I was watching SportsCenter tonight and they had a thing at the end of the show that said NASCAR was thinking about raising their minimum competing age to 21... the current minimum age is 18.

I got on NASCAR's site and tried to find it but couldn't find anything...

My question is... what would this mean for guys like Clauson, Stenhouse and Swindell?

Anyone else hear anything about it?

Also, what are everyone's thoughts on the subject?

CUP: NASCAR Considering Raising Minimum Age
Written by: SceneDaily .com
Daytona Beach, Fla. – 1/17/2008


NASCAR is floating the idea to teams of raising the minimum age from 18 to 21 for Sprint Cup Series drivers, multiple sources have confirmed.

Currently, 18 is the minimum age required for the three national touring series - Craftsman Truck, Nationwide and Cup.

There are no current drivers under 21 in Cup competition. Kyle Busch, David Ragan and Reed Sorenson all competed in their first Cup event before their 21st birthday.

"We think it is a good idea for a number of reasons, the biggest being that the sport can avoid an unnecessary dose of immaturity," Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith said of the idea. "The length of a Cup career can be so long that a couple years of life's seasoning can't hurt anyone at that age."

I think it would be a good idea this way it would force the development drivers to have 2-3 years experience in either the truck or Nationwide Series prior to head to Cup level. Right now a 19 year old can slip in and win a Nationwide race and then Cup owners think he is ready to move up and put him in a Cup deal. Plus I think Nascar has realized that the Nationwide series has lost all its regular series drivers due to Cup invasions and this would be a way for Nascar to market guys for 2-3 years before they move up. I think it would be a good move.

Staggerman hit it I think.

It is tough because there is some young talent that is probably capable to race in the cup series. I think with the new outlook for the Nationwide series this will push to keep this as a proving ground for the younger drivers more so than in past years.

I would say it is also better for younger drivers with keeping them in the Nationwide series longer because they don't jump into a cup car, struggle and then their career is lost in one short season.

I think it is a plus!:checkered:


Tyler
www.tylershoemakerracing.com

Hopefully in the case of Clauson or any others who have already signed with a NASCAR team, and have already participated in NASCAR Truck, Busch or Cup race they will be grandfathered in and not be affected by the new rule, should it be implimented. Stenhouse, Swindell and others might be on the outside looking in, and may have to run ARCA until they are of age.

My guess is, it's just for the cup cars. It nice that we can send the better drivers off to better their lives. :rolling:

Im gonna be against it mainly because some young men are more mature both in the sport and in judgement than many long time racers.

That being said, Many aren't either.

Something like a Indy Test viewed by elders of the sport might be helpful.

Chuck, who just can't bare to watch the Nationwide crash fest anymore. There's more yellow laps than green in many races (At least it seems that way)

If a guy has the maturity, desire and dollars to risk it all for the chance to see a car go fast, let that car owner sign whoever he wants at whatever age he wants.

Implement the rule.

Hold them in Nationwide until they are 21. Then let them come up and run the Cup series

If he has that maturity they are looking for he'll understand that the rule is now 21.

End of story.

Besides, it'll give some drivers a job hustling cars for part of the season until the kid comes up.

Thats a great idea!!!! :applaud::applaud:

If this would help Dave Darland and some of the guys that have paid there dues get a good ride I would be all for it. I wonder what brought this to the front burner now, has it something to do with this past season? I would not mind going to watch if there was someone close to me racing like maybe Josh. :checkered:

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com