NASCAR announced Wednesday that it was placing limits on the number of races in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series that Sprint Cup veterans can run, starting in 2017. Effective next season, Sprint Cup drivers with five or more years of experience can only participate in 10 Xfinity Series races and 7 CWTS races. They also cannot participate in The Chase races in the Xfinity and CWTS, the final “regular-season” race before The Chase, or any of the Dash 4 Cash races. Additionally, no Sprint Cup drivers competing for points will be allowed to drive in the Xfinity or CWTS season finales at Homestead Miami Speedway.
While NASCAR’s statement doesn’t expressly state the reason for these changes, it’s not hard to see why they’re being made. Keeping Sprint Cup drives out of The Chase prevents them from stealing wins that Xfinity and Camping World Trucks series drivers would need to advance toward the championship. It also keeps those Sprint Cup drivers from otherwise influencing the outcome of the Chase.
Additionally, the regulations limit the amount track time in a given weekend for a driver who is running both races when Sprint Cup and the lower series are running together. That additional track time can be used to gain an upperhand on setup and track information that could then be applied fairly directly to the Sprint Cup outings. However, as some running in the Xfinity and Camping World Trucks Series is still allowed, teams and drivers will have to pick judiciously which races they want that extra information or a chance at a high-profile win or even weekend sweep. I suspect you’ll still see the Busch brothers dicing it up on the short tracks in as many series as they can muster, for example.
Who really cares…NASCAR needs to fill seats. Of major league racing only the Indy 500 and COTA F1 does so.
Absolutely. To little to late NASCAR sold out there souls a long time ago who cares
Agreed, at least 10 years too late. By the time that NASCAR finally understands the mistakes they’ve made, the current generation of fans will be gone. And so by that notion alone, they will never be able to get back to where they were in the “good old days.”
In my opinion the Sprint Cup should not be able to run in ANY of the lower series! Need to open seats in the lower series to have future drivers for the cup series.