Post by labontefanboy on Feb 16, 2014 19:28:51 GMT -5
Nationwide Series to have All-Star event in 2008
With all of stock car racing focused on this weekend's spectacular All-Star Race, showcasing the best drivers in the world, it appears that Brian France has chosen to give a shout out to the little guys. At the All-Star Race Media Day today, France announced the addition of an All-Star event for the Nationwide Series next season, and also informed reporters the Nationwide Series will run 36 races as opposed to 35 as they run this year. Much like the Sprint Cup Series, which typically has its own weekend reserved for the event (plus a Truck Series race the night before), the Nationwide Series will have its own weekend allowing the future stars of NASCAR to strut their stuff. On the rare mid-summer weekend that the Cup Series takes a break, NASCAR Nation will focus on The Visa Future Stars Showcase, a 100 lap event to be hosted at USA International Speedway, a .75-mile oval located in Lakeland, Florida. "We are really excited to bring an event like this to the Nationwide Series," said France. "We can talk all we want about the Cup guys, but these guys are the future of our sport and they have to find a way to put their names out there and attract future sponsors. Having a weekend solely dedicated for them is a great way to do it, and I think fans will really enjoy the racing at the venue we picked. It's not very well-known, but it is a great facility that's gonna build extra seating for our race. The Nationwide guys are much less removed from their short track roots as opposed to the Cup guys, so that's why we wanted to go with a short track for the event." Here is how a driver will qualify for the 2008 event (as long as one of the first four items are met, the driver is eligible):
-Win a race during the 2007 season
-Win a race during the 2008 season up to the Showcase
-Finish in the top 25 of the 2007 point standings
-Be ranked in the top 25 of the 2008 point standings up to the Showcase
-The key qualification - To NOT be a Cup Series driver! - No full-time Cup Series drivers are allowed in this race! (Full-time status is determined at the discretion of NASCAR officials)
-Special note - if the driver has run a full season in the Cup Series, but not in the previous season and the current season, they REMAIN eligible
France also gave reporters which drivers would be eligible for a Showcase event this year (listed alphabetically):
Marcos Ambrose
John Andretti
Stacy Compton
David Gilliland
David Green
Shane Huffman
Kyle Krisiloff
Burney Lamar
Stephen Leicht
Ashton Lewis
Juan Montoya
Danny O'Quinn Jr.
David Ragan
David Reutimann
Jay Sauter
Regan Smith
Steven Wallace
Save the date - The Visa Future Stars Showcase Inaugural Event is booked for July 26th, 2008! Watch the future stars of the sport and a few old grizzled journeyman battle it out for 100 laps at USA International Speedway! (NASCAR.com) (5/18/07)
With all of stock car racing focused on this weekend's spectacular All-Star Race, showcasing the best drivers in the world, it appears that Brian France has chosen to give a shout out to the little guys. At the All-Star Race Media Day today, France announced the addition of an All-Star event for the Nationwide Series next season, and also informed reporters the Nationwide Series will run 36 races as opposed to 35 as they run this year. Much like the Sprint Cup Series, which typically has its own weekend reserved for the event (plus a Truck Series race the night before), the Nationwide Series will have its own weekend allowing the future stars of NASCAR to strut their stuff. On the rare mid-summer weekend that the Cup Series takes a break, NASCAR Nation will focus on The Visa Future Stars Showcase, a 100 lap event to be hosted at USA International Speedway, a .75-mile oval located in Lakeland, Florida. "We are really excited to bring an event like this to the Nationwide Series," said France. "We can talk all we want about the Cup guys, but these guys are the future of our sport and they have to find a way to put their names out there and attract future sponsors. Having a weekend solely dedicated for them is a great way to do it, and I think fans will really enjoy the racing at the venue we picked. It's not very well-known, but it is a great facility that's gonna build extra seating for our race. The Nationwide guys are much less removed from their short track roots as opposed to the Cup guys, so that's why we wanted to go with a short track for the event." Here is how a driver will qualify for the 2008 event (as long as one of the first four items are met, the driver is eligible):
-Win a race during the 2007 season
-Win a race during the 2008 season up to the Showcase
-Finish in the top 25 of the 2007 point standings
-Be ranked in the top 25 of the 2008 point standings up to the Showcase
-The key qualification - To NOT be a Cup Series driver! - No full-time Cup Series drivers are allowed in this race! (Full-time status is determined at the discretion of NASCAR officials)
-Special note - if the driver has run a full season in the Cup Series, but not in the previous season and the current season, they REMAIN eligible
France also gave reporters which drivers would be eligible for a Showcase event this year (listed alphabetically):
Marcos Ambrose
John Andretti
Stacy Compton
David Gilliland
David Green
Shane Huffman
Kyle Krisiloff
Burney Lamar
Stephen Leicht
Ashton Lewis
Juan Montoya
Danny O'Quinn Jr.
David Ragan
David Reutimann
Jay Sauter
Regan Smith
Steven Wallace
Save the date - The Visa Future Stars Showcase Inaugural Event is booked for July 26th, 2008! Watch the future stars of the sport and a few old grizzled journeyman battle it out for 100 laps at USA International Speedway! (NASCAR.com) (5/18/07)