Loose in Turn 3 (5/09/08)
Image details: NASCAR Nationwide Series Corona Mexico 200 served by picapp.com
Welcome once again to another exciting roundup of “Loose in Turn 3″ from - what I would like to believe to be - your favorite blogging trio. You all know me already, and with me as always are Bruce Simmons from Bruce’s NASCAR Bits & Pieces, as well as Charlie Turner, co-host of On Pit Row. This week talk has pretty much centered around the big wreck last weekend between Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr, but we’re here to remind you that there are still other things going on in the world of racing, as we cover such topics as the string of bad luck that’s fallen on the lap of Denny Hamlin, NASCAR’s limitation on car owners to own no more than four race teams beginning in 2010, and right here on Do You NASCAR, we’ll discuss the identity of the Nationwide Series. So, be sure to check out the other sites to get spun up, and hope you enjoy the read!
Do you think that the Nationwide Series will ever truly develop its own identity, and if so, what will it be?
TZ: For the longest time, I would have immediately answered this question with a resounding “no”. But, lately, I’ve realized more and more that perhaps we are looking at the series in the wrong manner. Maybe we need to forget the notion of it being the “minor leagues”. While watching the race in Mexico City and then Danica Patrick win her first race, it dawned on me … the series could have a potential future in adding more road races to their schedule. I’m not saying they would ever completely turn it into a road racing series, but with Mexico, Montreal, Watkins Glenn, and Infineon on the schedule, I could see them adding a few more to the circuit - whether locally or outside the borders - in an attempt to level out any potential surge the IRL could have in terms of stealing NASCAR’s popularity.
Charlie: If NASCAR really wants the Nationwide Series to have an identity distinct from the Cup Series, they will have to decide what they want that identity to be. Is it a development series? Are they going to showcase pony-car silhouettes? Road Courses or international racing. What are they trying to do? Right now, it appears that NASCAR wants this series to be all things to all people. Frankly, ARCA does a better job of that in fewer races. It looks to me like the second series will continue as a support-race series for the big Cup show, albeit a very successful support series. There is nothing wrong with that either.
Bruce: They keep saying they want their own identity and I have no problem with that.. in and of itself, the shorter amount of time spent racing amongst other details noted here helps it stay there, and the BIG teams will always be in cup, but there’s a grey area with independent identity when we say 1/3 of the field at times being nothing but Cup drivers. Now if the Cup drivers drove for teams other than who they run for on Sundays, now that would be A: Interesting and B: A new identity. More road course races.. eh, maybe. But this league is designed the national version / stepping stone for the regional circuit drivers.. but are we seeing that these days?
The Rest of the Discussion:
- What’s Your Take On Denny Hamlin’s Recent Bad Luck?
- Should NASCAR drop the “ruse” of team owners only being allowed four Cup teams?
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POSTED IN: Loose in Turn 3, NASCAR
4 opinions for Loose in Turn 3 (5/09/08)
marc
May 9, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Charlie poses the question - “Are they going to showcase pony-car silhouettes?
That ain’t happening, and NASCAR has no choice, Chevy pulled the Camaro from consideration, Toyota has already announced the Camry is their vehicle to be run in NNS in 2009 and Ford is spend their Mustang pimp dollars on the “Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup.”
Bruce asks if we are seeing NNS being used as a stepping stone to Cup.
Sure we are, if that’s not true how did K. Busch, Truex Jr., Edwards and more than a few others get into Cup. That continues with Logano and Stenhouse going the same route.
Tim Zaegel
May 9, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Marc, while the Nationwide (Busch) Series has certainly produced quite a bit of talent for the Cup Series the past couple of seasons, it just seems that with each passing year, it just starts looking more and more like a Cup Series practice session, sorta moving it away from its intent to be the stepping stone series. Hell, this year the majority of the Cup Series rookie class is also in their rookie Nationwide season.
RevJim
May 10, 2008 at 6:04 am
But Tim, I agree with Marc, and it is a practice series for future Cup drivers like Coleman, Bires, Keselowski, and others as well. You know how I feel about it, though. I would like to see it be more than just a stepping stone. You and I have both seen a lot of Busch/Nationwide series races, and we both know that there is a lot of talent there that will not be likely to ever race again in Cup, not because of lack of talent, but because there is no room. I think Nationwide series deserves a much higher status than “little league,” so I agree mostly with your answer.
Tim Zaegel
May 11, 2008 at 1:21 am
I just think that NASCAR has been trying to gear away from using the Nationwide solely as a stepping stone as it was in the past, and I think that it’s mainly in favor of the almighty dollar. Giving the series somewhat of an F1 or IRL appeal while maintaining the stock car structure could be very beneficial down the road, and it would help legitimize the use of some the Cup stars on occasion.
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