Preventing Nextel Cup drivers from earning points in the Busch Series won’t keep them from running races.

With the second consecutive Nextel Cup regular dominating and winning the Busch Series championship before the season’s end, rumors abound that NASCAR is contemplating changing the series to prevent drivers in the top 35 of the Cup Series to earn race points in the Busch Series.

Teams that only compete in the Busch Series say they are at a disadvantage because of the expanded resources Cup programs have. Cup programs have the big name drivers sponsors want at a discount rate than from what it costs to get a logo on a car in the Cup Series, as well as advanced technology in the racecars.

It’s a sticky situation. The Busch Series, NASCAR’s version of the minor leagues, needs big name drivers like newly-crowned champ Carl Edwards to run the races to sell tickets and boost ratings. It improves the quality of the racing, increases the size of race purses and has helped make the series the second highest rated series behind the Nextel Cup.

The problem is too many drivers are qualifying for the races and running full-time schedules to attempt to win the championship, preventing young drivers from trying to gain experience and make a name for themselves in what had been a proving ground for up and coming drivers.

The Busch Series has now become little more than an extended practice session for Cup drivers.

If NASCAR decides to prohibit Cup drivers from earning points in the Busch Series, it won’t stop them from going racing. At best, it will stop experienced drivers from attempting a championship run.

Drivers aren’t there to earn points, they’re there to win races, and the teams are there to earn money.

Running a Busch program can be a lucrative deal for a Cup team. The Cup teams’ resources and technology easily transfer to the Busch cars, and they can sign pricey sponsorship deals with big name drivers.

That’s not going to change if the Cup drivers can’t earn points.

Race payouts are nice, but sponsorships are where the money’s at.

Here’s a better idea than preventing the Cup drivers from earning points:

Let Cup rookies and sophomores race unrestricted in the Busch Series. Even rookies with well-established teams, like Roush Fenway's David Ragan, need the extra seat time and experience. But put a cap on the number of drivers in the top 35 that can qualify for the race, say 10. Make it like the so-called “go or go home” drivers not locked into the Cup races, the top 10 qualifiers from the Cup Series make the race.

It will add a whole new element to Busch qualifying, one that could make for some very exciting competition before the green flag even drops.

Drivers will still want to run Busch races, but it will cut down on the number of Cup drivers in the field. It will also encourage Cup teams to put together Busch teams with a big name driver running a partial schedule and an up-and-coming young gun getting a shot in quality equipment. The sponsorships will still be lucrative to the teams, and the tracks will still have a big draw to the track on Saturdays.

Some teams have experimented with this model already. Richard Childress Racing drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer have shared the No. 29 car and the team is currently leading the Busch owners’ points championship.

When Nextel came to NASCAR as the new title sponsor of the Cup Series, the sanctioning body introduced the Chase playoff system. Its increased ratings, created tight points races and made the end of the season matter again.

NASCAR is now facing a similar crossroads. The series will be renamed the Nationwide Series when the Busch brand leaves at the end of this year. A change is urgently needed to keep this series relevant in motorsports. The decisions NASCAR makes this offseason will determine the success of the Nationwide Series for years to come.

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