Bob Pockrass: Nationwide, truck series need all-star races
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Saturday, May 17, 2008
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COMMENTARY
CHARLOTTE – The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race is in its 24th year.
Is it about time to have Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series all-star races as well?
There are plenty of reasons to say, “No way.” It won’t be a true event to showcase promising stars like other minor-league all-star games because there will still be “major-league” guys in the race (if it uses the same criteria as the Cup all-star event). It won’t pay enough to make guys want to risk losing equipment or go for the win. It will be hard for a track to make money for the event.
Well, so what? Where there’s a will there’s a way, and there should be a will to have Nationwide and truck all-star events.
Here’s an idea. Have it on Labor Day in Darlington. That way, drivers can get back from California (albeit being a little tired) or Atlanta or wherever the Labor Day race for Cup is and participate in the all-star event if they have qualified. It brings a race back to the historic weekend at the track. And with lights, it would be an awesome doubleheader.
Think about it. The trucks roll off at 4 p.m. for a 75-lap showdown, then the Nationwide drivers roll off at 7:30 for a 100-lap fray. Winner gets some bragging rights and hopefully a decent check (it’s not like these guys run for great purses every week anyway).
Look at the lineup if you took 2007 and 2008 winners and champions of the past 10 years:
Nationwide: Carl Edwards, David Reutimann, Jason Leffler, Kevin Harvick, Stephen Leicht, Matt Kenseth, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte, Aric Almirola, Reed Sorenson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, Scott Wimmer, Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr., Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle, Jeff Green and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Trucks: Ron Hornaday, Mike Skinner, Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Travis Kvapil, Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Erik Darnell, Dennis Setzer, Kyle Busch and Mike Bliss.
Throw in those drivers in the current top 10 in points and possibly a qualifying race (noon for trucks, 1:30 p.m. for Nationwide) and
there’s a full day of racing.
These guys are racers and they’d do as much as they could to run this event as long as they can leave with a little change in their pocket.
The Nationwide guys would just be happy that they’re not trekking to California to race in front of a handful of fans. The trucks would enjoy being part of the spotlight, and they’d get to race at Darlington – something they don’t get to do now.
Can you feel the excitement building for such an event?
If NASCAR wants the trucks and Nationwide series to have an identity, having an all-star race will help that happen. It will showcase
those cars, and the drivers who have been the best in those series.
It would make sense that if NASCAR could build this event, it would also help teams with sponsorship. The Cup all-star race is filled with special paint schemes and promotions. Hopefully those ideas would trickle to these new all-star races.
Will it work? Who knows?
But it likely would be a fun day of racing and a great thing to watch.
Comments
1 response to "Bob Pockrass: Nationwide, truck series need all-star races"
Chad Manley said:
May 19, 2008 at 3:31 AMI've always thought that there should be two wild cards in the all-star race. The Busch anf Truck Champs. I still think that should happen but for once Bob has a pretty good idea.
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