When Cup drivers run Xfinity Series races, are they obligated to stay out of the way of championship-eligible regulars? -Ciara L., Fayetteville, N.C.
There can’t be a satisfying answer to this, which is what makes it a great question.
Since 2018, NASCAR has limited the amount of lower-series races in which Cup Series drivers can compete to ensure that the NASCAR Xfinity and Camping World Truck series aren’t dominated by the same drivers in the same equipment that always run up front on Sundays.
This policy has allowed competition in the divisions to flourish, going from just six wins for Xfinity Series regulars in 2011 (out of 34 races) to 26 (from 33) 10 years later. For the most part, these restrictions are a win-win, letting Cup drivers earn a little bit extra experience, glory and prize money a few times a year, letting teams sell sponsorship based on big names on the driver rail, yet keeping the focus on the Xfinity field by fully excluding Cup drivers from Dash 4 Cash and playoff races.
Cup drivers can’t compete in the Xfinity/truck bonus races (Dash 4 Cash, Triple Truck Challenge), regular-season finale and the playoff races. https://t.co/MnKvGuV4gj
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 20, 2022
Still, every so often, we’ll get a race like Saturday’s (Sept. 3) Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero 200, where a fender-banging duel in the closing laps between Cup driver Kyle Larson and Xfinity Series bubble driver Sheldon Creed allowed Noah Gragson to pass them both.
UNREAL FINISH!
Sheldon Creed and Kyle Larson make contact on the final lap, Creed hits the wall and Noah Gragson WINS at @TooToughToTame! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/dkZ3qyZy0M
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 3, 2022
Should Larson have recognized that the win would mean more to Creed and not run him as hard in the closing laps? After all, he’s a guest in Creed’s series.
No. This is racing, and nobody is entitled to a ride, a win or a single position.
Don’t get me wrong, they all should be entitled to basic respect, safety and fair compensation, but on the track, nobody deserves an inch. In the 2019 Bristol Night Race, did Matt DiBenedetto deserve the win so badly that Denny Hamlin should have just pulled over? Even though Hamlin felt so bad he had to apologize to the driver he beat (cleanly, I might add), he still went up and passed him, keeping DiBenedetto out of victory lane and the playoffs.
Though Creed’s last-lap defeat may leave an unfortunate…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Frontstretch…