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Keep Cup Drivers out of Busch
Published: 11/3/2006 10:40 AM
Last Modified: 11/3/2006 10:40 AM


Give these Busch guys a chance.
Daryl Wilson/Tulsa World


I am not a longtime NASCAR fan.
I didn't know the difference between Dale
Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon. The King was Elvis, not Richard Petty.
Then, about 12 years ago, CITGO introduced me to the joys of NASCAR racing through their race team featuring driver Michael Waltrip.
I wouldn't exactly say I'm hooked, but I do enjoy it. But to call me an expert is pushing it.
Still, I've come to some conclusions about things I like and don't like.
One of the current big issues is the Nextel Cup drivers dropping down to run in Busch races. Busch has traditionally been the minor leagues of Nextel Cup racing, a place young drivers can train for the jump up to Cup.
It was easy for the Cup guys to do. Usually, the Busch series runs on Saturdays at the same tracks that the Cup races run on Sundays.
It was a bad idea from the start. Now, because of the huge amounts of money involved, it is a really bad idea.
The Cup drivers are taking the rides and the money needed to keep the young drivers and the small Busch teams in business.
Some would say the Cup drivers drive the ticket sales for Busch. Maybe. But NASCAR fans are going to buy tickets for all of the races on a NASCAR weekend regardless of who is driving.
There needs to be some limits put on the Cup drivers in Busch. Maybe even a total ban.
That way we could get back to seeing the young guys on their way up and the Cup guys on their way down.
Plus, it would give teams like Vision Racing of Tulsa, a new start-up Busch team, a chance to get a foothold in the sport.
Otherwise, Busch racing is going to become the same thing as the Nextel Cup racing. Just different cars and different sponsors. Same drivers. Same teams.




Reader Comments 1 Total
lzivawqo@mail.com (6 years ago)
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Klein's Korner

Tulsa World senior sports columnist John Klein is in his fourth decade of covering sports. He started his newspaper career at The Daily Ardmoreite in 1977 and moved to the Tulsa World in 1978. He served 10 years as sports editor for the Tulsa World before being named to his current position in 2005. He also spent five years as the Southwest Conference beat writer for the Houston Post. He has won many writing awards and is a former Oklahoma Sports Writer of the Year.

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