[vincesanity82]

NASCAR is considering a plan that would keep full-time Nextel Cup Series drivers from winning the Busch Series after the 2008 season -- the same year the Busch Series will have its own version of the Car of Tomorrow. If NASCAR signs off on the plan, any driver ranked among the top 35 in the Nextel Cup standings cannot get points in a Busch Series race. It won't keep Nextel Cup regulars from racing -- and dominating -- the junior circuit, but it will help NASCAR crown a champion that's dedicated solely to the Busch Series. So far, most seem to like the idea. "I would be in 100 percent in favor of what they could do to make the Busch Series to where it was more about the Busch Series regulars, and it was more about the young guy coming in and trying to compete for a championship at that level," said two-time Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick. "Somebody told me, I don't know if it's true or not, that out of 140 drivers that ran the Busch Series, only nine of them this year have run every race. I think the races would be better, it would be more interesting for the series if that number was a lot larger, you know, if they had more people racing for that." Newly-crowned champion Carl Edwards plans to do double-duty again next year. After that, he joked that he may have to wear a disguise to compete for championships in both circuits. -- Times-Herald

Pro Racing | 11/7/07 Busch Series may alter standings

[Lefty Noob]

Hey, now that don't sound like a half-bad idea. Let them run the race, but still keep seperate "Busch points" standings. I'm sure a lot of folks would like the see the Nextel drivers banned outright, but assuming there's no was NASCAR would ever do that, this is probably the next best possible solution.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

"I would be in 100 percent in favor of what they could do to make the Busch Series to where it was more about the Busch Series regulars, and it was more about the young guy coming in and trying to compete for a championship at that level," said two-time Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick. "Somebody told me, I don't know if it's true or not, that out of 140 drivers that ran the Busch Series, only nine of them this year have run every race. I think the races would be better, it would be more interesting for the series if that number was a lot larger, you know, if they had more people racing for that." Times-Herald

Pro Racing | 11/7/07 Busch Series may alter standings

I wonder if Harvick thought about, as he made those comments, that maybe there would be more busch regulars if the cup guys weren't all there taking the spots. Most of the regular busch guys drives for small teams. How are they suppose to compete against the big teams of cup? I guess it's been proven that they can't.
I like the idea of not letting them get the points if they're in the top 35 in cup. Maybe that'll get alot of them to stop. I do hope they keep the cars different, I think that'll help some. But all these cup guys need to realize, they've put their time in in the busch series and it's time for them to stay in cup and give someone else the same chance that they were given.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by jks812

But all these cup guys need to realize, they've put their time in in the busch series and it's time for them to stay in cup and give someone else the same chance that they were given.

Amen to that, but these guys want to have their cake and eat it too. I don't see them stopping unless they're forced to.

[LSC9901]

I find it amazing that Kevin feels that way .... now. I find this a step forward in getting the series back to the people it belongs to. I would still like it better if none of them ran in the series, but maybe when they get a car of their own the cup guys won't be so interested in invading the series to get free testing.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by jks812

I wonder if Harvick thought about, as he made those comments, that maybe there would be more busch regulars if the cup guys weren't all there taking the spots. Most of the regular busch guys drives for small teams. How are they suppose to compete against the big teams of cup? I guess it's been proven that they can't.
I like the idea of not letting them get the points if they're in the top 35 in cup. Maybe that'll get alot of them to stop. I do hope they keep the cars different, I think that'll help some. But all these cup guys need to realize, they've put their time in in the busch series and it's time for them to stay in cup and give someone else the same chance that they were given.

Don't forget, Harvick owns a Busch team .. usually he or a Cup driver is in the car, but I don't think he's against giving a deserving newcomer the ride. Remember, Busch is where he was when Richard Childress tapped him to take over the Goodwrench Chevy... Still, he's just like every other team owner: he wants the best driver he can get in his car every race.

[PettyBlue]

Bit of old news, http://www.goteamsgo.com/forum/nasca...shwacking.html

[Bob Tanner]

I've said it before; I'll say it again.

All the purposed plan does is an acknowledgement by NA__AR that there is definitely a big problem in Cup Lite (a.k.a. BGN). Their purposed trial balloon (that's all it was, no definite statement that things would be changed) does absolutely nada to keep the Cup Raiders from using BGN as a paid test session for the Cup race, and a way to glom extra sponsor money.

NA__AR argues that "These guys are racers and all they want to do is to enjoy the excitement of competition! They'll race anything!" Horse feathers!!!

Take Atlanta for example... CTS and Cup ran Atlanta; Cup Lite ran Memphis.
I believe it was seven Cup drivers made the trip to Memphis. So, all these "race lovers" would stay in Atlanta and run CTS, right? WRONG! Exactly one full time driver, Kyle Busch, ran CTS (Mark Martin ran but he's a part time driver now).
Now transition to Texas, the next week... 17 Cup drivers (a rather small amount; I've seen it as high as 24 this year) ran the Cup lite race and again, only one driver ran CTS, Kyle Busch.

Until NA__AR does something meaningful (and don not hold your breath for THAT to happen) BGN will forever remain just plain old Cup Lite.