Whether full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers should be competing in the sport’s lower series long has been a topic of debate. NASCAR, though, clearly is showing which side of the fence it falls on.
Beginning in 2018, drivers with more than five years of full-time Cup experience will be limited to seven races in the Xfinity Series and five races in the Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR announced Tuesday. NASCAR first put a rule in place that limited drivers with that level of experience ahead of 2017, restricting them to 10 Xfinity races and seven truck races.
Furthermore, the regular season finales and playoff races in both series now will be off-limits to any drivers who earn points in the Cup series.
“Fans have made it clear that they want to see the future stars of the sport racing against their peers in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series,” NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations Jim Cassidy said, via Motorsport.com.
“These guidelines achieve that and preserve limited opportunities for developing drivers to compete against the best in motorsports.”
The go-to example of a Cup driver dominating in NASCAR’s lower divisions is Kyle Busch, who has 89 Xfinity wins in his career. While some love seeing “Rowdy” race against the sport’s brightest prospects, others rip him for seemingly picking on the little guys.
Thumbnail photo via Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports Images
