NASCAR to limit Sprint Cup drivers from participating in other series
By Ted Fleming
Sanctioning body is finally stepping up to let the Xfinity and Camping World Series’ stand on their own, beginning in 2017.
NASCAR announced today they have updated their driver participation guidelines for the 2017 season which limits how many times a Sprint Cup driver can race in either the Xfinity Series or Camping World Truck Series. The idea is to put an even brighter spotlight on the next generation of stars and bolster the identity of all three of its national series.
This is great news for fans of the two feeder series because they always thought Cup drivers didn’t belong there. On the flip side, those “brand names” brought more eyeballs and ticket purchases to their events. Both arguments are valid. However, it was a bit contradictory that the sanctioning body would put a tag ling on Xfinity that “Names are made here,” and then allow those from Cup to steal their spotlight.
This season a Chase element was added to both Xfinity and Camping World Trucks and that, by itself, added a whole new dimension to runs for a championship. Once a field was set in each, wins became the focal point as the way to advance, just like in Sprint Cup, and it was odd that NASCAR would allow a top series driver to interfere with that premise. That has finally changed.
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Beginning next year, premier series drivers with more than five years of full-time experience will be eligible to compete in a maximum of 10 races in the XFINITY Series and seven races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The word premier is NASCAR’s word for Sprint Cup. But the biggest change is as follows, from their release:
“[Cup drivers] will be ineligible to compete in the final eight races in each series, as well as the Dash 4 Cash races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The final eight races are comprised of the regular season finale and the entirety of the Chase in each series.”
Additionally, anyone collecting points in Sprint Cup will not be allowed in Xfinity or Camping World Truck Championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. That means anyone who races full time in NASCAR’s top series will be banned from competing in a race that decides a title in the final event of the year.
“The updated guidelines will elevate the stature of our future stars, while also providing them the opportunity to compete against the best in professional motorsports,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations, in a release. “These updated guidelines are the result of a collaborative effort involving the entire industry, and will ultimately better showcase the emerging stars of NASCAR.”
What this all means is that drivers in the Xfinity Series and Camping World Series will have a better chance of winning during the regular season and, more importantly, once the Chase begins.
Many Xfinity drivers expressed concerns that Cup drivers were allowed to compete in their Chase events although one, Brendan Gaughan, welcomed them because he felt he was always competing against the best.
In the long run, NASCAR made the correct decision to let the regulars in the two feeder series have a better chance of competing against their own and not have to worry that something being taken away from them by more experienced or better-funded teams.