By Bruce Nuttleman
An ROL Insider Original Article

The NASCAR Camping World Series (formerly Craftsman Truck Series) celebrated it's tenth anniversary a few years ago. Sadly, it's not inconceivable that the 2009 NCWS season may be the last. The headlines in the news scream financial disaster for the world, if not the entire universe. Who really knows if those in the Corporate offices of NASCAR factored a cyclical economic downturn (on steroids) in their plans over the past several seasons? As early as last year, it was painfully obvious that the NCWS was (at best) facing some serious issues in fielding a full field of trucks.

Recent rules changes in the NCWS include a limit of five men over the wall, limiting pit stop adjustments to gas OR tires (but not both) and a sealed engine program. These new rules are designed to lower the cost to compete and breathe economic life back into a series that is in dire straits.

In 1995, the truck series started at many of the small bullrings in the country. Multiple cup car owners like Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress fielded teams and the expenses were minimized by things like a half time break. Last season, the truck series still put on the best racing of any NASCAR series. Problem is, not enough people seem to care. Expenses have grown as the series moved on to larger and faster tracks, but there hasn't been a substantial growth in the monies needed to support the growth.

Clearly, in the midst of 'growth', NASCAR has lost their way with many of their series. It will be no more apparent than in the 2009 NCWS season. Short fields and then some are certain to mar the season. It's not just NASCAR that has outgrew their britches. Many traveling series in the Southern and Eastern part of the country are also facing serious financial issues--if not extinction.

I believe NASCAR is responsible for the both the growth of, and also bringing the truck series to the brink of extinction. I also believe race fans can see better racing at their local tracks if promoters learn from NASCAR's failure(s).

Racing, at every level, is best when kept in economies of scale. Your local track champion (in any of the levels of any given track) couldn't field a Championship car at Daytona, but they can certainly hold their own at the local track. They may even be able to step up to one of the many traveling series out there and be more than competitive. I've been a sidekick on a little radio show at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway for many years. If i've learned one thing about how a good track or series should be run, it's keep it simple. Yes, keep it simple is a very simplistic saying, but what does it mean?

To me, keeping it simple in racing means to stay within the boundaries of what works. Keep the rules consistent to help keep the racing as affordable as possible and do this while PUTTING ON A SHOW.

Super Late model traveling series have a great opportunity to capitalize on the failures of NASCAR. When the NCWS had the halftime break, fans essentially had double features. To me, that's the best possible show that a headlining series could provide for it's fans. Let's face it, the best part of the race is the start and the end. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all of the races. But as Chris Matthews would say, there''s a thrill going up my leg when the green flag is about to drop.

Those reading this have most likely attended 100-200 lap short track aces that were VERY anti-climatic after the drop of the green flag. All of the anticipation at the start of the race and hoping that your favorite driver will be in victory lane at the end. After a few laps, it's fairly clear that more than half the field is out to lunch. All but few cars that hit the setups are just doing what race cars do, which is going around in circles. Watching 20-30 cars going around in circles isn't the worst thing in the world, but it doesn't always give fans the best show. This isn't an indictment on the drivers or any particular series. Unfortunately, it's just a common byproduct of longer races.

When drivers start a longer race in the Wisconsin Challenge Series, ASA Midwest Tour or other traveling series, that's it. They are essentially on an island on the track. The car is as good or bad as it's going to get. Yes, fans get to see a longer race. They will see a winner and some great racing. But it is usually clear who has a top five car and the rest who do not after 20 or so laps.

There is an easy way for traveling series to put on a better show and NOT raise the expenses for it's teams. Actually, it can reduce the costs and strongly enhance the long term racing quality. Let's say you have a 100 lap race. Why not extend the race to 125 laps and have a 10-15 minute break at lap 75 and then run the second 50 laps to the end? It's a double feature without the extra payout or expense to teams. The length of the race in the example above is arbitrary. But generally, for races of 100 laps or more.

Let teams adjust air pressures or do other approved changes in the 15 minute window. These wouldn't be 'NASCAR style' pit-stops. No invert, no new tires (you could rotate tires), you can't take the car off the track and all stops would be on the front stretch of the track in front of the fans. But teams could definitely make enough changes that make a difference in the outcome of the race. The leader could dial themselves out and a mid-pack car could become a top five contender. It would be a different race.

Best of all, this format would not add any additional expense. It would, however, increase the exposure of the drivers to the fans in race conditions. Drivers or crew chiefs could be interviewed during the break. It would also give teams that are not familiar with a track another shot at getting a better setup--not only for this race, but for the next time the series comes to town.

Oddly, this format is not too far from the race procedure that the NCWS started with in 1995. For some reason, NASCAR strayed from what worked. Promoters, teams and fans can benefit from NASCAR's failed lessons of the past.