NASCAR Drivers can only go for 1 title

[Headbanger]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-nascar-championshipeligibility

NASCAR drivers can race for only 1 championship

Jan 11, 4:49 pm EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)—NASCAR’s competition applications for 2011 require drivers to select which series they will race for a championship in this season.

The declaration will prevent Sprint Cup drivers from racing for championships in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, and presumably fill NASCAR’s desire to give its second-tier series its own identity.

NASCAR has declined to discuss the policy change because officials plan to make all their competition announcements over the next few weeks.

The requirement to choose just one series first was reported by NASCAR.com, which spoke to driver Kenny Wallace about the application he filled out last weekend.

Wallace confirmed the requirement in a post on his Twitter page.

Designed to be a feeder series where young talent can develop, the Nationwide Series is instead dominated by NASCAR’s Cup stars. The last five champions were all full-time Cup drivers, and Justin Allgaier was the only non-Cup driver to win one of last season’s 35 Nationwide races.

The change will likely only affect Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards, the only two drivers who had planned to run the full schedule in both series.

NASCAR likely will not limit the amount of Nationwide and Truck Series races that Cup drivers can enter. Doing so could be a deterrent to many fans, some of whom only get to see NASCAR’s stars race live in those lower-tier series.

 

[GoingPostal]

Man i feel conflicted about this. yeah it's good for the young drivers wanting to make a name not having to race the big boys, but i think this will hurt attendence for the nationwide series because fans got to see there favorite drivers but didn't have to pay the higher prices of the sunday race. Long term i think this will lead to a lot more talent for the future of the sprint cup series.

 

[bdc30]

If I'm understanding this correctly, they can still race in the Nationwide events, they just won't accumulate points towards the championship - which the majority of them won't care about anyway. I can't see this having a big effect on many guys.

 

[GoingPostal]

If I'm understanding this correctly, they can still race in the Nationwide events, they just won't accumulate points towards the championship - which the majority of them won't care about anyway. I can't see this having a big effect on many guys.

but car owners will, the owners may not want the sprint cup drivers to drive for them. cause they want the points for the driver to win the championship.

 

[Headbanger]

Yeah, what BDC says is right. "NASCAR likely will not limit the amount of Nationwide and Truck Series races that Cup drivers can enter. Doing so could be a deterrent to many fans, some of whom only get to see NASCAR’s stars race live in those lower-tier series."

The drivers have to say before the season which series they will try to win the championship in. I am positive all Cup drivers will say they are going for points in the Cup series, if not I am sure those sponsors would be a LITTLE more than pissed if they did not.

More information to follow, this was just the first of several changes coming by the competition committee.

 

[Boppa-Wasch]

It's about time.......Cup drivers have been stealing the thunder from the new guys for long enough...

 

[cvm4]

This has pros and cons. Interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[The EVP]

I'm with Boopa on this and it's been long overdue. Nationwide has been watered down to Cup Lite with all the cup drivers. While NASCAR will let drivers race but not let them accumulate points, I think the team owners are going to open those slots up and get drivers who can compete for those points. It's a smart move by NASCAR to ensure quality drivers for years down the road when older cup drivers retire or lose their rides.

 

[Clint]

I hear they're also going to only allow them to make left turns...