Last November just before the finale in Homestead for the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series, I wrote a controversial article (published on this blog RaceDriven.com) on merging the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series, over the past couple of months, I have been thinking about this idea at length, I think about this idea every time I surf the internet and read anyone of those articles that features a race team that is struggling or a driver trying to find a ride.
Case in point, the DEI-Ganassi Racing merger comes to mind with a question mark on their Nationwide program as one, JR Motorsports still looking for a little more sponsorship for his #88 car even with GoDaddy.com stepping up for more races or a Truck Series team closing up shop due to no manufacturer support, let alone no sponsor, the point is in this tough economy, which is everywhere, yes even in NASCAR, something’s need to change for NASCAR, teams, owners, driver to stay afloat, whether that’s mergers, removing a car, selling something or changes within the company, it all has to happen and this idea of merging the Nationwide Series with the Truck Series is a good one.
Starting with the Truck Series, that in my eyes has a good racing format, something that a lot of racing fans can enjoy, the series has some of the best races all season long, has short races, action packed and to the point, now granted there is a bit of good news here, Camping World is coming on-board as the title sponsor for the next sever-years beginning this year (2009), they will replace the sole sponsor Craftsmen, which has been sponsoring the series since the series began in 1995 however that does in turn remove Camping World from the #33 KHI Nationwide race team as a sponsor.
Of course, you have also have the manufacturers, some are in, while others are out, case in point, Dodge is pulling back support and so is Ford, I don’t know to what how much, but its big do to the economy, not to mention that truck sales are so far down right now. Another point is smaller fields at a lot of races in 2008, it shows something when you can’t fill a 35 truck field at some racetracks and then there’s sponsors, case in point even the 2008 Truck Series Champion, #23-Johnny Benson didn’t have sponsorship in a couple of races in 2008, let alone Bill Davis Racing basically sold the entire organization and engine program and yet he was winning and on television regularly, so…
Now look at the Nationwide Series, they are having the same problems there too, from sponsors that would rather sponsor Cup drivers than up and coming drivers, a championship battle that might be close, but its normally between two Cup Series drivers and doesn’t include a Nationwide Series only driver, to NASCAR trying to introduce the new Nationwide Series COT car in 2010, some of these teams are not going to be able to pay for the new car, not to mention the schedule, it doesn’t fit neither series either with 25 races for the Truck Series and 35 races for the Nationwide Series.
So the big question here is, how would you merge the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series, like format, vehicle and so on?
In merging the two series, I would start by using the new Nationwide COT car, with Truck Sales down and people now forced to look for more fuel friendly vehicles, the truck wouldn’t work, on the other hand, the COT car does cost a lot more in the begin, however there are two points to be made here:
First, safety, the Cup Series COT car has a huge amount of safety items in it and this new car would too. Second, I’ve noticed that in the Cup Series, this car basically looks the same with each of the four manufacturers, their fore, manufacturer support could just be “powered by Chevrolet, powered by Ford, powered by Dodge, powered by Toyota”, its engine support, the teams would build the hood, roof, rear deck lid and spoiler, basically all of the sheet metal and manufacturers wouldn’t have to shell out more money, of course no more Camry, Impala SS, Challenger, Fusion, you get the point, the car is a prototype, however none of cars on the street, looked like the ones on the track anyway, no problem there.
The format, use the length of the Truck Series races, ok maybe 50-100 laps or miles more in some cases and there tire rule as well, remember, were cost cutting, but still trying to make this new series just as action packed as the current Truck Series is.
So what would the merger do?
First, this merger would create more sponsorship opportunities, with merging the two series together that bring thy limited amount of sponsors from both series into one series to go on 43 cars, instead of going on 43 cars in the Nationwide Series and 35 trucks in the Truck Series, in turn more sponsors.
Second, it will be a lot earlier to fill a 43 car field weekly (no way knowing fully of course), instead of filling one 43 car field in the Nationwide Series and another 35 truck field in the Truck Series.
Third, keeping with the format, the schedule, they need more companion races to the Cup Series as well as a standalone event or with something like the IRL, Grand-Am and etc.
Fourth, specking of the Cup Series, now instead of calling the Nationwide Series the Cup Lite’s, because the cars look the same, now, the cars will drive, handle and look completely different, of course pending NASCAR’s design.
However, one downside that could happen, although now with the economy and the shutting down of a few Truck Series and Nationwide Series teams would be reduced, the merger might force some drivers, teams, and owners out of the series, not enough room for everyone.
The point is, while I personally love watching the Truck Series most of the time and sometimes the Nationwide Series races on television and at the race track, there does need to be change here and yes even merging the two series might be a good idea, I’m just thinking more on-track competition week in and week out…hopefully, there are good changes on the horizon in NASCAR, but just remember, NASCAR has lived on for well over 50 years now and they have done well so far, I’m here watching, you’re here watch, I’m writing on it, covering it and other are too, they must be doing right, but you can always make it better in small increments.
