The NASCAR Nationwide Series first came to life in 1982. It's seen as NASCAR's developmental series geared towards kickstarting the careers of future NASCAR stars. It allows drivers to hone their skills, grab the attention of potential sponsors, and start to make a name for themselves. The Nationwide Series runs at the same track, on the same weekend, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It allows fans to see both series run without much hassle given that Nationwide is on Saturday and the Sprint Cup is on Sunday. Sounds like the Nationwide Series is a great program for young drivers to evolve and progress, right?
Maybe. Maybe not. Sure the series has launched the racing careers of pretty big names like, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Brian Vickers, to name a few. They all went on to have successful Sprint Cup Series careers. However within the past five years more drivers from the Sprint Cup Series have come down to join the Nationwide Series to compete, taking on double duty. Many never left the Nationwide Series, even once they made it to the “Big League”. Kyle Busch, Brad Keslowski, and Clint Bowyer are just three of the many big names that currently compete in both series. It makes it a lot harder for younger and newer drivers looking to work their way up the ladder. All of the Sprint Cup guys bring the best equipment, the most money, and not to mention they already have the driving skills to be incredibly successful. It’s an incredibly difficult uphill battle for upcoming drivers to be successful in the Nationwide Series, they have to race guys that have way more money, way more backing, and way more experience than them, instead of racing guys that are on the same level as they are. This begs the question, Should NASCAR allow drivers that race in the Sprint Cup Series to race in the Nationwide Series as well?
NASCAR makes more money off of drivers that race both series, not to mention ticket sales go through the roof when drivers race both series. Fans get to see their favorite racecar drivers more often and the drivers get more seat time and exposure. However it’s a double-edge sword for sponsors. Their name is thrown out there twice as much drivers that only race in one series. It’s also twice the risk because if their driver gets hurt in the Nationwide Series or the Sprint Cup Series, and can no longer compete in either series, the sponsor loses money and their advertising space for an indefinite amount of time. NASCAR’s Nationwide Series seems to be more about making more money, than it does helping drivers develop. The MLB doesn’t allow its Major League players to actively play in the Minors at the same time, they understand it’s a league that lets amateur players polish their skills before they step up to The Show. Fresh young talent in the Nationwide Series doesn’t get that chance because NASCAR enables professional drivers to steal the spotlight away from the semi-professional drivers, even though NASCAR calls Nationwide their “minor league” series. Should NASCAR stop Sprint Cup drivers from racing in the Nationwide Series, or should NASCAR keep the Nationwide Series the way it is and establish a real developmental series where up and coming drivers can fine-tune their craft?
It would greatly help the future of the sport. Kids at the kart track get to see drivers that are 10-15 years older than them making names for themselves on their journey to the Sprint Cup Series instead of seeing racecar drivers that are 30-35 years older than them racing in both a developmental series, as well as a professional series. Not only would it motivate the next generation of racecar drivers of all disciplines, it would get NASCAR fans of all ages excited about where their beloved sport of oval track racing is headed. Marketing and sponsorship would change greatly if the sport had new fresh talent like Trevor Bayne as the face of the sport. Maybe that’s just what NASCAR needs. What do you think?
-Dallas Hollins
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