Catchfence

NASCAR is considering overhauling the Sprint Cup Series’ schedule and championship format for next season, but changes also could be coming to the Nationwide circuit.

Chairman Brian France says the second-tier series likely will have new rules aimed at limiting the dominance of Sprint Cup drivers. Those moonlighting from the premier circuit have won 16 of 17 Nationwide races this season (most recently Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona International Speedway). The top two in the standings are Brad Keselowski, who is running his first full Cup season, and Carl Edwards, who is in his sixth consecutive season of running full time in Cup and Nationwide.

It’s been five years since there was a Nationwide champion (Martin Truex Jr.) who didn’t run Cup concurrently.

“There’s such a concentration of Cup drivers, which we like on one hand, but we want to make sure that division is our version of college football,” France said. “We need to make sure the stage is not crowded so much so that we can’t give opportunities to Nationwide young regulars who need that experience.”

Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, who won the Nationwide season opener at Daytona, supports more opportunities for young drivers but says there might not be enough well-funded teams to support them.

- USA Today