"My Take" Status of the Busch Series and What could be next.

The NASCAR Busch Series, a stepping series for drivers to Nextel Cup. I have been thinking about this subject for a couple of months now and I have read fans, writers, drivers and even owners comments on this subject and after going to Loudon, NH (NHIS) a little over a week ago to watch the Busch Series in action...

Simply put, my take is that the Busch Series has an image problem to say the lease. The Busch series cars are basically the same as the Nextel Cup series, the Busch Series cars have a little less horsepower and smaller wheelbase, plus on superspeedways, they have a top hood and spoiler lip for drafting.

This year, the Busch series has become a Nextel Cup testing ground with more than nine Nextel Cup drivers completing in both series full time, plus a couple more Nextel Cup drivers running the Busch series when the series is at the same track as the Nextel cup.

First off, I don't mind that a couple of Nextel Cup drivers are running in the Busch Series, but not nine full-time and many more in some races, the Busch Series has now a new nickname, "Cup Lites", thats not good. In someways, it has helpped the Busch series with growing the fan base, you now see some of your favorite Nextel Cup series drivers racing for a little less in ticket prices. For racing fans in New England, this past July's ticket prices were only $15 dollars plus difference. Busch Series is $40 in advance or $45 at the gate raceday, Nextel Cup Series tickets are anywere from $60 in frontrow to over $120 on top, all purchased in advanced. Remember Cup tickets sell out at most tracks, including NHIS.

So what is the solution to fixing the Busch Series...
Is it limiting the number of Nextel Cup drivers that can complete or something else. To me, the problem of so many Nextel Cup drivers will most likely go away once the Car of Tomorrow is fully introducted by 2009 and if they change the cars in the Busch Series, but the series still needs its own image, for example, the Truck Series is different than either the Busch or Nextel Cup series, thats what the Busch Series needs.

Changing the cars and the making of them (cost) would fix couple of the problems.

First the Cars:
Welcome the Pony Car Series...with the Chevy Camaro(waiting for comfirmation) and Dodge Challenger going into production in 2008-2009, plus the already made Ford Mustang and the Toyota Camry Solara, thats different with a much wheelbase and different look and feel.

If you are not down with Pony Cars, how about...The Busch Modified Series..take the Whelen Modified Tour cars and alter than a little bit more to create a totally new look, but the same great racing as the Whelen Modified Tour puts on now and it would be a great for the Whelen Tour stepping stone.

The Cost:
In Marty Smith's NASCAR.com column entitled "Busch Series needs a complete overhaul -- now", Marty interviews Jeff Burton who said "To start, bolt-on common bodies built from composites, crate engines and completely alternate tires." would reduce cost, to run the Busch Series is about $220,000 per race. I believe that, tires, people, cars, parts, etc...

I like the idea of bolt-on common bodies built from composites, crate engines and completely alternate tires, it would get more owners involved, plus more drivers involved and at less the cost. Sponsers who are coming into the series, could pay less as well.

Final Thoughts:
You should read Marty Smith's column, Jeff Burton makes some interesting comments that I agree with.

The fact remains, a complete overhauling is needed now, changing the cars and decreasing the cost is the answer to the Busch Series. The Busch Series is a preview of the Nextel Cup Series race, but is interesting to watch.

What does everyone else think about my thoughts on the Status of the Busch Series and general about the series?