Bob Pockrass: Nationwide, Truck Series Need All-Star Races
05-19-2008 2:52 pm
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race is in its 24th year. 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. 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. Trucks: Ron Hornaday, Mike Skinner, Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Travis Kvapil, Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Erik Darnell, Dennis Setzer, Kyle Busch and Mike Bliss.
Is it about time to have Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series all-star races as well?
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.
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.