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Over the last several seasons, there have been complaints from fans of the NASCAR Nationwide Series regulars and independent teams with no Sprint Cup ties and no Sprint Cup drivers behind the wheels of their race cars about the ever growing number of Sprint Cup drivers competing in the Nationwide Series.

Pretty much since the series began back in 1982, there’s been at least a small handful of Cup drivers that have competed at least occasionally in the Nationwide Series, but in recent years, the number has grown and many of those Cup drivers have added even more Nationwide events to their driving schedules.

There really didn’t seem to be much of an issue years ago when a few drivers like Mark Martin and Jeff Burton ran the occasional Nationwide event here and there. Actually, these drivers were then welcomed with opened arms, as the regulars of the series relished in the opportunity to show their wares and see how they stacked up against the drivers in NASCAR’s top series.

That all changed when more and more Cup drivers invaded the Nationwide garage, and became even more of an issue when some of these Sprint Cup drivers started running full-time or nearly full-time in the Nationwide Series.

Independent Nationwide teams with Nationwide-only drivers began to complain that they couldn’t compete with what were basically Cup teams competing at the Nationwide level, especially ones that also had Cup drivers behind the wheel.

As a matter of fact, one has to go back to 2005 to find a Nationwide Series champion that wasn’t also a full-time Sprint Cup competitor that same season. As for this year, it looks to be more of the same, with two Sprint Cup Series drivers—Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards—as the two frontmen duking it out for the champion’s trophy to be awarded at the end of the season.

It seems as if NASCAR has finally heard the independents’ pleas and is looking at options to end the dominance of what was once referred to as the Buschwhackers back when the series was called the Busch Series.

Word has it that NASCAR is looking at taking measures to make it impossible for a Sprint Cup driver to win the Nationwide Series championship, but how? Of course, it’s not for certain whether or not NASCAR will follow through and actually make it impossible for Cup drivers to win the Nationwide title, but if something is done, perhaps the easiest option would be to just not award Nationwide Series points to full-time Sprint Cup drivers.

Of course there’s still the money issue of Sprint Cup Series-backed teams like Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series taking purse money away from independents like Braun Racing, Jay Robinson Racing, etc. But that’s a completely different can of worms.

As far as drivers go, this would surely eliminate the phenomenon of Cup drivers running full-time in both the Cup and Nationwide Series, especially on race weekends when the two series are at different tracks. But will it help when the two series race companion events at the same track? After all, it’s that kind of weekend that makes up a majority of race weekends on the Nationwide schedule. Maybe not, but it could put a dent in the perceived problem.

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MichaelWaltrip
LocationÜT: 35.484081,-80.880875
Webhttp://www.facebook.com/michae
lwaltripracing

That's some good twittering ther...RT @stampinkimracer: @mw55 Tony on the pole, 56-28th, 00-24th, 47-19th, 55-36th. Go home:Stremme & Papis
Posted 04:27 Minutes Ago

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HermieSadler
LocationÜT: 41.066607,-75.502483
Webhttp://www.hermiesadler.com
Gonna be on espn radio with @racingguy between 6 and 7 am et. Listen in!!
Posted 04:36 Minutes Ago

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BobPockrass
LocationCharlotte, NC
Webhttp://www.scenedaily.com/blog
s/bobpockrass/

Missing the race were Max Papis and David Stremme. #nascar
Posted 04:36 Minutes Ago

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BobPockrass
LocationCharlotte, NC
Webhttp://www.scenedaily.com/blog
s/bobpockrass/

For those that need their "how did Dale Earnhardt Jr. do in quals fix?" ... He talks about his mediocre day -> http://bit.ly/dmMtfY #nascar
Posted 05:00 Minutes Ago

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WendyVenturini
LocationWherever the plane lands
Webhttp://www.wendyventurini.com
Hang in there Max!! RT @maxpapis: Disappointing day overall just not right but I keep fighting as I'm a road warrior
Posted 05:09 Minutes Ago

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PetePistone
LocationChicago
Web
A day in Wisconsin must include a Friday night fish fry dinner in Lake Geneva
Posted 05:19 Minutes Ago

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DaveKallmann
LocationMilwaukee, WI
Webhttp://www.jsonline.com/blogs/
racing

@PPistone Lake Geneva isn't really part of Wisconsin anymore. Not placing blame but am pointing southward.
Posted 05:29 Minutes Ago

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NickBromberg
Location
Webhttp://www.racintoday.com
Margolis bringing the heat RT @nascarwriter The answer to NASCAR's problems is on Sledgehammer. http://bit.ly/d3Cw6g
Posted 05:37 Minutes Ago

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JuanPabloMontoya
LocationMiami
Webhttp://www.jpmontoya.com/
qualify 2nd at pocono!!!!! pretty happy with that!!!!!
Posted 05:49 Minutes Ago

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mikemulhern
LocationNorth Carolina
Webhttp://www.mikemulhern.net/
Pocono: TStewart & JPMontoya 1-2, and RNewman and DHamlin reveal they're the ones hit with #NASCAR's 'secret' penalties http://bit.ly/cA5LSx
Posted 06:11 Minutes Ago

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DustinLong
LocationCharlotte, N.C.
Webhttp://hamptonroads.com/blogs/
dustin-long

#NASCAR ... What drivers are saying at Pocono ... http://bit.ly/boGiFh
Posted 06:11 Minutes Ago

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mikemulhern
LocationNorth Carolina
Webhttp://www.mikemulhern.net/
Pocono: Denny Hamlin still a bit miffed over that $50,000 'secret' NASCAR penalty -- for unPC Twittering?! http://bit.ly/cVelMd
Posted 06:25 Minutes Ago

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MartySmith
Location
Webhttp://espn.go.com/racing/nasc
ar/

The refrain on Crossin' Dixon's Guitar Slinger is pretty stellar. Dig the part about momma being the wind and daddy being the train
Posted 07:11 Minutes Ago

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PetePistone
LocationChicago
Web
Checkered flag on a Friday off and back home heading for the couch
Posted 08:05 Minutes Ago

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BobPockrass
LocationCharlotte, NC
Webhttp://www.scenedaily.com/blog
s/bobpockrass/

Kentucky Speedway getting a Cup date? A news conference at track planned tentatively for Aug. 10 to talk about track and future. #nascar
Posted 08:37 Minutes Ago

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BobPockrass
LocationCharlotte, NC
Webhttp://www.scenedaily.com/blog
s/bobpockrass/

Nationwide practice at Iowa rained out today. Practice from 10-11:30 am EDT Saturday, 4:05 pm EDT quals, 7:30 pm race. #nascar
Posted 08:45 Minutes Ago

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BobPockrass
LocationCharlotte, NC
Webhttp://www.scenedaily.com/blog
s/bobpockrass/

Forecast for Iowa on Saturday looks good. #nascar
Posted 08:48 Minutes Ago

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MikeHembree
LocationCharlotte, NC
Webhttp://www.speedtv.com
Stewart wins pole after hitting media with it. #nascar
Posted 09:27 Minutes Ago

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McMurray Wins Brickyard 400, Expected Result From an Unexpected Source for Chip Ganassi
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