Wednesday, January 15th 'What If' Question

Ending your year by leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of fans and competitors is never what a major sport wants to happen.

Except the season finale for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Homestead-Miami Speedway did just that. The season and the championship came down to one final race with Austin Dillon and Sam Hornish Jr. separated by just eight points.

Much of the 300-mile event had Hornish in control of his destiny as he outran Dillon. Driver of the No. 3 struggling with his machine, even hitting the wall at one point as he wrestled to break into a top 10 spot. With less than 20 laps to go the final caution of the night came out after a hard crash off turn four.

As they ran, Hornish was still on control of the title. Until NASCAR decided not to red flag the race, running over 10 laps under yellow. During that time pit stops occurred, the running order shuffled and suddenly Dillon was in the position that he needed to secure the title.

Brad Keselowski then charged through the field to earn the win, while Hornish lost more valuable spots. Dillon now protecting the position he needed for the final five laps.

Dillon, who went winless, captured his first NNS championship by three points over Hornish. It was the last race he ran for Team Penske and all admitted it hadn’t ended the way they’d hoped. Calling the situation, unacceptable.

But …

What if you were the NASCAR official in charge during the Nationwide finale, would you have thrown the red flag? Why or why not?

@BeeOhBeeRT_BUP Yes. There was a championship hanging in the balance, and every lap under green is vital to determining it.

@TheOrangeCone yes. 17 laps is too long

@jackrlewis yes; because it’s common sense

@StrokerAce90 yes. That was crazy.

@ARosser14 Yes. Because it was ridiculous not to. They had to have known how much fluid Clements’ car dropped.

Monday, January 13th 'What If' Question

For those who haven’t heard, Chase Elliott is now officially going NASCAR racing.

Earlier this month it was announced that Elliott had signed a full-time deal with JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He’ll drive the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet with crew chief Greg Ives. Coming after Elliott won his first career Camping World Truck Series race last season but has yet to run a single lap in NNS competition.

The son of 1988 Cup champion Bill Elliott has grown up in NASCAR garages. Having the best to learn from as he’s made his way through the racing ranks. The younger Elliott becoming a legend in his own right on short tracks.

So with the name come the expectations. Before Elliott was even old enough to compete in NASCAR he was already being called the heir apparent to Jeff Gordon’s No. 24. Now that Elliott is signed to a NNS deal, as well as linked to Hendrick Motorsports as a development driver, the scenario could become quite likely over the next few seasons.

Right now his NNS deal is a multi-year one according to JRM. The trend seeming to be for young drivers that two full years in the NNS and then it’s time to move to Cup. Should Elliott follow in that direction, a decision will have to be made about where he ends up and if he does indeed end up replacing Gordon.

It’s all part of speculation, something that’s familiar in NASCAR. The 2014 season hasn’t even started yet and the future is already trying to be predicted. Yet, with Elliott that’s been the case since he could walk.

And let’s not forget the biggest part of this deal: Jeff Gordon. Many have been ready to attach the retirement tag to the four-time champion since about 2005. Yet he’s not ready to entertain such notions and hasn’t revealed when exactly he plans on stepping away.

But …

What if Chase Elliott is ready for the Cup Series in 2-3 years, and with being connected to Hendrick, how do you fit him in?

@MarshallGabell After Jimmie Johnson wins two more Championships then Elliott will become Hendrick’s franchise driver

@ABolt89 5 team or will they cut ties with whoever the weaker driver is!! Honestly that is a great question

@Talon64 If it’s 3 years, then at least any one of Gordon, Stewart or Danica will be gone to open up a seat within the HMS family.

@ThomasCHitch JR Motorsports emerges.

@jshaunAU2006 in reply to @Talon64 and @KellyCrandall I still think JRM will have a cup team in the future.

@Talon64 to @jshaunAU2006 Dale Jr. would have to leave HMS for it.

@Revvin4Seven48 I figure Gordon will be done after 2015.

@jshaunAU2006 to @Talon64 Dale Sr. didn’t leave RCR for DEI.

@Talon64 to @jshaunAU2006 4 car limit in Cup would prevent Dale Jr. for owning another team while he’s driving for HMS.

@MattWisneski Chase Elliott has been lined up for the 24 car since we first head his name. I sat 2015/16 all but signed #napa24

@jasonskow I think that Jeff Gordon retires or goes part time

@jackrlewis Gordon will retire. I don’t see any other instance, unless Kahne regresses

@AustinPollak8 Gordon retires

@MikeGraf2 Gordon will be retired

@R_Informative I think we’re seeing Jeff Gordon’s career come to a close, like it or not, and that is what will make room for Chase

@HarpAmyStabler He becomes the heir apparent to Jeff Gordon. Or, he goes to a satellite team like SHR until a seat opens up at HMS.

Wednesday, July 18th 'What If' Question

Since 1909 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has welcomed racers from around the world and all across the country.

And since that time they've crowned winners in many different forms. From F1, MotoGP, IndyCar and then to the surprise of many, NASCAR. Beginning in 1994 it was stock cars roaring around the famed Brickyard with Jeff Gordon taking home the first checkered flag.

Since then the Brickyard 400 has become one of NASCAR's most prestigious races, and according to IMS the second-highest paying race behind the Daytona 500.

Just two years after NASCAR got there a great Indianapolis tradition was born. In the name of tradition and winning big races, the Daytona International Speedway places the winners car in the Daytona 500 USA museum for a year. The driver is the introduced as the Daytona 500 winner for the remainder of the year and their name goes into the record books not just as winner, but a Daytona 500 champion.

Now when a driver wins at Indy they end up with much the same accolades. Part of their tradition is taking a ride around the speedway in the pace car and going to the "Yard of Bricks."

That's where they'll have one of the most memorable kisses of their life. It was Dale Jarrett and crew chief Todd Parrott who started the tradition in '96 when they innocently went to kiss the bricks after their win. They were soon joined by the entire team who also kissed the bricks and the rest as they say is history.

NASCAR winners and IndyCar winners all get their chance to kiss the bricks and go down in history as a winner at Indianapolis. Win there and you'll be remembered forever, regardless of whatever else you've done.

Beginning next weekend Indianapolis will now host the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the big track. For many years the NNS and CWTS raced away from Indianapolis at the small oval in Clermont, Indiana. The Lucas Oil Raceway - formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park and O'Reilly Raceway Park - will not be hosting NNS or CWTS races beginning in 2012, although many agreed the shorttrack put on some great racing throughout its history.

Now the Brickyard will go from hosting just Sprint Cup drivers and race to the NNS the day before. While Daytona does the same, with only the Cup race being known as a "big" race, this will be the first time in recent memory that a famed track and big race has gone from hosting just Cup cars to sharing it with the NNS.

Cars hit the track starting on Thursday, July 26th when the NNS hits the track for the very first time in practice. When they do it will bring many questions, which will only be answered throughout the weekend.

But ...

What if w/Nationwide now at Indy & if they start kissing the bricks, will it change your view of the prestige of the Cup race there?


@Talon64 yes, but only because the Cup guys would get Nationwide's sloppy seconds on the brick kiss.

@mrheadrick No. Has the prestige of Daytona been tarnished by multiple series running there? The whole #Indycar split several years ago killed the prestige of Indy in my eyes.

@dustin_n_va No not at all any win at indy is prestigious

@JoJo_6040 Yep, but I'm sure the winner will since it's a tradition for cup. Now you have me curious haha. Wish they kept nns at orp.

Tuesday, July 10th 'What If' Question

Before the green flag in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona there had already been plenty of headlines made.

There was Austin Dillon defending his Kentucky win after a failed inspection, Brian France delivering his state of the sport address and saying there would be no mandatory cautions as Bruton Smith suggested. There was Danica Patrick in a way calling her shot to win before Dillon won the pole and again failed inspection.

Matt Kenseth, going for the Daytona sweep, started it off right by winning the Cup pole. While eventual winner Tony Stewart failed post qualifying because of the same reason Dillon did. Kurt Busch went out and won a wild Nationwide Series race for James Finch and Joey Logano became the latest driver to fail inspection.

On Saturday, in what is normally a lazy day before the Cup race that evening, was anything but. Kevin Harvick flew wife DeLana back home to NC in order to rest before the birth of their first child. Son Keelan would be born the next morning. Austin Dillon thought he might get behind the wheel of the No. 29 until NASCAR nixed that idea, so Kenny Wallace was put on standby.

Bobby Bowden came into the media centered and entertained everyone, while Train rocked out on the frontstretch for the fans. Then came the biggest news of the entire weekend, seemingly out of nowhere.

At 6:00 p.m. ET NASCAR's senior vice president of racing, Steve O'Donnell, walked into the media center to announce that Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger had been suspended because of a failed drug test. He had been chosen as the random driver a week before in Kentucky and his "A" sample came back positive.

Sam Hornish Jr. flew back to Daytona from Charlotte, NC to pilot the No. 22 in the race. And since then the talk has been all about Allmendinger. Even though there was Stewart winning his fourth Daytona race in the last eight attempt, as well as the numerous penalties handed down on Tuesday after the infractions found in inspection.

Dillon will now be without his crew chief and car chief for two weeks and lost another six points in the owner and driver standings, Adam Stevens and the car chief of the No. 18 in the NNS was fine and put on probation as well as lost six owner points. And Stewart lost six driver/owner points while his crew chief and car chief were both placed on probation.

Yet, it all went in one ear and out the other. It's all about Allmendinger right now. Speculation has run wild from what caused the failed test, to whether he intentionally  took something, and of course, whether he'll ever be back behind the wheel.

As of Wednesday, Allmendinger was waiting on the results of his "B" sample while he camp released a statement that he had tested positive for a stimulant. What the stimulant was is still a guess, but Allmendinger was said to be going through all his medications and supplements to determine what could have caused the failed test.

With Allmendinger working with NASCAR to determine what has gone on while waiting on the results of his "B" sample, Hornish will again drive the No. 22 this weekend at New Hampshire. Everyone else is left offering their own opinions and theories.

But ...

What if there were no AJ Allmendinger suspension, what would be the big story and have us all talking after Daytona?


@mattwoodruff29 The Harvick's having there first child and the penalties from Daytona.

@HarpAmyStabler 2 complete green flag pit cycles and the outside line not being able to go. No pack drafting excitement 4 passing ... My dad, son, and I were all at the NNS and cup race. NNS race was exciting and fun all the way through .... The cup race was boring and we struggled to stay awake there until lap 120. Shouldn't be that way ... Dad and I have been going to Daytona since 2004 and loved it. We'll go again, but the racing has gotten progressively worse with the exception of the tandem racing. I remember the 1st to 30th & back to 1st in a few laps back in 2004-2008. That was fun for the pack drafting. Bring back tandems if it's not going 2 improve ... I thought that it was sad how sparse the midway & souvie trailer area was. Econ=bad. :(

@NancyatStudioN The big story would be the Army leaving SHR. It could open a whole can of worms. Will the National Guard leave Jr? And why are they paying so much more than Army paid SHR? If Ryan can't get a sponsor to stay there, where will he go? He can't go back to Penske  and can't go to Roush without a sponsor. In fact, can he go anywhere if he can't bring a sponsor? And, will Kurt get a sponsor and take it to SHR? After all, Tony said he'd hire him in a heartbeat.


@DonRohr reason the midway is sparse is because of the heat, the cost, and the ROI in July. overflowing in February ... I thought the race itself was just fine. decent beginning, filling in the middle and balls out at the end

@JoJo_6040 The pack v tandem or Sprint v Nationwide races. I kinda like the combo of pack and tandem. :)

Wednesday, July 4th 'What If' Question

Prior to the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season domination used to belong to two drivers: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch.

If they weren't battling each other they were fending off Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano. Now Logano has picked up where Edwards and Busch have left off. Halfway through the NNS season Logano has five wins, the most of anyone in the series.

Even more impressive, he's only competed in 12 of the 16 races. When he's not winning races he's leading a ton of laps (468) or capturing poles (3). Anytime he's behind the wheel of the No. 18 he's become the driver to beat. Deja vu for competitors when Busch used to be that driver.

At first glance many would be shocked to see that Busch has not yet won a NNS this season. Look closer though and you see that this season different for Busch. His team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, moved to the NNS after coming off a Camping World Truck Series owners title in their first year.

Moving up the ladder however, is hard. Something that Busch fully recognizes. Older brother Kurt delivered the team's first, and so far only, NNS win back at Richmond in April. Not to say that Kyle hasn't come close to winning a few races himself but luck and circumstance just got in the way.

So, as he fights to make his own company contenders, Logano enjoys the role of dominator. The good news for NNS drivers is that Logano will not be in this Saturday's event at New Hampshire as Ryan Truex gets another start in the No. 18.

Kyle Busch will be entered in his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. He's won the last three New Hampshire races.

But ...

What if Kyle Busch still ran NNS races for Joe Gibbs Racing, would Joey Logano still be as dominant as he's been this season? 


@mattwoodruff29 No he wouldn't.......

@HD388 Logano wouldn't be dominating NNS if Busch were there. Busch is the far more superior driver & would have 3 wins by now. Logano probably would only have 1

@31SpazCat15 not really answering the what if? But I think it proves that given the same equipment and resources.... Joey is a winner too

Saturday, March 17th 'What If' Question

The fastest cars don't always win, not even when a driver thinks they have the race all wrapped up.

Saturday in Bristol it was the defending champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., cruising toward his second straight win and first at the short track when the caution came out with 40 laps to go. The leaders came down pit road for their final stops but Elliott Sadler stayed on track and inherited the lead.

Sadler went on to win the race, Stenhouse fell back to finish sixth in frustration. Feeling he had the best car, Stenhouse wasn't happy with where he had finished or with fellow competitor Justin Allgaier, whom he says pinched him into the wall early in the race and then had another run in with him at the end.

Stenhouse knew though that it came down to the pit road call. His No. 6 team came in for two tires as Sadler didn't pit and earned the track position. While Stenhouse didn't berate his crew chief or team for the decision, he understood that as the leader he was a sitting duck and whatever he did, someone else was bound to do the opposite.

However, it doesn't make it any less frustrating. With Sadler and his new Richard Childress Racing team on a roll thus far in 2012 - two wins, two third place finishes and the points lead - Stenhouse knows it's going to be a long year. Having won last week in Las Vegas, the 6 team was looking to continue the success they've had since last season and sending a message that they're ready to defend their title.

They can see though that Sadler and his team will be putting up a much better fight this time around. Sadler leads Stenhouse by 25 points heading into the season's fifth race next weekend in California.

But ...

What if that last caution hadn't come out, does Elliott Sadler or anyone else catch Ricky Stenhouse Jr for the win today at Bristol? #NASCAR

@armond_ealey no

@StrokerAce90 I would say yes, Elliot was a man on a mission.

Sunday, January 29th 'What If' Question

Think of it this way, since the season finale in Homestead the last few months could have been spent talking about Carl Edwards being the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

There would have been talk about him entering 2012 defending a title he captured after winning one race. How he brought team owner Jack Roush his third title in nine years after Roush had to wait 15 years for the first one courtesy of Matt Kenseth in 2003. Or maybe there would have been the columns about Edwards and Nationwide Series teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. giving RFR two titles in one year.

That could have happened but it didn't. Instead the talk as been primarily about Tony Stewart, who did win the championship and did so in history making fashion. Stewart was just one piece of a bigger puzzle that seemed to do Edwards in. It started by Stewart making the Chase, after running poorly through the summer months but not as poor as those trying to knock him out of the Chase.

Here are a few other pieces: Edwards would have been the champion if Stewart's gasman hadn't gotten enough fuel in the car at Chicagoland and New Hampshire, leaving him to run out and win the first two races of the Chase, earning those points. He would have been champion had Stewart not been able to pass Chevrolet teammate Jeff Burton at Phoenix, the second to last race of the year, to earn a few more points. He would have been champion had the rain in Homestead been nice enough to stick around for a while and made NASCAR call the race early.

And of course, he would have been champion had he been able to run down Stewart in the final laps at Homestead and beat him. But alas Edwards didn't and he entered the offseason looking to put a great season with a disappointing ending behind him. In 2012 he'll be again be a favorite for the title and has already started preparing to ensure he doesn't come up on the wrong end of a points tie again.

Earlier this month Edwards announced that he does not plan on running in the Nationwide Series unlike he's done ever since his NASCAR career started. Even when he moved to Cup he still kept a full NNS schedule on his docket, even winning the driver's championship in 2007 and bringing home the owner's title for RFR last season.

The decision perhaps has to do with both the fact that starting in 2011 Edwards and any Cup driver are ineligible for the NNS title and the fact that he badly wants a Cup title on his resume. With the announcement Edwards says that he hopes that not running in the NNS will help him focus more on his Cup efforts either through not having to lose practice time or spending more time with the team discussing the car, although he has learned things while racing on Saturday that helped him on Sunday.

And Edwards has also said that while right not he's not committed to running any races that doesn't mean he won't. Should he start getting an itch or have a hard time sitting still on Saturday's he says there's a possibility they would discuss letting him race.

But ...

What if Carl Edwards had won the Sprint Cup championship last season, would he still be opting to not race Nationwide this year?

@Matt_Kacar wouldnt of mattered either way. If they had nationwide sponsorship for him he would be running that series in 2012

@mbauerherzog Yes, because he'd have a taste of the championship and would want another one.

@Fishnwhistle He has nothing to prove in NNS, and everything in Cup.

@rcracer20 the way things went at the end,every driver should concentrate on primary ride,could be gone tomorrow #sponsorship$

@cruetten no. After achieving his main goal of winning a championship, he would be able to cut loose a little and have some fun in NNS!

@tvsmike Yes--he even said last season he wouldn't have run the entire 2011 NW season had he not already committed to it…after the "pick only one series" change.

@StrokerAce90 Carl had the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in the bag and lost it to Smoke worse than Denny Hamlin did to Jimmie Johnson in 2010, so i'd say yes, Carl's opting outta NNS because he feels he needs to be more focused on Cup.

Monday, January 23rd 'What If' Question

Not since the announcement that Danica Patrick was coming to NASCAR has there been a debut with as much anticipation and excitement.

Until action sports star Travis Pastrana declared that he was going to be trying his hand in stock cars, pairing with Michael Waltrip to form Pastrana-Waltrip Racing in the Nationwide Series. He was scheduled to make his debut last July in Indianapolis but before he would do so Pastrana decided that he was still going to participate in the X Games, knowing there was a risk that he could get hurt.

He did. Attempting a "corked 720" Pastrana broke his right foot and ankle, putting an end to his X Games and his NASCAR plans. Soon his debut was being pushed to later and later in the year, before being cancelled altogether. Pastrana ended up not competing in any of the seven NNS events he had on the schedule.

“We scared a lot of people with the injury,” said Pastrana. “A lot of people had invested a lot. When I didn’t show up [at Indy], it was like, ‘Is he going to be base jumping the night before an event and get hurt or is he going to do this?’

“I basically have to prove I can get in a car.”

Now entering 2012, where it was planned he would race in 20 events, he will instead do the seven he was supposed to do a year ago. The plan is for Pastrana to be in the car for a Richmond debut in April.

But ...

What if Travis Pastrana keeps pushing off his #NASCAR Nationwide Series debut, will any excitement/anticipation be left when he does race?

@ARosser14 Is there any left right now? As big a deal as it's supposed to be, I just don't see him being relevant in stock cars.

@StrokerAce90 I don't think so, my non nascar friends don't look for Travis in K&N races but they do when he races in NNW.

Saturday, January 21st 'What If' Question

Every season a star is born in NASCAR.

From Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards to Denny Hamlin, or even Jamie McMurray to Brad Keselowski. One driver grabs the eye of the garage every season and in 2011 it was 20-year-old Trevor Bayne. He wasn't looking for much coming into the season, just more seat time in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing, who was sticking with the youngster and hoping to turn him into their new winner.

When it was announced that Bayne would then attempt to make the Daytona 500 with the Wood Brothers in the famous No. 21 it didn't raise that many eyebrows. It wasn't all that newsworthy but it soon became so when Bayne won the 500 in his first attempt, second career Sprint Cup Series start and a day after his birthday.

He was no longer just another young gun looking for any little headline he would get in the NNS. Now he was a celebrity, a winner, a champion in NASCAR's biggest race. Everyone knew his name and face, it was plastered all over the country and he was on many different TV shows. Even more importantly Bayne didn't have to worry about not having a girlfriend anymore, they were lining up at the track.

After his 500 win though the glass slipper quickly broke. Bayne struggled in the Cup races that he was entered in, seemingly hitting the wall week after week, looking every bit the rookie that he was. His 500 win was his only top 10 of the season, he finished no better than 15th in his 16 other races.

In the NNS for RFR it was only slightly better as Bayne grabbed a few top 10s before being sidelined with an illness for a few weeks. It kept him out of both cars and his learning process was halted. When he finally returned he went on to win his first NNS race at Texas in the second to last race of the year. Yet Bayne was overshadowed last season by another youngster, his own teammate in Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The two were supposed to rise through the ranks together and put RFR in the winners circle every week. Good friends and fierce competitors it was often Stenhouse getting the best of Bayne in many head-to-head matchups, on and off the track. Whereas Stenhouse went on to win two races and the championship with 26 top 10s and 16 top fives, Bayne with his one win managed 14 top 10s and five top fives in the 29 of 34 races that he competed in.

Through the many up and downs the Wood Brothers and Roush stayed loyal to Bayne. Others filled in for him in the NNS but the Wood Brothers would not run the 21 in the Cup Series without Bayne behind the wheel. Wanting to show that it was his car, they were thankful to the kid who had brought them back to victory lane in the NSCS for the first time since 2001. And the first time in the Daytona 500 since 1976.

In 2012 Bayne will again run for the Wood Brothers in select Cup races. His NNS plans remain up in the air with Roush saying he could run races only if sponsorship is found. It's the same thing that hurts his teammate and champion Stenhouse. He plans on running a full schedule but he too, doesn't have sponsorship set in stone.

But ...

What if Trevor Bayne hadn't won Daytona, getting much attention, would he have kept the 21 or could Ricky Stenhouse be its driver? #NASCAR

@MattEmbury They'd of kept Bayne I'm sure, Stenhouse wasn't ready at that point.

@pablao21 if Bayne hadn't won I don't think either would be in the 21 now.

@StrokerAce90 if Trevor didn't win the Daytona I don't think he'd be back in the 21.

Wednesday, December 28th 'What If' Question

Following his announcement of joining Phoenix Racing with James Finch in 2012 in the Sprint Cup Series came the rumor that Kurt Busch would also be running for brother Kyle's Nationwide Series team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. The eye raiser of the rumor was that Busch would be running for points in the NNS and not in Cup with Phoenix Racing, the focus there instead being on winning races.

After leaving Penske following a year that Busch would rather forget: going through a divorce, only winning two races, faltering in the Chase and constantly at odds with his team and their performance, Busch says he's ready to work on his image and get back to having fun in the racecar. Maybe removing himself from the Cup Series and going back to the basics is what he meant.

The rumor is not all that far fetched. Just last week it was said that Kyle Busch would not be running in the Camping World Truck Series and should he run in the NNS it would be very limited. His Cup owner Joe Gibbs Racing and sponsor M&M's want to limit Busch's extra-curricular activities after he was involved in incident with Ron Hornaday at Texas last season. The hope of putting his focus solely on the Cup Series to pay off with a run at the championship.

Kyle's company though will still be running in both series and needs drivers. No better driver than your older brother, a proven winner and champion. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have his experience behind the wheel when it comes to helping the team venture into the NNS for the first time, with 2012 being their inaugural season after running in the CWTS the last two years.

It puts the NNS title up for grabs since many drivers who battled for the championship in 2011 might not be back. Aric Almirola is rumored to be signing with Richard Petty Motorsports and going back to the Cup Series. Reed Sorenson still doesn't have a championship contending ride and Elliott Sadler will be working with a slightly new team as Richard Childress bought out Kevin Harvick Inc.

As for the champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., he might not even be able to contend. Racing with a lack of sponsorship in 2011, that same issue might keep him sidelined in 2012. Stenhouse is still waiting to hear about his future as are the fans and NNS, his loss would be a loss for all. The 2012 plans of Stenhouse and Busch will be anxiously awaited over the next few weeks before testing in Daytona gets underway.

But ...

What if Kurt Busch does compete for points and runs for brother Kyle’s Nationwide Series team, does he become the preseason favorite? @NancyatStudioN YES. But I think Finch wants to go for title - whether likely or not

@Gman1439 yes......he would be my preseason favorite if that happened, but i hope it doesnt...

@Alex14_11 yes he would have to be! He wouldn't have much competition.

@MattEmbury That would not be a very popular move, come to think of it I don't think Kurt would do would be popular right now anyway.

@Fishnwhistle I wonder if Champions provisional would apply if he was not racing for Cup Championship.? #RulebookChallenged

@cruetten the easy answer is yes, but I don't remember Kurt driving the nns cars too often--might take some time to adjust. [Editor's note - Busch ran one NNS race in 2011, driving the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge at Watkins Glen. He sat on the pole and won the race. Busch has three career NNS wins in 12 starts.]

Friday, December 23rd 'What If' Question

In what continues to be the most exciting and busiest NASCAR offseason yet, new rumors swirled on Friday that there's a possibility that Kyle Busch won't be running in the Camping World Truck Series and in very limited Nationwide Series races. That coming at the request of his Sprint Cup team owners Joe Gibbs Racing and sponsor M&M's.

The last time Busch raced in the lower divisions he was involved in an altercation with Ron Hornaday under caution in Texas. After the two made contact racing for the second position, Busch wrecked Hornaday purposely when the caution came out and then commented about having no remorse afterwards. NASCAR parked Busch for the remainder of the weekend and he didn't participate in the CWTS or NNS the final two weeks of the season and M&M's pulled their sponsorship from his Cup car the last two races of the season as well.

While there is no known reason for the request by JGR and M&M's it most likely has to do with Busch's past actions. In 2011 he won six races in the CWTS, moving his career total to 30, he won eight NNS races, career total now at 51, but in the Cup Series he won four times and has 23 careers wins. Busch continues to shine more in the lower divisions than in Cup, where he's still searching for his first championship.

There's also the long running debate that Busch has been apart of in whether Cup drivers should race in the lower divisions. In this case, M&M's might be thinking that it's time to focus solely on Cup, not just to minimize any potential controversy but to move closer to winning the championship. Drivers who run in CWTS and NNS race haven't transfered that success to the Cup Series, although Carl Edwards who does not run trucks but does run Nationwide, nearly won the Cup title this past season.

Whatever the reason may be to have Busch not run anymore races than necessary, it could be a blessing. More focus on Cup could turn into more success for the Las Vegas driver. Of course it will hurt those in the CWTS and NNS who rely on Busch for a job, the hope being that with Busch sidelined there will be other drivers to fill the seats and obligations. Older brother Kurt is rumored to be driving for KBM in the NNS in 2012.

At this point however, these are all just rumors. It's quite possible that Busch will be running in all three series, continuing to add up his win total and re-write the history books, he's currently the winningest driver in NNS history. And along the way he'll probably ruffle some more feathers and create some new rivals. Whatever the case may be, Busch will be one of the main storylines, again, come 2012.

But ...

What if rumors of @KyleBusch not running in Trucks & very limited Nationwide are true, will that pave way to his best year in Cup? #NASCAR

@scienceesl I really think it would. Personally I think he spends to much time in the other series to make a good run at cup

@NancyatStudioN What it will do is severely hurt KBM as a business and put even more #Nascar workers out of a job

@denver2u I doubt that, but it will def save lots of money in auto repair..for him and others...

@krisjohnson_sd Sponsors will dictate he runs in both – in some capacity. #NASCAR

Tuesday, November 29th 'What If' Question

Before the start of the 2011 NASCAR season a major rule change was implemented for all three of sports top series. Drivers had to check a box and pick which series they wanted to receive points in.

No more could they run for the championship in Truck and Nationwide if they wanted to earn points and run for the Sprint Cup title. Meaning drivers like Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski who traditionally double dip and who have won the last few NNS titles, wouldn't be eligible to in 2011. They could still compete in the series and win races but it wouldn't mean anything except they had fun.

On the other hand it meant that CWTS and NNS regulars were given their chance to shine. While they may not have racked up as many wins as they wanted because of the dippers they would be competing for something bigger. In CWTS drivers like James Buescher, Johnny Sauter and Austin Dillon shone as they battled for their first championship. In the end it was Dillon who became the youngest CWTS champion in history.

He won two races in 2011 while drivers not competing for CWTS points won 15 of the seasons 25 races. In the NNS it was more of the same as non-point drivers won 28 of the seasons 34 races. Yet it was drivers like Elliott Sadler and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who earned much of the spotlight for the spectacular season each had in their own right. Stenhouse also won two races on his way to the title but could have had many more as he gave the Cup drivers a run for their money nearly every weekend.

Rating were up, racing was exciting and history was made in 2011. Fans couldn't have asked for much more as they seemed much more interested in the NNS and CWTS season to see new champions crowned. Of course they'll tell you that it got old watching the same drivers, Cup, winning many of the races but most seemed pleased with the preseason rule change.

But ...

What if #NASCAR had not instituted the 'pick a series rule', would fans still have been as drawn to the CWTS & NNS title battles this year?

@Talon64 Trucks would've been the same, but Carl would've run away with the NNS title so the new rule was a big help there.

@rustywings I don't think so...I give them kudos on that one. Who would have known who Ricky Stenhouse was this year, ya know?

@HD388 I think fans would of been less interested in the NNS & CWTS points battle if Cup guys were the ones battling out for the title over the regulars, hopefully next season Cup guys are limited to number of races they can race in the other series

@JoJo_6040 No. As a fan of both, it was great to see deserving drivers win their series. The pick a series rule helped those teams.

Wednesday, August 17th 'What If' Question

There doesn't need to be a road course involved for NASCAR drivers to have road rage. But it certainly helps the excitement notch go up a bit when one is involved.

That's been the case this season in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series with drivers either driving over their head and causing trouble for their competitors or payback coming fast and furious on the right and left handed turns. This Saturday the NNS will be making those turns for the final time in 2011 and feelings are going to get hurt if the first few road course races were any indication.

Entered in this Saturday's events are favorites like Ron Fellows for JR Motorsports, who still believes he should have been in the winner in Road America. There's Fellows teammate Danica Patrick making another NNS start before what's expected to be an announcement next week about her 2012 plans. Indy 500 pole sitter Alex Tagliani is also entered for Roger Penske but all eyes will be on the driver of the No. 22 Penske car, Jacques Villeneuve.

Not only because the track is named after his late father but because Villeneuve has ruffled some feathers in the NNS. At Road America Villeneuve again was his aggressive self and again didn't make it to the checkered flag first, he did though ruin a few of his competitions day. Notably that of Max Papis who didn't hide his anger with Villeneuve and neither did team owner Kevin Harvick.

The not so happy Harvick tweeted that he hoped Papis punched Villeneuve in the mouth, that he had no sense and that there was no respect for Villeneuve in NASCAR and it was the same reason they kicked his "dumbass" out of F1. Aftewards Villeneuve seemed unapologitic in his comments about the incident with Papis,

Unfortunately for those who were hoping for the second chapter to be written this weekend, Papis is not entered to compete in the race. Instead Scott Speed will be behind the wheel of the KHI No. 33 and unless Villeneuve upsets anymore individuals, shouldn't have to look over his shoulder on Saturday. No road rage here.

But ...

What if Max Papis was entered in the Nationwide race on Saturday, how long before he took out Jacques Villeneuve? Or would he? #NASCAR

@MattEmbury I don't think the boys have at it thing would be covered there, although JV was quite reckless at Road America.

@Talon64 Jacques would use up all his brakes and wreck before Max would get a shot at revenge.

@rcracer20 if he could catch him he would

@cruetten I would like to think that Max would've spun him as soon as he got to him.

Thursday, August 11th 'What If' Question

Thursday afternoon Joe Gibbs Racing announced that starting in 2012 they would be partnering with Toyota Racing Development, TRD, to produce engines.

Gibbs engines have taken a beating this season with many failures and drivers upset about the performance. Up until this point JGR had built their engines in house and while that won't be the case next season, they say they'll keep their engine shop for other projects. Along with their Sprint Cup Series program the team also runs a Nationwide program with their three Cup stars and other development drivers.

In Nationwide JGR has won many races and owner championships and recently a driver's championship with Kyle Busch in 2009. They've had drivers behind the wheel like Kelly Bires, Michael McDowell, Drew Herring, Brad Coleman and many others. The company has been successful with all their drivers in Nationwide and Cup as well as in the developmental series they run with drivers like Darrell Wallace Jr. and Max Gresham.

During their engine announcement though, president J.D. Gibbs said they could expand their Nationwide program and add a Camping World Truck Series program. Currently JGR driver Kyle Busch has his own CWTS team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, which has been very successful in the series by winning races and the owners championship last year.

If JGR creates their own truck team it would be doubtful that Busch would drive for them but can the same be said about Denny Hamlin or Joey Logano? Time will tell if JGR is serious about this adventure and who they have in mind for their driver lineup. Right now their focus is on making the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup and taking care of their engine issues and future deals.

But ...

What if Joe Gibbs Racing does start a CWTS team, who would you like to see them put in the driver's seat? #NASCAR

@tcmcdave Doug Williams.

@cruetten Cole Whitt

@rcracer20 i think @DWallaceJr6 would be a good choice he already drives for gibbs

@cmleedy Awesome choice! RT @cruetten: Cole Whitt

@smokinace88 McDowell

@The_Bumpdrafter who will they? Logano and Hamlin. Who should they? Try to pick up the Kenseth boy or the younger Dillon.

@jsmith123nv: @JustinJohnson51 would be a great choice and has proven he can drive

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) I'd love to see Johnny Benson drive for Gibbs. Proven winner, proven champion...perfect fit.

Monday, August 1st 'What If' Question

It will be dubbed the debut that never was.

After months of talk, hype and excitement Travis Pastrana was set to make his NASCAR debut in the Nationwide Series event at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. That was until 48 hours before when Pastrana broke his right foot and ankle while attempting a trick at the X Games in California. Pastrana pulled out of the NNS event but still raced a Rally car on Sunday with hand controls.

The driver announced at the end of last season that he was going to be working his way into NASCAR for a new challenge. The Red Bull athlete lives his life to the extreme on both two and four wheels. A champion in motocross and supercross, Pastrana isn't afraid to go all out, trying new tricks or doing the impossible.

Moving to NASCAR would be the complete opposite, the goal being to keep all four wheels on the ground and learn the art of being smooth and steady. Pastrana has been serious about his intentions and goals though, he even became part owner of the NNS team. It's now called Pastrana-Waltrip Racing and has Boost Mobile as a sponsor.

Should Pastrana heal he's scheduled to run in six more NNS races, the next being Richmond on September 9. Until then, the longest wait until a debut continues, as does the hype and the talk.

But ...

What if @TravisPastrana had made his Nationwide Series debut on Saturday, what should we have expected from him? #NASCAR
@jlaracefan14 we could've witnessed a very awesome multi talented athlete run an awesome race! So bummed he did not debut!

@MattEmbury early bath for Pastrana, he would've DNF'ed (crash)

@Jim_Yoak Travis hitting the wall, Travis hitting other turcks. Travis hitting everything but the Indiana Lottery

@ronsracing88 He would of finished mid pack. It's going to take him a little time to get used the cars/tracks.

@Tmac2824 Top 10.

@NancyatStudioN We could have expected TP to go all out

Jason Remillard (via Facebook) if he learned anything from his last K&N East start at Loudon, the big thing would be to not be so aggressive early. he probably would have tried to take care of his equipment like he did at Irwindale in January.

Chuck Tolsma (via Facebook) Take care of race car and get as much seat time as possible.

Tuesday, June 21st 'What If' Question

Every January before the start of a new NASCAR season the officials gather and put together their new rules and regulations. Then, during a "State of the Sport" address just weeks before Speedweeks in Daytona, they announce the changes for fans and media alike.

Last year the biggest change was when Robin Pemberton uttered, "boys, have at it." It opened the door for drivers to have more freedom in how they handle themselves and how they treat their competitors on the track. This past year one of the biggest announcements was NASCAR stating that Sprint Cup Series drivers would no longer be able to earn points should they compete in the lower series of Nationwide and Truck.

After seeing Cup drivers dominate year after year, winning races and championships, many felt it was time to even the playing field and let the NNS regulars have a chance to shine in their own series. The Cup drivers would still be allowed to compete in NNS and CWTS events but they wound't be granted points and therefore would be ineligible for the championship.

While it sounded great on paper many were curious to see how it was going to play out. Once the season started it didn't take long to realize that NASCAR had great intentions but it might not work out how they imagine. Cup drivers won the first 11 NNS events. Of the seasons now 15 races, Cup drivers have won 13 of them with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier the only two regulars to have won a race.

In the CWTS it's no different. The season started with Cup drivers winning the first three events before Johnny Sauter broke through in race four at Martinsville. Now with nine races in the books, Cup drivers have won seven of them as Ron Hornaday became the second series regular to win by capturing the checkered flag at Texas.

Should this streak continue NASCAR runs the risk of having one of their worst nightmares come true: a winless champion. Many knew it was possible before the season started after the rules were announced, some even predicted it. Others hoped that rule would have the opposite effect and led the regulars to work that much harder to win races and protect their turf. Fortunately the current point leaders in both series, Stenhouse Jr. and Sauter, have already won this season.

But ...

What if Truck & Nationwide champions don't win a race this year, would you be OK w/ it or rather go back to Cup guys getting points? #NASCAR

@cruetten i'd be ok with it, but i wouldn't necessarily like it. if the points champion doesn't win a race, it will make the championship seem less meaningful. regardless of what happens though, i do not want the cup guys earning driver points again.

@BuDwEiSeRaCeR I'd rather see limits on the number of races a year cup guys can run in trucks/nns. 36 races a year - givem 10 each

@nathanmedic I'm fine with NNS/CWTS winner not winning a race, though it's not preferable. I definitely don't want to go back.

@ronsracing88 Yes, I would be fine with them as champs if they did not win a race. #NASCAR needs to keep those 2 series unique from Cup.

@NancyatStudioN I don't know the solution but I think Nascar would need 2 take a serious look at it. There doesn't seem 2 B a right answer.

@lflowers ABSOLUTELY NOT! Just like Major League Baseball players don't play AA or AAA ball, neither should Cup guys be there

@Lady31RCR Its about being consistent..No points for cup drivers, in fact would like them limited to 10 races in NW and Truck!!

@MattEmbury Won't have to worry about it in Nationwide Kellly, Stenhouse will title, maybe a couple more races #NASCAR

@MsNascar47 I'd rather they'd quit letting the cup guys drive in the lower series. What other sport would do something so stupid.

Stroker Ace (via Facebook) Would be ok in my book - Truck and Nationwide teams made a commitment to run those series full time, they deserve to be able to earn a Championship Title - Cup guys got enough problems with their hurting series right now, they need to commit more seriously to their own cup teams before they lose any more sponsors or team owners.

Wednesday, May 4th 'What If' Question

Not everyone is cut out to be a NASCAR driver. There have even been some individuals who have come from other forms of racing where they excelled but couldn't do the same in NASCAR.

For Ohio's Sam Hornish Jr. he's hoping not to fall into that category but through the first half of his NASCAR career it isn't looking too promising. Coming from the IndyCar series where he's won races, including the Indy 500, and championships, Hornish Jr. was hired by Roger Penske to pilot his No. 77 for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season.

With limited stock car experience and with only a few Nationwide and Cup races under his belt, Hornish Jr.'s rookie season didn't go as planned. He only competed in 34 of the 36 races and finished 35th in the final point standings with zeros across the board. No wins, poles, top 10s or top fives. In 2009 things improved slightly when he finished 28th in the final point standings this time with seven top 10s and two top five finishes.

That season Hornish Jr. won a race, be it a non-points event in the Sprint All-Star showdown to transfer into the Sprint All-star race. In 2010 his statistics regressed when he finished 29th in points with only one top 10 and zeros across the rest of the board. Lack of sponsorship would remove Hornish Jr. from his ride in the Cup Series but Penske wasn't about to let him go.

For the 2011 season Hornish Jr. has an 11 race deal in the Nationwide Series. With four races already complete Hornish has one top 10 but has been running better than his finishes are showing. He's staying out of trouble, at least of his own doing, and hopes that his stint in the Nationwide Series will lead to him one day being able to make it back to the top.

Or maybe he'll find a home in the NNS. Some drivers are better suited in the lower series and are quite content to run there and not move up.

But ...

What if Sam Hornish Jr. ran in the NNS full-time would he a) become a contender and b) eventually return to the Sprint Cup Series? #NASCAR

@RTiongson: I think he'd be a contender in the NNS. Provided he has good equipment, he MIGHT return to Cup, but as a dependable run-in.

@kartracer3886: no

@ladybug388: I think Hornish would be in contention for NNS as he'd get the hang of the cars and probably run well. I think he'd also return to Cup eventually as he'd have some laps under his belt and the experience

@cruetten: a) no. b) no. I think it's about time for him to go back to open-wheel. He's had more chances than most--it's just not in him

@ollie1972: a) yes I think he MIGHT contend..if he'd stop WREAKING b) no sponsorship is way too tough to come by only way is be NNS champ

@Talon64: a) Yes, better than results in Cup, b) if the success translated into sponsorship to bring back 3rd Penske Cup team. #NASCAR

Thursday, April 7th 'What If' Question

Every driver needs their big break, something that will propel them into the spotlight and catch the eye of team owners who are looking for a new, fresh face to put in one of their cars.

In late 2007 that's what happened to Brad Keselowski. He got a call from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to come and run the remainder of the season in his No. 88 Navy Chevrolet. Keselowski had impressed Earnhardt Jr. in what he was accomplishing in less than well funded equipment as well as the substitution job he had done for Ted Musgrave's Truck team.

Earnhardt Jr. then signed Keselowski to a full-time deal for 2008 and 2009 in the Nationwide Series. He went out won his first career race and then kept on winning. In both years he finished second in the championship points. In 2009 he was on top of everyone's radar including team owner Rick Hendrick and James Finch. Both let Keselowski drive one of their cars in select Cup Series events.

In Talladega, Keselowski went out and won after a finish with Carl Edwards that won't soon be forgotten. Since then he's been snagged away from the a potential HMS job by Roger Penske and won the 2010 NNS championship. He now runs full-time in the Cup Series and searching for his second career win. Keselowski has officially made it to the top. Just as Martin Truex Jr. had done before him with the help of Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports.

But ...

What If Dale Jr. didn't take a chance & sign @Keselowski to Nationwide deal in 07 would he have ever become big name/winning driver? #NASCAR

@KaitlynVincie: Hard question, without Jr.'s financial backing it may not have been possible. We know success is not solely based on talent.

@ladybug388: No as its all bout opportunity & there was his. Thou he may have with running more truck races for the team & then moving up

@cruetten: doubtful. i think he would've continued his mediocre performance in NNS (before signing w/JR),& stayed permanently in trucks.

@JoJo_6040: Yep! Some other team owner would've noticed his talent. Must admit, I paid more attn. to BK when he started driving for JR

@chuckallen2: his good run subbing in the truck race defined his career. Cinderella story for sure, and why racing is cool.

Wednesday, March 23rd 'What If' Question

Next to Jimmie Johnson, no driver has made more headlines since 2008 than Kyle Busch.

Once he joined Joe Gibbs Racing and the Toyota camp, Busch has been unstoppable in everything he's sat in. He won eight races in 2008 and led the point standings for the first 26 races. In 2009 he won the Nationwide Series championship and in 2010 he started his own Truck Series team and won the owner's championship there.

He's now won 90 races across all of NASCAR's three series. Yet, besides the NNS title in 2009 he has failed to capture a Cup championship and has yet to be a real factor in the Chase fight. Last weekend he again swept the races at the Bristol Motor Speedway and put himself back in the spotlight as some are making him their picks for Busch to dethrone Johnson for the title.

Except the question has again been raised, is Busch outracing himself? Even at 25-years-old, running in all three series has it's downfall and Busch loves to race anything he can. Of course, being damn good at what he does makes that decision come easy, however Busch continually has more success in NASCAR's lower two levels than he does in the Sprint Cup Series.

During the off season the question was raised by yours truly on whether or not Busch would be a better Cup driver if he cut back on the racing that he does in the Truck and Nationwide Series. In doing so, his focus would be only on the Cup Series and who knows what his potential would be. You don't see Johnson running in anything other than the Cup Series and his success has yet to be matched.

Others though say that Busch should race while he can and that his success on Sunday has nothing to do with what he does on Friday and Saturday. That he could have, before NASCAR's new rules, become the first driver to win the championship in Nationwide and Cup in the same year. Then there are some Busch fans that just want to see him race and keep winning because that's where all the fun is at.

But ...

What If Kyle Busch was like Jimmie Johnson - raced/focused solely on Sprint Cup, would he already be a champion? #NASCAR

@Talon64: Probably not, Carl Edwards came close in 2005 and 2008 despite running full time in #NNS.

@smokinace88: Yes I dont want to sound mean here but the more he focuses on Tracks and Nation Wide he'll never win a Championship

@RoushGirl17: Not yet, he still has some maturing to do. He needs to find patience. He needs to find that cool under pressure Jimmie has. Once he finds that, he could be though. Once he gets all of that, he can settle into one series and do it.

@denver2u: No, I don't think he had the maturity to pull off all the wins that JJ has.Moving forward,I think he's a real good contender

@StrokerAce90: No. He's a driver other drivers refer to as an ass, say he races like a clown & claim to owe him payback. It'll never happen.

@cruetten: yes. the same goes for harvick too. they have a lot going on, whereas JJ drives mainly cup and doesn't own truck/NNS teams...

@csigmon12: KY is definately a great driver, but JJ makes what KY does look EASY...Wish BOTH their clutches slipped a little more often

@NancyatStudioN: Nah, While extremely talented, Kyle has not been mature enough to focus on the big picture. All he could see was THIS race, right NOW. This may be changing. If it does, look out. If you think ppl have hated having JJ win all the championships, imagine how it would be if Kyle started winning them.

Tuesday, December 21st 'What If' Question

It's because they love to race. It's because NASCAR hasn't made a rule saying they can't.

Those are some of the arguments NASCAR fans hear when tossing out complaints about Sprint Cup Series drivers dropping down into the minor leagues and dominating. The Nationwide Series is constantly infected with Cup drivers who have much better equipment and sponsor dollars helping them get all the attention and in essence, take over the series.

Some fans are sick of it. They haven't seen a NNS full-time driver win the championship since 2004-2005 when Martin Truex Jr. won it driving for JR Motorsports. Since then it's been Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. Not only are championships being won, but nearly every race.

In 2010 of the 35 NNS races, only one of them was won by a regular NNS driver. The rest were won by Cup drivers - although Boris Said won the road course in Montreal, he is neither a full-time NNS or Cup driver.

Rides are being taken away from young drivers who are trying to make their way into the sport. Sponsors are going to the big names instead of helping a young team get on the track. There are plenty of negatives to why Cup guys shouldn't be allowed to race in the NNS, but some say there's a positive.

Without the big names, fans wouldn't show up or watch. Whether or not that's fact or fiction has yet to be seen. The first step though might come in 2011 as NASCAR is considering changing the rules to limit Cup drivers in the NNS. They may still be allowed to run, but not earn any points toward winning the driver's championship.

Some agree, others don't believe it's fair.

But ...

What if Sprint Cup drivers didn't run full-time in Nationwide Series. Would you still watch and who would you pick for the title?

@smokinace88 yes and I would pick Colin Braun Or Aric :)

@BigBankHank18 I watch all the NNS and NCWTS races, because @KyleBusch is such a big part of them if he wasn't? NO FREAKIN WAY! #KBshow

@Emily_8388 I would probably pay more attention. Simply because it wouldn't be all about Busch and Edwards.

@88Summerstars I would still watch and I'm thinking I'll be rooting for Aric A...

@ronsracing88 Yes, I would watch more of the NWS if Sprint Cup drivers didn't run full time and Aric Almirola or Justin Allgaier

@MattEmbury Good question...maybe whoever drives the Roush-Fenway/Gibbs cars. They can block the Cup guys all they want, the problem is they won't be able to block the Cup teams too, they will still win

@nascarjaj yes, and justin allgaier should be champ

@crutten I would still watch, but I think the viewership would drop due to big names such as Busch and Harvick not racing each week. As a fan, I like the idea and would like the NNS to go back to being a true "minor league" series. I can see, however, the drawbacks from the business side: It's a bad idea because those same big names such as Busch and Harvick attract viewers, ratings, and sponsors/money. For the title winner, and in light of recent news, I pick the Herminator, Kenny Wallace!

@StrokerAce90 I'd still watch the Nascar Nationwide series race's for the same reason I started watching them in the 1st place, "to see Danica race". I feel I'd get to know the regular Nationwide drivers a bit better if the Cup Stars weren't out there hogging up the show & then I'd be better able to pick one of them as to who would win the championship, but until Nascar stops their cream of the crop Chase contenders from racing in lower class's its a no brainer as to who to pick to win the championship.