Watching the Xfinity race this weekend I was so frustrated and spent most of the race screaming at the TV or giving my family documentary on why the Sprint Cup Drivers had no place in the Xfinity Chase. Is anyone besides me sick of Kyle Busch stinking up the race? From beginning to end its Kyle Busch. He has nothing to gain from being out there except a few sponsorship dollars. It’s not like he’s hurting for money. He has a full time Xfinity Driver Daniel Suarez who is a multi-time winner representing KBM this season in the Chase.
In my opinion and the opinion of many other NASCAR fans it is totally unfair to the Xfinity regulars to be robbed of a chance to move on in the Chase by someone who has nothing to gain but another feather in his cap and a boost for his already over inflated ego.
I understand that some of the Xfinity regulars have said they like the challenge of competing against the more experienced Sprint Cup drivers at some times. If that is so and NASCAR wants to allow that then it should be allowed only during the regular season and the Xfinity competitors should be left to settle the Championship among themselves.
The Sprint Cup drivers already are not awarded points for their appearances in the Xfinity races but during Chase races they are being allowed to rob Xfinity regulars the opportunity to lock in for the next round even if they have a second or third place run. The winner gained nothing but a few sponsorship dollars and the winnings but for the Xfinity regular it could be the end of his season and the loss of a championship. In Kansas both Elliot Sadler and Daniel Suarez, Busch’s own driver were in a position to lock in to the next round. This just seems totally unfair to the drivers who have committed to this series and run hard every week to get enough points to garner a spot in the Chase.
If in NASCAR’s thinking it is important to allow Sprint Cup drivers to participate in the Xfinity Series in order to fill seats, then they should not allow them to participate in Chase races or either allow the highest finishing Xfinity regular if he is Chase eligible to lock in. There has to be a solution to the totally unfair current system.
In 2015 only 4 Xfinity Series regulars won races. This is the Xfinity Series. NASCAR is in a critical time of losing many of its most endearing superstars like Jeff Gordon and now Tony Stewart with several more nearing retirement and even fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s future in question, fans are looking for new drivers to step forward to become favorites. In order to do that they need to be able to win and become known with the media and the fans. They need to develop their personalities and become relatable to the fans who are leaving the sport as their favorites leave the sport.
The Xfinity Series develops young drivers into the next Sprint Cup superstars that can carry NASCAR through the next several years of big name driver changes. That is why the Sprint Cup stars needs to stop stealing the spotlight from the young drivers who are trying to develop into a Sprint Cup caliber driver and catch the eye of Sprint Cup owners looking for a hot young driver that could carry their team into the 2020’s.
We have a few young Sprint Cup stars that have come the way of the Xfinity Series lately, despite having to overcome the undue competition of Sprint Cup drivers, namely, Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney and in 2017 Erik Jones and most likely Ty Dillon.
Let’s hope NASCAR makes the right decision to eradicate Sprint Cup drivers from driving in the Xfinity Series and let the up and coming superstars make a name for themselves. The next legend is waiting to step into victory lane!
Totally agree with this. I won’t even watch an Xfinity race if Kyle is in it.
Agreed!
I totally agree!its not fair to the xfinity drivers!!
While I agree for the most part, how is… not allowing Sprint Cup drivers from competing in the Xfinity Chase, any different from the non-chase drivers being in the field during any of the chase races?
Granted the Sprint Cup drivers are more likely to run in the top 10 vs. the non-Chase drivers, but both are muddying the water. However, the impact of number of drivers in the top 15 have just as much impact as the bottom 15. Think of Harvick’s situation after the Charlotte when he finished 38th, there was only 2 other Chase drivers between him and the top 15, so essentially fell behind by 22 points, had the race only included the Chase drivers he would have have finished 12 and only been 11 points out of 2nd place. Nan-chasers have an impact regardless of where they run in the field.