.
• The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in Canada and NASCAR Corona Series in Mexico are national series in the respective countries, also using stock cars with full fenders. A few drivers from the Canadian Tire Series have moved to one of the U.S. national series.

The entry level of NASCAR-sanctioned racing is the Whelen All-American Series, a championship for drivers who compete in weekly races at small tracks, often dirt tracks, throughout the U.S. and Canada. Regional champions and an overall series champion are crowned.