Four NASCAR Drivers Who Would Be Better Off in XFINITY
These four NASCAR drivers shouldn’t be racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. An XFINITY series ride is the best option for them.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is supposed to be the 40 best stock car racers in the country. While the majority of the drivers are on top of their game, there are always a couple who shouldn’t be racing at NASCAR’s highest level. Whether it’s a lack of talent, a poor-quality ride, or a need for more experience, here are four drivers who would be better off dropping down to NASCAR’s XFINITY series.
Aug 19, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ty Dillon (3) after crashing during the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Ty Dillon
The younger brother of Austin Dillon, Ty has been somewhat less successful in NASCAR’s lower series. While Austin won both the XFINITY and the Camping World Truck Series championships, Ty has not been on the same level. He currently sits 4th in the XFINITY series standings, and has a reputation for running too hard and damaging his cars. Despite these problems, Dillon is expected to move up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2017, replacing Ryan Newman in the Richard Childress Racing #31.
Ty Dillon does not have the experience needed to succeed in the Sprint Cup Series. His brother took three years to put everything together; it will undoubtedly take Ty longer to figure things out. At this point, Ryan Newman remains the better driver–he has much more experience and can string together consistent solid finishes, a trait which Ty Dillon sorely lacks. The young driver hasn’t exactly impressed in his limited Sprint Cup starts. With RCR’s Sprint Cup program struggling, Dillon would be better off spending another year refining his craft in XFINITY before moving up a level.
Jul 9, 2016; Sparta, KY, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Regan Smith (7) sits in his car as it begins to smoke near pit road during the Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Regan Smith
Regan Smith’s NASCAR career has been slowly spiraling downward since he notched Furniture Row Racing’s first Sprint Cup victory. In 2011, Smith notched a huge upset at the Southern 500, recording his first career Sprint Cup win. However, the driver didn’t even finish the 2012 season for Furniture Row, being replaced for the last six races by Kurt Busch.
After 2012, Smith dropped to the Nationwide Series, driving for JR Motorsports while acting as Hendrick’s backup Sprint Cup driver. Smith had three very successful years in NASCAR’s second division, almost winning the 2014 championship. Despite excellent performance, Smith was replaced by Elliott Sadler this year due to a lack of sponsorship; without a quality XFINITY ride available, he currently drives for backmarking Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Unlike the other drivers on this list, Regan Smith doesn’t have a quality ride waiting for him in the XFINITY series. Unfortunately for the New York native, he’d be much better off competing for wins in XFINITY rather than struggling to finish races in the Sprint Cup.
Mar 29, 2015; Martinsville, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Michael Annett (46) spins during the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Annett
Michael Annett once looked like a hidden talent, a young racer with a lot of potential. He’s always been saddled with poor equipment and had to make the most of it. In 2009, he finished 10th in the XFINITY series standings with Germain Racing, a team which currently sits 29th in the Sprint Cup standings. In 2012, he finished 5th in the XFINITY series driving for underfunded Richard Petty Motorsports. Backed by Pilot Flying J, Annett moved up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving for Tommy Baldwin.
Annett hasn’t been able to replicate the same success in the Sprint Cup that he had before. He ran 33rd for Tommy Baldwin and 36th for HScott Motorsports, and is struggling badly this year along with Clint Bowyer. With HScott’s future up in the air for next year, Annett and Pilot Flying J would be better off in a quality XFINITY ride, where the driver can compete for wins and get TV exposure week after week instead of lagging behind in Sprint Cup. With Annett’s sponsorship, a decent car shouldn’t be hard to find.
May 1, 2016; Talladega, AL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick (10) car burns after her crash with driver Matt Kenseth (20) during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Danica Patrick
It’s no secret that Danica has struggled since moving to the Sprint Cup Series. Since moving to NASCAR’s highest level, she’s posted just 6 top 10 finishes. While the quality of the equipment Stewart-Haas is giving her can be debated, Danica should have improved by this point. She’s getting second-tier equipment at the minimum, but continues to run at the back of the field with drivers such as Casey Mears and David Gilliland.
Danica needs a change of scenery. Although Cole Custer was signed to drive for Stewart-Haas’ XFINITY team when it debuts in 2017, she would make a good addition to the team if it expands to two cars. She’d bring much-needed sponsorship to the series and would be able to be competitive on a regular basis. There is a precedent for this move. After Sam Hornish flamed out in the Sprint Cup Series, he dropped to NASCAR’s second level and found success, almost winning the 2013 series championship. Like Hornish, at this point a career reset might be just the thing Danica needs.
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