There is a loophole in the NASCAR rule book that allows teams to switch owner's points between cars during the season. While this loophole was originally in place in order to allow drivers to make the transition between teams, it also allows other teams to abuse the system. Some of the teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series are considering abusing this rule in order to guarnatee a starting spot in each race. Allowing teams to switch owner's points between cars during the season will only have negative implications in the long run for NASCAR, the teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, and most importantly, the fans. NASCAR must take steps in order to close the loophole in order to allow all drivers to have a fair chance in each of the events in the NASCAR schedule.
At the beginning of the season, Penske Racing made a controversial decision by switching the owner's points from Kurt Busch's car to Sam Hornish Jr's car. This was done in an effort to secure a starting position for Hornish in the first five races of the 2008 season. Prior to the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hornish was outside the top 35 and his team was once again considering switching owner's points with Busch in order to guarantee a starting position. Luckily for Hornish, he was able to narrowly make the top 35 with a four point lead over Jamie Mc Murray. Some other teams have not been so lucky. Some of the teams that were considering or are still considering making the points switch between cars include Michael Waltrip Racing, Petty Enterpises, and even Roush Racing.
Allowing teams to switch points in the middle of the season completely changes the outcome of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. At the beginning of the season, NASCAR stated that it wanted to "get back to basics". By allowing teams to take advantage of this loophole, it is essentially promoting cheating among teams. If NASCAR does not change this rule, it is essentially playing favorites with teams, guaranteeing the favored teams a spot in the field each week. Wasn't it just last year that a certain driver likened NASCAR to World Wrestling Entertainment?
Allowing this rule to continue hurts many of the smaller, less competitive teams such as BAM Racing or Robby Gordon Motorsports. For example, what if the National Stock Car Racing Association upheld the penalties levied against Robby Gordon Motorsports? Robby Gordon would have been outside of the top 35, having to qualify into the race each week. Instead of concentrating on racing setup, the team would have to concentrate on getting into the show. The smaller teams do not have the luxury of having two cars in which it can trade the points between cars.
"And then", NASCAR must ask, "what about the fans?" If teams are allowed to switch points during the season, what will the fans think? The biggest complaint about NASCAR has been that is has not been consistent when it is making a decision or penalizing teams. Up to now, NASCAR has not allowed teams to make these type of changes to the car points.
Is there an alternative to the situation? Absolutely. If a team wants a certain driver to make the race by trading car points, the driver should change cars all together. In other words, if Kyle Petty wants to be guaranteed a spot in the Sprint Cup Series race at Matrinsville, trading points between the 45 and the 43 cars is not acceptable. Instead, Kyle Petty should be driving the 43 car. No personnel changes should be made either. The crew chief and other crew members that were with the team originally should stay with the team. This would be the only acceptable solution if teams wanted to trade cars. I will admit, seeing Sam Hornish Jr. in the #2, Kyle Petty in the #43, or Jamie McMurray in the #17 will be awkward, but if the teams want to guarantee their drivers be in the field, this is the only acceptable answer.
