NASCAR Nationwide Series — Daytona
Nationwide is now on NASCAR’s side. The 2008 season – the first for the insurance company as the title sponsor of the nation’s second-most popular motorsport series – should follow directly in step with the exciting racing and star-building power that the former NASCAR Busch Series was known for during its 26-year run.
The anticipated championship battle between reigning champion Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer. Edwards has always been a full-time driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series while Bowyer made his way to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series through the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Martin Truex Jr. had to fend off Bowyer through the final race of 2005 to claim his second series title. Bowyer has pointed to his success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and how it translated into the overall resurgence of the RCR program, especially at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level, over the last two seasons. Bowyer – like Edwards – has vowed to run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series until he wins a title. It’s an important career goal for him.
David Reutimann and Toyota should be in the mix for the title as well. Reutimann came on strong late last year – also his first full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Series regular Jason Leffler, also in a Toyota, finished third in the standings last season and could be a darkhorse contender.
Is the next Carl Edwards competing this season? The NASCAR Nationwide Series does indeed serve as a developmental opportunity for drivers – other than Tony Stewart, 11 of the 12 drivers in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup spent at least two full seasons in the series before moving on. Drivers such as Brad Coleman, Landon Cassill, Chase Austin, Steve Wallace, Bryan Clauson, Kelly Bires, Cale Gale and Brad Keselowski are using the series to develop their skills and race against the best drivers in the world to try and become the next generation of NASCAR Sprint Cup stars. Toss in the much-anticipated debut of Joey Logano and the series is certainly ripe with its own stars for the media to track and fans to cheer.
With so many new faces and the number of double-duty drivers in the series, mentors are abundant especially with those drivers who have returned to the series in an owner capacity. “With Nationwide coming on board, it’s a huge boost for the series,” two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and series team owner Kevin Harvick said. “I think as we go forward (the series) will be as strong as ever and you will see more young guys, more independent teams and hopefully more Cup drivers having Nationwide teams and participation in the series, supporting the sport as they should.”
KHI, Rusty Wallace Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and JR Motorsports are all teams that are either owned by current or former drivers or those who aspire to develop drivers and grow the series and the sport. Harvick – who won the series season opener last year before also claiming the 2007 Daytona 500 – is now racing his own equipment and mentoring Cale Gale. This is the first time in his nine-year series career Harvick isn’t driving RCR cars. David Stremme is on board with RWR working with Steve Wallace and Chase Austin. JR Motorsports – now having merged with Rick Hendrick’s NASCAR Nationwide Series program – has an all-star outfit that will benefit the careers of Keselowski and Cassill. Who wouldn’t learn something from the likes of two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin (the all-time leader in wins and poles in the series) and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson – who will all participate in select NASCAR Nationwide Series races this year? Along those same lines, Logano will be gaining knowledge from two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart as the two will share the No. 20 ride for Joe Gibbs Racing this year.
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