Nationwide Series dominated by Sprint Cup drivers

NEWTON - Reaching victory lane has been a tough task for drivers who focus solely on the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season,

Although it hasn't quite been “once in a blue moon,” until another Nationwide-only driver captures a victory “few and far between” wouldn't be accurate either.

Racers who compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have hoarded wins and some Nationwide-only drivers hope Iowa Speedway brings change during today's Nationwide U.S. Cellular 250.

In 20 races, Justin Allgaier is the only Nationwide-only driver to reach victory lane, claiming the Scotts Turf Builder 300 on March 20 at Bristol (Conn.) Motor Speedway.

“We were very fortunate we were able to win that race and take a lot of pride in that,” Allgaier said. “Obviously, the Cup guys were all there as well so that made it even better.”

Kyle Busch has eight victories in the Nationwide Series, while Brad Keselowski, who the race's defending champ, has three and Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards own two Nationwide wins apiece. Keselowski, Harvick and Edwards are considered “double-duty” drivers, competing in both series.

“We all need to try a little harder and get these cars handling better and try to beat these Cup guys,” said Nationwide driver Steve Wallace, who was third here last year and seventh in points. “I think we'll all have a fair shot at it.”

The majority opinion at Friday's news conference with some nationwide-only drivers is the difference lies within the racing teams.

“To me, it's not about the drivers,” Racer Brendan Gaughan said. “We've all raced against these guys. It's not that they're that much better. The teams that they drive for have a lot of resources and a lot of asset and that's the toughest thing we're going against.”

Most of the 35 Nationwide events are held at the same race track as the Sprint Cup, giving the Sprint Cup drivers an advantage. It allows them to learn more about the track and make adjustments to their cars.

“I think the biggest thing we fight as Nationwide only guys is not the fact that we don't have the talent or the equipment it's the fact that when we go to a race track they're going to get an extra 500 to 700 miles a weekend more experience,” Allgaier said. “More laps on the same race track we're going to be at.”

The drivers aren't shying away from the challenge and actually welcome it. They want to compete against the best. Driver Trevor Bayne said he loves racing against Sprint Cup drivers and, as a kid, wanted to be the best overall and not win just one Nationwide race.

“I think that's going to benefit me the most is racing against these guys every weekend. It's going to make me a better driver, and racing against this tough equipment, I mean, if everything was just handed to us it would seem easy and we'd step into Sprint Cup and we'd struggle even more so than now” Bayne said. “I kind of enjoy the struggle a little bit. I'd definitely like to see some of us getting some wins every now and then, but it's definitely making us better for the future.”

Gaughan said the issue is testing and that Nationwide-only drivers have proven they can keep up if they can test and win, even though things have to fall in place.

Testing limits was supposed to close the gap, but has had a reverse effect.

“You just have to find a way to enable everybody to have access to the same stuff,” Gaughan said. “I think they've already shown limiting testing has not been the answer. Limiting testing has made it where less people win.”

Bayne could help break the trend. Bayne has notched three top-5 finishes in the last five races, winning the pole in last two events. Momentum is on his side.

“We have a strong up curve in our season going right now,” Bayne said. “We've had our best two runs in a row the last two weeks.”

Bayne, ninth in the points standings, runs well on short tracks and has plenty of experience at this 7/8-mile oval.

“It's definitely a lot of fun to race here at Iowa,” Bayne said. “I've been here a few times, actually probably more than any other track we race at in the Nationwide Series, so I think we have a good shot at it this weekend.”