NASCAR Announces 2018 National Series Driver Participation Guidelines

StandOnIt said:
much more can be done. All the lower series needs more standalone tracks to keep the cuppers in their places. All they have to do now is change their drivers suits and they can race in the lower series. They could have alleviated most of the problem without all this whining
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Blame the SMI and ISC monopoly for that, can't give up a support race so they can go to Gateway or Nashville Fairgrounds!
 
I'm disappointed NASCAR did not add a clause limiting the number of a races a cup driver can run in the cup series if they have won a Cup Championship.

It is just not fair to the "lesser" drivers in the series!
 
The fans outweigh what Kez, Harvick, and Busch think. Some of us, me included, think it isn't enough but are hopeful that Nascar will continue to wean off the cuppers who are sucking the series dry.
 
NASCAR Moves in Right Direction to Limit Cup Drivers in XFINITY, Truck Series

This is great news for fans of the XFINITY and Truck Series.

Last year, NASCAR instituted the playoff format in those two series for the first time, and the results for the most part were exciting.

But in the XFINITY Series, four of the final five playoff races were won by either Kyle Busch, Joey Logano or Kyle Larson — all Cup drivers — and that definitely took the spotlight off the series regulars at a time when they should have been getting all the attention.

And let’s be honest: There is so much good, young talent in the two feeder series that you don’t need Cup racers to put on great shows. In fact, some of the most compelling XFINITY and truck races are standalone events with no Cup regulars in the field.

This is a win-win move by NASCAR: A win for the young racers, and most importantly, a win for the fans.

http://www.popularspeed.com/nascar-...to-limit-cup-drivers-in-xfinity-truck-series/
 
Turn 2: NASCAR won't let Cup drivers in the final eight Xfinity/truck races. Is that the right move?

Craven: Yes, it's the right move. The whole dynamic of the truck series has changed in terms of Cup driver participation. In the early days, there was curiosity and intrigue and Cup drivers were more eager to compete. Today it feels and appears more like a Class A baseball series -- the field filled with young aspiring talent sprinkled in with sage veterans such as Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton. To be sustainable and healthy, the truck series budget must operate like a Class A franchise and too many Cup drivers along with too much Cup technology puts that at risk.

McGee: Yes. Down the stretch with championships on the line, that's something that needs to be sorted out among the racers who are actually competing for that championship. I don't have an issue with the Cup guys running races earlier in the year. But in autumn, that should be the time for those who should have the spotlight to be in that spotlight without sharing it.

Pockrass: It's the right move for the sanctity of the playoffs and the poor optics of having Cup drivers win races and take playoff-advancing opportunities out of the hands of the drivers competing for the title. I would still like to see a system that gives more incentive to sponsors to couple backing a Cup driver with a young driver.

Willis: I've long been in favor of controlling the dominance of Cup drivers in the lower series, and think this is a great move. In the playoffs especially, it's important to see the series regulars getting a chance to settle their championship among themselves, and not having the champion finish in the back part of the top 10 at Homestead. To attract sponsors to young drivers, you have to let them shine. Occasionally beating the Cup guys is helpful, but to have series regulars constantly running back in the field and off TV doesn't help.

http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/s...a-patrick-recent-progress-too-little-too-late
 
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dpkimmel2001 said:
Drivers Council’s input on Xfinity/Truck limits was ‘we didn’t like it, and it happened anyway’

http://nascar.nbcsports.com/2017/08...s-was-we-didnt-like-it-and-it-happened-anway/
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It really isn't right that the drivers council was even consulted on the limits and I can understand their frustrations. Especially Busch and Keselowski who in all honesty will probably work their schedules around one another just to spite NASCAR. As I've said the 22 could easily fill 21 races with Menard, Kez, and Logano and Blaney could run all 21 in the 12 if they wanted. It's going to be interesting to see their schedules for next year and how they work it out.

Until they just designate a certain amount of specific races that will feature Cup they are going to have that problem with drivers work around each others Xfinity schedules. Also as it is they are just taking races away from the drivers and giving them nothing in return. If they make specific races then they could give out bonuses for a driver that wins both Xfinity and Cup in a weekend. Same with Trucks and a even bigger bonus if you win all three. Then these drivers might not feel as bad losing money by not being able to race a bigger schedule.
 
Your deal you continue to stump for might be a compromise might not. As it is with the exception of one or two is that it is already this way naturally and is way too lopsided. Nascar listens to it's fans, I've never head any fans say they want designated races for cuppers. The prevailing opinion is that this is a move in the right direction, but most want them completely gone. A record 6 cuppers at Watkins glenn in the Xfinity race. Who do you think the cameras will be on? Guys like Justin Marks who is trying to break into Nascar and is a damn good road racer might get highlighted once, maybe twice...unless it rains..
 
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StandOnIt said:
Your deal you continue to stump for might be a compromise might not. As it is with the exception of one or two is that it is already this way naturally and is way too lopsided. Nascar listens to it's fans, I've never head any fans say they want designated races for cuppers. The prevailing opinion is that this is a move in the right direction, but most want them completely gone. A record 6 cuppers at Watkins glenn in the Xfinity race. Who do you think the cameras will be on? Guys like Justin Marks who is trying to break into Nascar and is a damn good road racer might get highlighted once, maybe twice...unless it rains..
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They all get their names called at the start and if he performs well enoug he'll get the camera time. He's got an opportunity to beat 6 Cup drivers which would be break into NASCAR.
 
Simple Fan said:
They all get their names called at the start and if he performs well enoug he'll get the camera time. He's got an opportunity to beat 6 Cup drivers which would be break into NASCAR.
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The statistics say different always have..unless it rains.

four of the final five playoff races were won by either Kyle Busch, Joey Logano or Kyle Larson — all Cup drivers
 
Easiest solution to this is Trucks and the Busch Series run more unique tracks not forcing them not to drive the series

return to Hickory, Pikes Peak, Memphis, IRP, Milwaukee (crime that that track does not have a major series), South Boston, and Myrtle Beach

Also get rid of the rule that only allows you to score points in one series, A Xfinity series driver that is running in both trucks and Xfinity should be able to score points in both, and if a cup guy wants to run for multple championships like Kevin Harvick in 2001 did then let them do it
 
StandOnIt said:
The statistics say different always have..unless it rains.

four of the final five playoff races were won by either Kyle Busch, Joey Logano or Kyle Larson — all Cup drivers
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I think Marks will have a good showing. I also think these Cup drivers will put on a show and a few regulars might be there to stop them.

As for the playoffs I think the Cup drivers not participating in them is the right move and should have been done with the last set of limits. That's only 12 races though including the Dash races, you'll also have the standalone races at Iowa, Road America, and Mid Ohio. The rest are likely to still have Cup drivers in them though and we'll still be having a Cup in Xfinity problem if they're winning.
 
Yep the Kyle said so, hopefully the preacher will put a kabosh on the Xfinity side. I won't be surprised if KDB loads up all he can in the trucks next year.
 
StandOnIt said:
Yep the Kyle said so, hopefully the preacher will put a kabosh on the Xfinity side. I won't be surprised if KDB loads up all he can in the trucks next year.
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I imagine that that is another thing that is frustrating to him in that he didn't even fill all his limits this year and they cut it even more. Should have filled up this year.
 
yep times have changed having Bushwakers in to build the series is long gone and it has morphed into an easy paycheck and empty wins for Cup drivers. Both lower series should be able to stand on it's own.IMO. I know I get a kick out of the new ones giving it hell amongst themselves. Watching two or three cup drivers turning laps out front IMO makes the race the next day in some cases even more boring, especially at the same track.
 
StandOnIt said:
yep times have changed having Bushwakers in to build the series is long gone and it has morphed into an easy paycheck and empty wins for Cup drivers. Both lower series should be able to stand on it's own.IMO. I know I get a kick out of the new ones giving it hell amongst themselves. Watching two or three cup drivers turning laps out front IMO makes the race the next day in some cases even more boring, especially at the same track.
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If they are going to do the limits than that should be the purpose of them is to allow the Trucks and Xfinity to stand on there own. This doesn't really do that as a majority of the races will involve Cup drivers. You're right about the empty wins as well, since the rule to not allow them to run for a championship they're just trophy hunting.

I liked another posters Cup invitationals idea which was similar to mine. Ten races with Cup drivers that can't run a car that runs every week. Could have their own points between them through those 10 races and driver with the most points wins The Xfinity Cup Invitational. Makes for 23 races that would Cupless and give the Cup drivers participation less meaningless.
 
I like a limit on the number of Cup drivers that can compete in an X or Truck race. Let as many try to qualify as want, but only the fastest 3 of them can start the race (2 in Trucks).
 
StandOnIt said:
much more can be done. All the lower series needs more standalone tracks to keep the cuppers in their places. All they have to do now is change their drivers suits and they can race in the lower series. They could have alleviated most of the problem without all this whining
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I think a 5-7 race limit is fine and I'd like to see more standalone races, but I'd want to see the Cup guys in a standalone race in a new market. When I was a kid, we went to the Busch Series race in Miami each year. It was great to get to see Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett run in that race. I didn't otherwise get the opportunity to do so in person, until Winston Cup went there in 1999.

An XFINITY race in Portland, Evergreen or at Colorado National during a Cup off week would be awesome for markets that don't otherwise have NASCAR.

At the same time, more standalone races would immediately do away with the Cup problem. Or maybe run XFINITY on neighboring short tracks during Cup. Like, IRP or the Bullring at LVMS. For the most part, the Cup guys won't participate in those because it's not a glorified practice session for them.
 
I wish they'd just let KyBu run unlimited in XFINITY until he gets his 201 wins and his "Most wins in NASCAR history" headline and be done with it.
 
I remember when the trucks first started, they ran almost exclusively on short tracks that had no NASCAR races --- I think. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, they were exciting to watch and drew decent crowds because they were "big time" racing in some places.

Personally, I'd like to see the trucks go back to at least some of the short tracks that have no NASCAR races.

Edited to add: IF those short tracks still exist. *sigh*
 
Good balance...no need for cup drivers in trucks get Kyle the hell out of there. No orher cuppers run trucks anymore
 
Fordracing7 said:
Good balance...no need for cup drivers in trucks get Kyle the hell out of there. No orher cuppers run trucks anymore
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I don't think it's as big if a problem in the Truck Series and the little that Kyle runs is fine. I don't understand how you see it as a good balance on the Xfinity side though as it will still be mostly Cup dominated until the playoffs. Then you still have guys like Ryan Preece and Sam Hornish in those cars spoiling the Xfinity playoffs the same as Cup guys.
 
Simple Fan said:
I don't think it's as big if a problem in the Truck Series and the little that Kyle runs is fine. I don't understand how you see it as a good balance on the Xfinity side though as it will still be mostly Cup dominated until the playoffs. Then you still have guys like Ryan Preece and Sam Hornish in those cars spoiling the Xfinity playoffs the same as Cup guys.
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So what your saying is it's the equipment and not the drivers...either way no perfect solution.
 
Fordracing7 said:
So what your saying is it's the equipment and not the drivers...either way no perfect solution.
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There is but its not with these current limits they just made. I know I sound like a broken record talking about my idea to fix tbe Xfinty Series but I feel it's really a better option to what NASCAR has come up with.
 
Ahhhhh, the good ole days of the Milwaukee Mile, Pikes Peak, Memphis, Gateway, IRP.

Still never understood why NASCAR doesn't go into the Washington/Northwest market and Colorado area again.
 
StandOnIt said:
Here is a novel idea



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That's been my view all along. I wouldn't mind a Cup driver driving for a team such as JDM or Biagi Brothers. One other thing I think needs to be done is restricting over the wall pit crew guys from Cup teams from pitting Xfinty cars or trucks.
 
Hendrick Motorsports teleconference to introduce William Byron's promotion to the Cup Series in the 5 car...

Question: Was there a particular moment that made you think William Byron was ready to move up to Cup?

Rick Hendrick: Yes, at Michigan, a very fast racetrack where William nearly won against one of the best Cup drivers there is [Denny Hamlin in the cheater Gibbs Toyota]. And also at Daytona, again racing against top Cup drivers.

I guess maybe Mr. H hasn't read this thread about how Cuppers are stunting the growth of young drivers, and robbing them of the opportunity to make a name for themselves...:cool:
 
LewTheShoe said:
Hendrick Motorsports teleconference to introduce William Byron's promotion to the Cup Series in the 5 car...

Question: Was there a particular moment that made you think William Byron was ready to move up to Cup?

Rick Hendrick: Yes, at Michigan, a very fast racetrack where William nearly won against one of the best Cup drivers there is [Denny Hamlin in the cheater Gibbs Toyota]. And also at Daytona, again racing against top Cup drivers.

I guess maybe Mr. H hasn't read this thread about how Cuppers are stunting the growth of young drivers, and robbing them of the opportunity to make a name for themselves...:cool:
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I guess he had his blindfold on when Byron was beating cup drivers in the trucks, he signed him to a long contract from there.:confused: I don't believe for a minute he wasn't looking at a future driver for his cup ride or it would have been a short term contract.
 
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