Pick One - Winston Cup or Busch? Not Both

By: Andy Kondratick
February 21, 2003 - My experience at Daytona this year was great. Having the chance to work for a pit-crew and race team was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. While I was working in the pits and garage for the Daytona Koolers 300, I heard the same complaint over and over. It’s about time NASCAR does something about it.

Rogue working in the pits at Daytona

I was able to be in the pits and garage areas in Daytona this past weekend during Speedweeks. I was on assignment for Race Fan News and was able to work in the garage area and pits for Mike Harmon and the whole GIC/Mixon Motorsports organization. That is Mike Harmon’s #44 entry in Nascar’s Busch Series. While working as the pit-gopher and front tire carrier, I was able to keep my ears to the asphalt and I wasn’t surprised at what I heard.

Most of the Busch Series full-time drivers were complaining about the fact that the “Winston Cup Boys” were in the field and that seven Busch drivers were forced to go home due to the fact that the Cup guys were running. “They come down to the Busch Series for the money and the win. I don’t think it is fair for them to be down here unless they are going to run a full season”, said one crew member. “The fact that they aren’t running for points and the seven who had to go home are, makes this a very unique problem and NASCAR needs to address it. This is ridiculous.”

I have long felt that a driver should not be allowed to compete in a NASCAR Series of a different class, unless you plan to run a full season in that car. It simply isn’t fair for a Winston Cup driver to go and race in high dollar Busch races and not be competing for points. They take away from the regular Busch Series drivers and the points that they are looking to earn as well as the win and all the royalties that come along with it. Not to mention the loss of potential sponsorship and fair competition. I spoke with a high-ranking official in the NASCAR Management office this week and asked why this was allowed. I was told that this has long been the practice of NASCAR and that a driver is allowed to compete in any series provided they meet all the qualifications. There is nothing in the rules book that says different. Plus, I was told that by having the Winston Cup drivers competing in Busch or the trucks there is more attention brought to those series. In other words, more money for the series and more attention to drivers in them.

This is wrong folks. There is a reason why there are different series. Think of the Busch drivers as a minor league baseball team or a college football team. They are, in some cases, less experienced drivers and that is what the Busch Series is here for. So these drivers have a fair shake at competing with other drivers and teams of the same caliber. They also learn and gain experience, so that some day they too can make it to the "Big Show" and the Winston Cup Series. You never see a professional football player dropping back down to a college bowl game just so he can help his stats. These guys are here every week and not just when the money or media exposure is good. They are competing for a championship just like the Winston Cup guys.

Lets face it. Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t need to compete in the Busch Series. He is already a two-time Busch Champ and he doesn’t need to come down to the Busch Series and smack these guys around. We know you're good Dale. Your in the “Big Time” so how about letting these boys have their chance. Waltrip, Kenseth, Harvick, Biffle, and the rest of you Winston Cup drivers should be ashamed of yourselves. You need to pick one series or the other, not both.

Rogue’s Solution

Here is my solution. I follow the K.I.S.S. method so this should be easy to follow and agreeable to all the race teams.

If you are a full-time Winston Cup Driver you are not allowed to compete in either the Busch Series or Craftsman Truck Series unless you are the owner of a team in that series and the team that you own competes on a full-time basis. Meaning you cannot compete unless you drive it full-time or have a full-time driver for the team. Simple.

That is it. Problem solved. This is the best way to handle it besides saying you can’t compete in another series at all if you’re a Winston Cup Driver. You are at the top so stay there. Let these other fellas have a chance.

This has been one fan’s opinion. - Rogue Reporter Andy

E-mail me at roguereporter@comcast.net