Nextel Drivers Invade Busch Series

In 2006, Kevin Harvick won NASCAR’s Busch Series title by 824 points. This season, Carl Edwards is safely in position to win the Busch title. He leads by 662 points.

There is just one problem.

Harvick and Edwards are Nextel Cup regulars. They are not only regulars, but they run for two of the upper echelon teams in Richard Childress and Roush Racing. Childress and Roush are not new when it comes to racing championships. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won six of his seven championships while driving for Childress and Roush has captured 2 of the last four titles (Matt Kenseth in 2003, Kurt Busch in 2004).

Harvick and Edwards are not alone when it comes to Nextel regulars running full-time in the Busch series. Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Casey Mears, David Reutimann, Regan Smith and David Ragan are all Nextel regulars who run a majority of the Busch races.

So, the question should be asked. Is it fair that Nextel drivers have invaded NASCAR’s minor league?

The Busch series was created to develop drivers and giving them experience and notoriety. Not as a way for the Nextel regulars to “beat up” on the younger, inexperienced, and less-proven drivers.

The plethora of Nextel stars in the Busch series will lead to a lack of development for younger drivers.

Currently, 9 of the top 10 drivers in the Busch standings are Nextel regulars. The lone exception is Bobby Hamilton Jr., who is in seventh place. In 2006, 8 of the top 10 finishers in the standings were Nextel regulars.

The dominance of Nextel regulars in the Busch series has led to a lack of up and coming stars in Nextel Cup.

Of the five rookies on the 2007 Nextel Cup circuit, Juan Pablo Montoya is the leading rookie. He currently sits 21st in the standings. David Ragan is the only other rookie to qualify for every race so far, but that can be credited to owner points as took over Mark Martin’s ride for Roush Racing.

Paul Menard and David Reutimann have each qualified for just nine races and A.J. Allmendinger rounds out the rookie class in 45th place. Allmendinger – last season’s CART runner-up – has qualified for just seven races.

How have Nextel’s rookies fallen so far?

During the span of 2000-2006, at least five rookies finished in the top 40 in points. The only exceptions occurred in 2005 when Kyle Busch (20) and Travis Kvapil (33) led the rookie class. 2002 had a good excuse as two rookies – Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman – both finished in the top 6.

Compare all that with this season. Top rookie is 21st and three other rookies rank between 39th and 45th.

So, what can be done to fix this? Obviously, the younger drivers are not getting the preparation and experience they deserve. Busch series drivers need to be competing against other Busch drivers; not against Nextel’s finest, which include former champions.

There is no problem with Nextel regulars competing on the Busch circuit as promotion to increase fan base, ticket sales, and merchandising.

But competing full-time on the series is simply unfair. It is more unfair. It is wrong.

I propose the Nextel series should enforce a top-20/10-race rule. If a Nextel driver finished in the top 20 in points the season before, they are not permitted to drive more than 10 Busch races the following season.

Some Nextel drivers may find that rule to be unfair, but Nextel stars such as Harvick and Edwards racing in the Busch series is the same as Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds playing a full season in the minor leagues.

It is simple. Nextel drivers belong on the Nextel series so Busch series drivers have a chance to grow, develop, and gain exposure.

Nextel regulars, here is my plea. Stay in Nextel. We know you have talent. We know you can drive. You do not need the extra experience or money.

Give the little guy a chance.