When will a Nationwide Regular ever win a Nationwide Championship?

Nascar has been talking about changing the rules in the Nationwide Series, limiting the amount of races that “Cup” drivers can enter in.  I think this will help, but is it really enough?

It’s my belief that a “Cup” driver should NEVER win a Nationwide championship and limiting the races they enter will accomplish that.  But even if they are limited to 10 races a year, doesn’t this take AWAY wins and points from the full time Nationwide drivers?

To me, the Nationwide series is a training ground for up and coming drivers.  This is their season long audition to show their stuff and hopefully someday get promoted to the Cup series.  All I see is Cup drivers like Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch trying to get a “free” championship and “free” wins.  Are the regulars in the Nationwide series any competition for the Cup drivers?

I also hear things like, “If there are Cup drivers in the race, then it gives the fans more bang for their buck.”  Some media people and NASCAR are in the opinion that using the Cup drivers, it attract fans to attend the race.  I guess that could be the case for some fans, but that isn’t the case for me.  I want to see these young drivers show their stuff against other drivers of their own caliber.  It’s like watching a race at your local racetrack on Saturday night.  Even though you like seeing a “BIG” outa-towner come to your local track for one night and whoop everyone’s  ass,  you don’t want to see it every week.

This weekends Nationwide race is at the Montreal road course.  I’m not very excited about it as I see that there are about 7 “road course ringers” and 7 Cup drivers in the race.  Now normally, if this were a Cup race, I wouldn’t even pay attention to the “ringers”.  Cup drivers are so good at road courses now, the ringers are completely insignificant.  But in a Nationwide race, they are.  These guys have years and hours upon hours of experience on road courses.  How many road courses has Trevor Bayne run?  The answer is four.  So how does this kid compete with the ringers and the Cup guys?  For him, tomorrow will just be survival.  Get through the race, try to finish on the lead lap and get it over with.  How fun is that?!  Perhaps he will get some valuable lessons in road course driving from these experienced drivers, but I doubt it will help him in the points race.

I will continue to support our up and comers in the Nationwide Series.  I just hope NASCAR supports them too.