Sep 27, 2010 - Two young Nationwide Series drivers who have the potential to be future NASCAR stars were in the news this weekend for the wrong reasons.
In the past, we'd hear names like Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne associated with terms such as "Long-term contract" and "franchise driver."
Now, it's "looking for a ride" and "lack of sponsorship."
If Allgaier and Bayne – two of the few promising regulars in the Nationwide Series right now – can't find rides for next season, they'll follow the same path taken by other emerging talents such as Landon Cassill, Kelly Bires, Josh Wise and a list of others so long we can't name them all here.
It's a path that winds through the garage with no full-time ride, a path that turns the drivers of the future into journeymen willing to accept whatever seat time they can get.
That's not news though, at least in the Nationwide Series. The situation has been like this for several years now.
Teams in NASCAR's second-tier series are so desperate for money, it's become like the IndyCar Series: Aside from the very top teams, if you don't bring money, you don't have a ride.
As of now, the Sprint Cup Series has been largely spared by this trend. With the exception of a few drivers who have rides due to financial backing, the Cup Series consists of the 43 most talented stock car drivers in the world.
It's about talent, not money: Who can win races in my car?
That's significant, because all the feeder systems and the young age at which drivers now begin their careers mean that NASCAR can claim the Sprint Cup Series is the deepest and most talented it's ever been.
NASCAR didn't have this many good drivers in the ‘70s or ‘80s or even the ‘90s. This era has seen some of the most talented drivers in history go head-to-head.
And the fans, media, sponsors – everyone – has been better off for it.
But looking at the Nationwide Series, it's become obvious that change is on the way to Sprint Cup sooner than we'd all like to believe.
Bayne, with another year of full-time development in Nationwide, could be ready for Sprint Cup stardom. He's not only extremely talented, but marketable. By every measurement, he should be a future NASCAR star.
Right now, though, he doesn't even have a guaranteed ride for next week – let alone next year.
Allgaier drives for one of NASCAR's powerhouse teams and has already shown his marketability by appearing in commercials and winning a Nationwide race this season. He's professional, well-spoken and seemed destined to drive at the Cup level.
Right now, though, his future is unclear.
With the exception of Roush Fenway Racing taking a chance on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun (a rarity these days), the only way to get a Nationwide ride in the current environment is to bring sponsor money.
There are two ways to do that: 1) Have a family member who either owns the team or owns a company that can provide the money or 2) Know someone who wants to throw their financial support behind your racing career.
The people without that luxury are reduced to either the occasional ride here and there – practically begging companies to support their racing efforts so they can get some seat time – or giving up.
The latter has become a more attractive choice than ever.
As one promising Nationwide driver told me this weekend, "I've been asking myself, ‘Why the heck did I even get into this?'"
In the search for a Nationwide Series ride, talent gets you nowhere. Money gets you everywhere.
Have money? You could find yourself driving for practically any team in the garage, regardless of talent (some have the necessary skills, some don't).
Don't have money? You might be able to drive, but you're just like everyone else, kid.
It's no longer about putting together solid performances and hoping some team owner will notice. It's about putting together business proposals and convincing companies to try business-to-business relationships in order to put sponsorship on the car.
Even if a driver were to drop down a level to the ARCA Series and win every race, Nationwide owners would still say, "We'd love you to drive for us, how much money have you got?"
Eventually, that's going to hit the Cup Series. When it happens, it'll happen quickly.
Teams hungry for money to keep them afloat will look for the Paul Menards of the world. It won't be the most deserving drivers in a seat; it'll be the richest ones.
How could this be avoided? It's probably a moot point now, but NASCAR should have acted long ago to ban Cup drivers from the Nationwide Series.
Unfortunately, sponsor and track interests have always prevented this. Even now, as NASCAR discusses a special Chase just for Nationwide regulars to prevent a Cup driver from winning the title, there's no talk of banning Cup drivers from the series.
Nationwide likes Cup drivers in the series. The tracks want Cup guys for attendance. Team sponsors want Cup guys in their cars. But it's always been a short-sighted move; now more than ever.
Drivers like Bayne and Allgaier could have won four or five races each this season, becoming familiar faces to viewers as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. once did in the Busch Series.
Without Cup drivers, the Nationwide Series could offer a tremendously entertaining alternative to the Cup Series, with fresh faces and young talent fighting it out to see who will become the next NASCAR stars.
Instead, it's been a Sprint Cup playground as big names who don't need the exposure collect money so they can fuel their private jets.
The score through 28 races in the Nationwide Series this season: Sprint Cup drivers 26, Nationwide drivers 1, ESPN analysts (Boris Said) 1.
It's embarrassing, really. NASCAR and Nationwide aren't doing enough about it – even with a revision to the points system, which is putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound.
And in the coming weeks and months, as teams with no sponsorship in place for next season run out of money, it's only going to get worse.
Those in the Sprint Cup Series should be hearing the alarm bells: Do we really want the next wave of drivers to reach the top level of the sport based on money instead of talent? If not, some strong leaders within the sport need to spring into action.
In the Nationwide Series, it's already too late.
21 comments
Comments
It's NOT only happening in NASCAR
It’’s like that in all of the sports. When I was a fitness model competitor, it wasn’t about how pretty I am or how well I did; it was about how much money I had to get me to the competitions; to wear the nicest shoes, bikinis, sports outfits…etc etc; a lot of girls and athletes in a lot of sports are over looked b/cuz of money. Money is always and usually the biggest reason …
by Genevieve Cadorette on Sep 27, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions
Excellent post. It’s really unfortunate that instead of a training ground for Cup, the Nationwide Series has become Cup Lite. I suppose the current economic problems are largely to blame for that. In the mean time, the damage being to young careers is incalculable. And barring Cup drivers from driving regularly in the Nationwide Series is only going to damage its attendance and TV ratings. Sadly, there is no easy or quick fix. Bayne and Allgaier certainly deserve better than this.
by Ron Frankl on Sep 27, 2010 11:51 AM EDT reply actions
I have been a NASCAR fan for a long time. I’ve been watching on TV and attending NW races as well as Cup races for almost 20 years now. I’ve always watched them for the NW talent and continue to watch and attend them for Trevor Bayne and Justin Algaier, NOT to watch Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick. I feel that if Kyle or Kevin win, It was a rip-off. I can’t believe I’m in the minority. Fans want to see NW series for the budding talent of the sport, NOT “Cup Lite”. NASCAR needs to fix this, and fix it now. The NW sponsorship dollars that are available need to be spent on the young talent like the Baynes and Algaiers and not as a pre-race race for cup drivers.
mrsdcb
by mrsdcb on Sep 27, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Start and Parks
You’ll also begin to see the number of start and parks increase too. Instead of having a handful of teams each week the number will get higher and higher until you’re talking about 1/4 or even 1/3 of the cars because they can’t afford to run the whole race. It really is a scary thought when you look at the possible future of this sport if something isn’t done.
Brian Neudorff - Meteorologist WROC-TV
Twitter: @NASCAR_WXMAN
by Brian Neudorff on Sep 27, 2010 11:52 AM EDT reply actions
Its too bad Sprint is forcing VZ out of NASCAR. Such a shame for Justin since he is the highest in points among. NW only drivers.
by gidgetlvznascar on Sep 27, 2010 11:57 AM EDT reply actions
Never understood all the “offical sponsor of NASCAR” stuff. You’d think, and again especially in this economy, that there would be room for sponsorship selling the same stuff. Sprint has the most publicity because they are the main sponsor, you can’t tell me that they’d lose anything, (mostly little) by allowing Verizon and AT&T to race in the series. And I don’t think Sprint is even using all it’s marketing resourses that it could be using. Sprint commercials are hardly even NASCAR commercials and never seen in the mainstream tv commercial lineups (outside of during race broadcasts) or the speed channel.
by jr88freak on Sep 27, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice Read
And you’re right. This problem should have been fixed long ago. Back when Kevin Harvick started running both series in 2001. From there is created the snowball effect until everyone was doing it.
Sadly I really don’t know if there is a fix. Nationwide viewers are so tuned to watching Cup drivers in the series they probably forget when Cup guys weren’t in the field. And the viewers that are turning it off are sick of the JGR playground it has become. How many championships were lost to Nationwide regulars that should have won them, instead of having them snatched away by a Cup guy? Most recently it was Brad Keselowski. He should have had 2 championships – back to back. Would have been the 4 driver to do so with Ard, Earnhardt Jr., and Truex Jr.
NASCAR shouldn’t expect a big change overnight, especially with the way the economy is. Shorten the schedule for Nationwide, kick the cup guys out and let the new talent that will soon be taking over for the Jeff Gordon’s and Jimmie Johnsons shine. Because lets face it, those guys in the Sprint Cup – they aren’t going to be racing forever and who is going to be there to fill their seats once they move on? No one if the talent in the Nationwide series keeps getting pushed aside and let go.
by jr88freak on Sep 27, 2010 11:59 AM EDT reply actions
Worst sports economy ever.
And no end in sight.
by DRLDeBoer on Sep 27, 2010 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
Good, solid, article..
And true..
Sad, but true.
Way of the world these days..
by Sky inLas Vegas on Sep 27, 2010 12:39 PM EDT reply actions
WELL SAID!!!
by lizd on Sep 27, 2010 12:41 PM EDT reply actions
Great article Jeff
Its sad that this is happening, but its the economy but it also gets back to a point you made in the chat during the race about mega teams good or bad for the sport. This to me is a direct result of that, because if you cannot be developed by a mega team like RFR or Gibbs or a subsidiary like Jr Motor Sports (HMS) your out. That to me makes whats going on with Justin Allgaier even worse because you would have thought with Sam Hornish being told to seek a ride else where that it would make keeping Justin in the Nationwide series for one more year and a few races in cup a better reality, but no.These mega teams have all the sponsors in a package and its difficult to just develop a guy based on talent cough cough Paul Menard. Look at Kyle in trucks he is having problems with sponsors and he wins. So like you pointed out unless you can bring money your out. I guess the days of Dale, Smoke, and DW showing up on talent alone are over.
Now about the cup guys in Nationwide, I am torn on this because as far as competition goes its a good measuring stick for the Nationwide drivers, and brings more attention to the sport. That said they should not compete for the title, and be limited to only racing say 6 races a year or only at tracks that have both Nationwide and Cup.
by Len_DiJoseph on Sep 27, 2010 12:48 PM EDT reply actions
Upcoming drivers
You are right about this situation. I like both of these young drivers and feel they need a decent chance to show their talents during the season. The Nationwide Races should be about young, able “drivers in training” who will move up at the right time to create fine racing in a cup car. I don’t mind cup drivers competing on a limited basis but, frankly, I am tired of Busch and Edwards trying to dominate this series for personal ego trips. Let these youngsters compete with one another. This series will have some fun racing to follow.
by Ella Dean on Sep 27, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions
....
Well said.. sad but true.. what can I say that hasn’t been said?
This really makes me unhappy.
by JenniferCG on Sep 27, 2010 1:37 PM EDT reply actions
Great article Jeff
Love the Nationwide series I don’t know how it can be fixed but something needs to be done. I don’t have a problem with a cup driver in the series like Gregg Biffle did early in the year for Baker Curb driving in their own equipment. But if things keep going the way they are how many Nationwide only teams will we have left?
by marbear on Sep 27, 2010 5:05 PM EDT reply actions
Trevor Bayne
Can’t speak for Allgaier but Trevor Bayne looks like one of the most marketable drivers to come along in a long time. He is respectful and honest and is a hard racer. I’m pretty sure a sponsor could count on him to represent them well and wouldn’t have to worry about being embarrassed by his behavior on or off the track. If someone like Trevor cannot find/keep a ride in the NW series, I’m afraid the whole series will die.
Timing is everything and Ryan Truex’s success may have had more to do with this than anything else. I wish MWR could field two NW rides next year, Trevor and Ryan would be two great drivers to have in your “stable” and could be a strong future for MWR.
by napagirl on Sep 27, 2010 5:07 PM EDT reply actions
even if the series is "fixed"...
And NASCAR limited Cup drivers’ involvement in Nationwide the short term loss would be staggering. There’s no guarantees sponsors would flock towards the regulars instead, most of them would probably just give up and take their money elsewhere. Teams would shut down or go the S&P route, possibly meaning short fields.
But at this point there’s no choice, it has to happen for the series to go back to being a viable 2nd tier series with it’s own front runners and the stars of the future in the long term.
by Robert Turnbull on Sep 27, 2010 7:49 PM EDT reply actions
Great Article!
It’s a pretty sad day when 2 very talented Nationwide drivers are in the news like that. The Nationwide series like you said, has become a playground for the Cup teams. How bout limit them on the number of teams or make it mandatory to affiliate with one of the “REAL” Nationwide teams.
The Nationwide series was supposed to be a development series for Cup, wasnt that the objective? At this rate, all the cup teams will overtake the Nationwide series.
Nascar is the one that will have to do something to fix it.
by trophyguy™ on Sep 27, 2010 7:51 PM EDT reply actions
It´s part of a new era
Great article and debate, Jeff.
It´s important to realize that today talent is important, but so is the ability to be “able to sell yourself”.
Hopefully, in the near future drivers will be prepared to do smart business deals and to get sponsors to pay for them to win races. They won´t arrive into the Truck Series or the Nationwide Series, knowing nothing about money and thinking that the only thing that matters is to be fast on the racetrack. If you mix both things, you´re going to be unstoppable (and way better than ride-buyers like Menard, Townley, Conway, etc.)
Though, this should worry Nascar, because the Nationwide Series objective isn´t to see Kyle Busch break records, it´s to develop drivers for the future of the Sprint Cup.
With or without a sponsor, I think that dumping a driver, with only the 20% of the season left, as MWR did with Trevor Bayne, is absolutely unprofessional (What happened with Brian Scott and Braun Racing is understandable at some point, because Turner bought the team).
by felipe81 on Sep 27, 2010 8:06 PM EDT reply actions
sbnation & twitter
wow so much debate is going on tonight! what a good timing ;)
great article to read through!
by Yuuk on Sep 27, 2010 11:04 PM EDT reply actions
Two Words
There are two simpl words that prove that this article is true and that money is the only way to get a ride anymore. “Kevin Conway”. He has backing from Extenze, and they got him his part-time ride with R3 Motorsports in the Nationwide series last year, and his cup rides with Front Row Motorsports and Robby Gordon Motorsports. But had he proven that he belongs there?? The answer is no. He has never even finished in the top 10 in a Nascar event. He is the ultimate proof that money is what gets you a ride, even if you don’t have the abilities to be in Nascar.
by thunderball009 on Sep 29, 2010 3:05 PM EDT reply actions
Bayne to Roush
With Bayne quickly going to Roush and the tweets from Michael Waltrip @mw55 today, I’m wondering if there is more to this story. Waltrip pretty directly said that Bayne left him, not the other way around. Interesting.
by stevemichalik on Sep 30, 2010 3:22 PM EDT reply actions
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