Harvick's "speech" about the Busch Series...

[VMS]

Hi everyone...

Got talking with the wife about harvick's press conference. I did not get to see it, but I she mentioned he stated a bunch of things that are wrong with how the busch series is being run. Evidently, it seems as though the drivers from N.C. felt that since the busch series is filled with cup drivers it is not good for the series...it sells tickets and fills the stands, but it hurts those smaller teams who cannot make the race, which will eventually close them down. The only ones who will be able to field a team will be those connected with cup teams (the big 3 or so). The driver experience will be limited coming to cup as well, which could potentially cause more trouble in cup as they come up.

I see things right now as slim pickings of busch drivers.

Thoughts? and any other info?

Steve

[lawdog]

I think the series as a developmental series is badly hurt by the Cup regulars constantly racing there and particularly in numbers like we had this year. Let the Cup guys test their Cup cars and not use Busch as a test. I like what Harvick said about making 4-5 races impossible for the Cup guys to run so they can't steal the points from these smaller teams too.

The down side to this is money. The Cup guys put butts in the seats and that's what pays the bills for NASCAR and that's all Baby France cares about. They won't change this and the Cup teams will keep going as long as they are allowed.

[eagle_3464]

I believe there are pro's and con's regarding the buschwackers. I agree that is makes it difficult for these small teams to field a car when the majority of the purse money goes to Cup fielded teams but at the same time it gives much greater knowledge and experience to these up and coming young drivers. If these drivers can compete at the level of the buschwackers, I believe they stand a much better chance to succeed with the advancement to the Cup series. A case in point is Paul Menard who because of this competition, I believe will succeed well in the Cup series. I think drivers with the most potential typically land rides with Cup affiliated teams but that alone can take so much away from that driver who just needs some experience in top notch equipment to show his/her true potential. Will the Busch series survive as it is? Only time will tell but NASCAR might have to change some rules or the way they distribute the purse. One thing I have thought is that Cup drivers inside the top 20 are not eligible for the Busch. Another option in effort to sell tickets would be to give them a fixed "competition" payment and all other winning for their finish position be forfeited back to the non-cup drivers. Just my two cents but this discussion could go on and on.

[JKing]

I agree with Lawdog. The busch series is hurting as a developmental series. It used to be that there were only 5 or 6 cup drivers in each busch race & they were using separate teams than they used for thier cup races. Now there are 15 to 20 cup drivers in each race & they are using more of the cup teams to help pit & crue chief during the races. They are basically using the busch series for testing because NASCAR is limiting their Cup track time. They either need to change the busch cars enough that the cup teams won't benifit much from running the busch races or play with the schedule so the cup guys can't take all of the thunder out of the Busch championship.

I would rather see the cup teams be able to test their cup cars & not be in all of the busch races. It is nice to see who the up & comers are. With all of the cup drivers running they new guy's don't get any TV time to get recognized.

I'm not so sure that "Baby France" cares so much about filling the seats. I think his whole goal is TV ratings. Which in the end is $$$$$$$$$

[TNFL]

I agree with eagle, that they should set some type of cap. Maybe after 5 years in nextel you are only allowed, say 5 busch races per year. Or as stated if you finished in the top 20 (which I think is to high) or maybe the top 15 or even the top 10 the previous year you would only be allowed 5 races. I personally prefer the experience factor. I look at Hamlin, truex, and kyle B and think they still need more experience. However, guys like Harvick, Jr, Martin, Kenseth, and others they should not be running a lot of busch races.

I personally don't follow the B series. But thats my 2 cents.

[lawdog]

Not sure how you can say Hamlin needs more experience when he just finished third in Cup points, but whatever...

[TNFL]

because he is young and inexperienced