Buschwhacker
Encyclopedia
A Buschwhacker is a term for NASCAR
drivers who are regulars in the top-level Sprint Cup Series but who also compete in races in the lower-level Nationwide Series. The original coinage of the term Buschwacker comes from the fact the Nationwide Series was previously the Busch Series.
Because the Nationwide Series is essentially a minor league
for the major-league Sprint Cup Series, this is a controversial practice. Critics say that Buschwhackers are racing against inferior competition and taking opportunities away from younger, less-experienced drivers, but many NASCAR experts contend that without Cup drivers in Busch and the large amount of fan interest they attract, the series would cease to exist. Because the Nationwide Series runs most of its events as undercard races for the Sprint Cup Series, there is almost no time conflict for Cup Series drivers who wish to compete. Cup drivers like to race in Nationwide races, which are usually run on Saturdays, as preparation for the Sprint Cup Series races, usually run on Sundays. Because Nationwide and Cup cars are only subtly different, the primary advantage of running both races is extra practice ("seat time") for the drivers. Some racing experts suggested that when the Cup series moved to the Car of Tomorrow
the advantage of Cup drivers racing in Nationwide events would decrease greatly; however, this did not prove true, as each Nationwide Series points title from 2006 to 2010 was won by a Cup Series regular.
Due to NASCAR rules changes that will take effect in 2011, Buschwhackers are no longer allowed to compete for the Nationwide Series drivers' championship, although they can earn full points toward the owners' championship. Before these changes, the last non-Buschwhacker to win the Nationwide Series points title was Martin Truex, Jr. in 2005.
, Joe Nemechek
and Jamie McMurray
have raced with Nationwide Series teams entirely separate from their Sprint Cup Series ones. While most Buschwhackers cherry-pick which Nationwide Series races to drive in, a few non-rookie Sprint Cup Series drivers, including Greg Biffle
in 2004, Carl Edwards
in 2005, and Biffle, Edwards, J. J. Yeley
, Denny Hamlin
, Reed Sorenson
, Clint Bowyer
, and Kevin Harvick
in 2006 and 2007, attempt to run every Nationwide event while also competing in a full season of Sprint Cup, even though on some weekends the two series race at venues hundreds of miles apart. Some critics of Buschwacking cite the lack of Nationwide Series veterans left in the series, after long-time series veterans and champions (such as Steve Grissom
, David Green
, Randy Lajoie
, Jason Keller
, Casey Atwood
, and Ashton Lewis
) could not find a team to drive for as all the seats were taken by Cup drivers.
Still, the presence of Sprint Cup Series drivers in Nationwide Series races increases the exposure for the series and raises the attractiveness of the series for potential competitors as well as potential sponsors. It also increases the level of competition, and accelerates the development of non-Buschwhacker Nationwide Series drivers. Some fans believe the television broadcasters focus solely on the Cup drivers during the broadcast of a race.
In 2007, only three non-Cup Series regulars won during the 35-race schedule: Aric Almirola
, Stephen Leicht
and Jason Leffler
. (A fourth winner, David Reutimann
made only 26 Cup starts out of 36 events: however, Reutimann missed 8 of the remaining 10 races merely because he failed to qualify, and was benched for a road course ringer
in the other two.) Almirola's victory at the Milwaukee Mile
on June 23 was controversial and unusual. Almirola was pulled from his car after leading 42 of the first 58 laps to make room for his team's regular driver, Cup regular Denny Hamlin
. Hamlin missed the start of the race because he was delayed flying back east to Wisconsin from California, where he was driving a Cup event at Infineon Raceway
the same weekend. Even though the car lost a lot of time during the driver change, Hamlin got back to the front to take the checkered flag after 250 laps. Almirola was officially credited with the win because he made the start.
One of the Buschwhackers, Carl Edwards, clinched the 2007 Busch Series championship with two races to go. He ended the season 618 points over his fellow Buschwhacker David Reutimann. There were four non-Buschwhackers in the top 10 in drivers points: Jason Leffler
, Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
, Stephen Leicht
, and Marcos Ambrose
.
There have been some proposals made to restrict Cup regulars' participation in the Nationwide Series by not awarding championship points to such drivers, none which were made official until 2011. Even though there is a widespread perception that drivers running both races hindered the development of new drivers, there has been a steady influx of successful new drivers into the Sprint Cup Series: e.g., in 2007 three of the Top 10 drivers had less than four years of Cup experience, eight of the ten had less than 10 years of Cup experience, and only one (Jeff Burton
) was over 40 years of age.
Cup drivers turn up in other series as well. Although it would be impractical for a Cup regular to run a full Camping World Truck Series or Whelen Modified Tour
schedule, there are several who run trucks part-time. Kevin Harvick
in particular is very active in the Truck Series: he owns a truck team which enters at least one vehicle in every race, and he frequently drives for his own team; and the most successful of these drivers is Kyle Busch
, who has won 29 Truck Series races. Most of the leading Truck Series drivers have at least some Cup experience. Cup drivers also occasionally compete in regional racing series events.
In late 2010, media reports began to indicate that NASCAR would respond to the critics of "Buschwhacking" by effectively splitting the difference between the two extremes of unrestricted presence of Cup drivers and none at all. It was specifically reported that in 2011, Cup drivers would be allowed to run in the Nationwide Series, but not to compete for the series championship. This rule change was confirmed by NASCAR.com in a report on January 11, 2011. Drivers are now allowed to compete for the championship in only one of NASCAR's three national touring series in a given season. The NASCAR license application form now includes a check box requiring drivers to select the series in which they wish to compete for the championship. NASCAR president and CEO Brian France
officially announced this change on January 26, adding that Cup Series drivers will still be allowed to earn owner's points, but not driver's points, in the Nationwide and Truck Series.
newsgroup rec.autos.sport.NASCAR in May 1997. Tinadog was against Dale Earnhardt
and liked Mark Martin
, and Witkowski the reverse. He was especially critical of Martin using his Winston Cup team and resources to beat up on the drivers in the lower Busch Grand National Series. The old western term of "bushwhacker
" was morphed into "Busch Whacker".
The term continued in use among the regulars on rec.autos.sport.NASCAR ("rasn" for short), referring now to any driver whose primary ride is in the Cup series and cherry-picks Busch races. The term was picked up by Fox Sports
broadcaster Mike Joy
, who also participated in the group. After Mike Joy used the term in his broadcasts, it was picked up by other members of the media and found its way into common use. Mike gave credit on the air on lap 64 of the Fox telecast of the Hershey's 300 Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 2005.
Fox later discontinued the use of the term on its telecasts. This may have been done to save face among the critics of this practice, or perhaps because few of the leaders were non-Sprint Cup Series drivers anymore.
An alternative term was used by Larry McReynolds
initially, as Nationwide is an insurance
company, he dubbed the Sprint Cup invaders as "Claim Jumpers", punning off the term of an insurance claim and mining rights.
published in 2005http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CAR_NASCAR_BUSCHWHACKING_THE_BANQUET?SITE=GENERIC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-12-07-21-13-40
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
drivers who are regulars in the top-level Sprint Cup Series but who also compete in races in the lower-level Nationwide Series. The original coinage of the term Buschwacker comes from the fact the Nationwide Series was previously the Busch Series.
Because the Nationwide Series is essentially a minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
for the major-league Sprint Cup Series, this is a controversial practice. Critics say that Buschwhackers are racing against inferior competition and taking opportunities away from younger, less-experienced drivers, but many NASCAR experts contend that without Cup drivers in Busch and the large amount of fan interest they attract, the series would cease to exist. Because the Nationwide Series runs most of its events as undercard races for the Sprint Cup Series, there is almost no time conflict for Cup Series drivers who wish to compete. Cup drivers like to race in Nationwide races, which are usually run on Saturdays, as preparation for the Sprint Cup Series races, usually run on Sundays. Because Nationwide and Cup cars are only subtly different, the primary advantage of running both races is extra practice ("seat time") for the drivers. Some racing experts suggested that when the Cup series moved to the Car of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
the advantage of Cup drivers racing in Nationwide events would decrease greatly; however, this did not prove true, as each Nationwide Series points title from 2006 to 2010 was won by a Cup Series regular.
Due to NASCAR rules changes that will take effect in 2011, Buschwhackers are no longer allowed to compete for the Nationwide Series drivers' championship, although they can earn full points toward the owners' championship. Before these changes, the last non-Buschwhacker to win the Nationwide Series points title was Martin Truex, Jr. in 2005.
The practice
The presence of Buschwhackers is seen as problematic by some Nationwide Series regulars who complain about more talented Cup drivers taking the top prize money and thus leading to loss of sponsorship for Nationwide Series teams with no Cup affiliation. Also, in some cases, Cup regulars have better equipment thus taking away the regulars' chance to win and score much needed championship points. Other Cup drivers will run equipment independent of the Cup Series; in recent years, Tony StewartTony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
, Joe Nemechek
Joe Nemechek
Joseph Frank Nemechek III is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and owner of NEMCO Motorsports. He won the 1992 Busch Series championship...
and Jamie McMurray
Jamie McMurray
James Christopher "Jamie" McMurray is a professional American race car driver. McMurray is best known for winning the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 as a substitute driver in his second Winston Cup start, and is one of three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year...
have raced with Nationwide Series teams entirely separate from their Sprint Cup Series ones. While most Buschwhackers cherry-pick which Nationwide Series races to drive in, a few non-rookie Sprint Cup Series drivers, including Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
in 2004, Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
in 2005, and Biffle, Edwards, J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley
Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR driver. Nicknamed "J. J." , he is currently a competitor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving for Front Row Motorsports.-Open wheel:Yeley initially made a mark for himself in the world of auto racing when he took the Hoosier state by...
, Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin
James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...
, Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
, Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #15 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. Early in his career, he drove for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Nationwide Series championship....
, and Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
in 2006 and 2007, attempt to run every Nationwide event while also competing in a full season of Sprint Cup, even though on some weekends the two series race at venues hundreds of miles apart. Some critics of Buschwacking cite the lack of Nationwide Series veterans left in the series, after long-time series veterans and champions (such as Steve Grissom
Steve Grissom
Steve Grissom is a NASCAR driver. Grissom was the 1993 Busch Series champion and has eleven Busch wins in 185 starts. He turned down a scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Alabama to focus a career on racing....
, David Green
David Green (NASCAR)
David A. Green is a NASCAR driver. He won the Nationwide Series championship in 1994. His two younger brothers, Jeff and Mark have also competed in the NASCAR circuit...
, Randy Lajoie
Randy LaJoie
Randall LaJoie was a driver in the NASCAR Busch Series , where he is a two-time champion. Presently, he does not have a full-time ride. He is the father of racers Casey and Corey LaJoie.-Early racing career:LaJoie started racing go-karts when he was 12 years old...
, Jason Keller
Jason Keller
For the American writer, see Jason Keller Jason Keller is a NASCAR racing driver who currently drives the #44 Chevrolet for Tri-Star Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. A mainstay in the Busch/Nationwide Series since his debut in 1991...
, Casey Atwood
Casey Atwood
Casey Lee Atwood is an American race car driver. Atwood is currently a free agent in NASCAR. He married his longtime girlfriend, Laura, in 2005. Atwood and Laura have two daughters, Kaylee and Emma...
, and Ashton Lewis
Ashton Lewis
Ashton Lewis,Jr. was a NASCAR driver. He was educated at the Sears Point Raceway road racing school as well as obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia....
) could not find a team to drive for as all the seats were taken by Cup drivers.
Still, the presence of Sprint Cup Series drivers in Nationwide Series races increases the exposure for the series and raises the attractiveness of the series for potential competitors as well as potential sponsors. It also increases the level of competition, and accelerates the development of non-Buschwhacker Nationwide Series drivers. Some fans believe the television broadcasters focus solely on the Cup drivers during the broadcast of a race.
In 2007, only three non-Cup Series regulars won during the 35-race schedule: Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola
Aric A. Almirola is a Cuban-American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the #88 Unilever/Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports. Almirola attended the University of Central Florida working on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to...
, Stephen Leicht
Stephen Leicht
Stephen Leicht is an American stock car driver. He is currently a free agent. He has over 150 feature event wins in quarter midgets and go-karts.-Early racing career:...
and Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks before moving to NASCAR's three major series...
. (A fourth winner, David Reutimann
David Reutimann
Emil David Reutimann is the driver the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine/Tums/Best Western Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
made only 26 Cup starts out of 36 events: however, Reutimann missed 8 of the remaining 10 races merely because he failed to qualify, and was benched for a road course ringer
Road course ringer
Road course ringer, also known as Road course specialist, Road course expert, or Road runner, is a term used to describe a non-NASCAR driver who is hired by a NASCAR team to race, specifically, on road courses...
in the other two.) Almirola's victory at the Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
on June 23 was controversial and unusual. Almirola was pulled from his car after leading 42 of the first 58 laps to make room for his team's regular driver, Cup regular Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin
James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...
. Hamlin missed the start of the race because he was delayed flying back east to Wisconsin from California, where he was driving a Cup event at Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
the same weekend. Even though the car lost a lot of time during the driver change, Hamlin got back to the front to take the checkered flag after 250 laps. Almirola was officially credited with the win because he made the start.
One of the Buschwhackers, Carl Edwards, clinched the 2007 Busch Series championship with two races to go. He ended the season 618 points over his fellow Buschwhacker David Reutimann. There were four non-Buschwhackers in the top 10 in drivers points: Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks before moving to NASCAR's three major series...
, Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
Charles Robert Hamilton, Jr. is a NASCAR driver and owner, and current track promoter. He is currently a free agent...
, Stephen Leicht
Stephen Leicht
Stephen Leicht is an American stock car driver. He is currently a free agent. He has over 150 feature event wins in quarter midgets and go-karts.-Early racing career:...
, and Marcos Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose is a championship winning Australian racing car driver. He currently drives the #9 Stanley Black & Decker Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
.
There have been some proposals made to restrict Cup regulars' participation in the Nationwide Series by not awarding championship points to such drivers, none which were made official until 2011. Even though there is a widespread perception that drivers running both races hindered the development of new drivers, there has been a steady influx of successful new drivers into the Sprint Cup Series: e.g., in 2007 three of the Top 10 drivers had less than four years of Cup experience, eight of the ten had less than 10 years of Cup experience, and only one (Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
) was over 40 years of age.
Cup drivers turn up in other series as well. Although it would be impractical for a Cup regular to run a full Camping World Truck Series or Whelen Modified Tour
Whelen Modified Tour
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR in the Modified division. The Modified division is NASCAR's oldest division, and its one of two open-wheeled divisions...
schedule, there are several who run trucks part-time. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
in particular is very active in the Truck Series: he owns a truck team which enters at least one vehicle in every race, and he frequently drives for his own team; and the most successful of these drivers is Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
, who has won 29 Truck Series races. Most of the leading Truck Series drivers have at least some Cup experience. Cup drivers also occasionally compete in regional racing series events.
In late 2010, media reports began to indicate that NASCAR would respond to the critics of "Buschwhacking" by effectively splitting the difference between the two extremes of unrestricted presence of Cup drivers and none at all. It was specifically reported that in 2011, Cup drivers would be allowed to run in the Nationwide Series, but not to compete for the series championship. This rule change was confirmed by NASCAR.com in a report on January 11, 2011. Drivers are now allowed to compete for the championship in only one of NASCAR's three national touring series in a given season. The NASCAR license application form now includes a check box requiring drivers to select the series in which they wish to compete for the championship. NASCAR president and CEO Brian France
Brian France
Brian France is the CEO and Chairman of NASCAR, taking over the position from his father, Bill France, Jr., in 2003 . He is widely known and regarded as one of the most powerful men in sports. France's family pioneered NASCAR out of a Southeast based sport, into a national and international multi...
officially announced this change on January 26, adding that Cup Series drivers will still be allowed to earn owner's points, but not driver's points, in the Nationwide and Truck Series.
Usage
The term originated in an argument Craig Witkowski had with another user "Tinadog" in the UsenetUsenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroup rec.autos.sport.NASCAR in May 1997. Tinadog was against Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
and liked Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
, and Witkowski the reverse. He was especially critical of Martin using his Winston Cup team and resources to beat up on the drivers in the lower Busch Grand National Series. The old western term of "bushwhacker
Bushwhacker
Bushwhacking was a form of guerrilla warfare common during the American Revolutionary War, American Civil War and other conflicts in which there are large areas of contested land and few Governmental Resources to control these tracts...
" was morphed into "Busch Whacker".
The term continued in use among the regulars on rec.autos.sport.NASCAR ("rasn" for short), referring now to any driver whose primary ride is in the Cup series and cherry-picks Busch races. The term was picked up by Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
broadcaster Mike Joy
Mike Joy
Mike Joy is an American TV sports announcer, who currently serves as the lap-by-lap voice of FOX Sports' NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage. His color analysts are Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds. Joy has broadcast more than 30 Daytona 500s, NASCAR's biggest event...
, who also participated in the group. After Mike Joy used the term in his broadcasts, it was picked up by other members of the media and found its way into common use. Mike gave credit on the air on lap 64 of the Fox telecast of the Hershey's 300 Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 2005.
Fox later discontinued the use of the term on its telecasts. This may have been done to save face among the critics of this practice, or perhaps because few of the leaders were non-Sprint Cup Series drivers anymore.
An alternative term was used by Larry McReynolds
Larry McReynolds
Lawrence Joseph McReynolds III is a former NASCAR crew chief and currently serves as a racing analyst on Fox Sports, TNT and a columnist on Foxsports.com. He currently lives in Mooresville, North Carolina...
initially, as Nationwide is an insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
company, he dubbed the Sprint Cup invaders as "Claim Jumpers", punning off the term of an insurance claim and mining rights.
See also
- List of NASCAR double duty performers - drivers who competed full-time in both Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series during a single season.
Sources
Bryan Alvarez
Bryan Alki Alvarez is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and the editor and publisher of Figure Four Weekly, a newsletter that has covered professional wrestling since 1995. Alvarez credits a portion of his pro wrestling training to pro wrestler Buddy Wayne, and is credited in training...
published in 2005http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CAR_NASCAR_BUSCHWHACKING_THE_BANQUET?SITE=GENERIC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-12-07-21-13-40