| As NASCAR racing has grown in popularity, more and | | | | Mexico and the upcoming race in Canada. The Busch |
| more people are wanting to know more about all | | | | cars are similar to the Cup cars with only small |
| aspects of the NASCAR Circuit. A lot of people have | | | | differences. |
| heard of Dale Earnhardt Jr or Jeff Gordon. But there | | | | The Truck Craftsman series is the third level of |
| are a lot of things about NASCAR that many people | | | | NASCAR racing and is rapidly becoming well attended |
| don't know. So here is a breakdown and some | | | | and popular with racing fans. It's a different animal |
| information about the different divisions. | | | | from the NEXTEL and Busch series and has it's own |
| The three national divisions of NASCAR are the | | | | fan base. Running a full schedule since 1995, the truck |
| Nextel Chase for the Cup, the Busch series, and the | | | | series drivers race nearly as often as the Cup series |
| Truck Craftsman series. Most people who know | | | | do. With 25 races each season, some Cup |
| something about NASCAR know about the Chase. | | | | contenders are racing in the truck series as a part |
| With 26 regular season races and 10 Chase races, | | | | time job. And several well known Cup racers got |
| the Nextel Cup series is watched by hundreds of | | | | their name recognized in the truck series and then |
| thousands of people across America weekly. In it's | | | | carried that over into the Cup series. |
| third year, it continues to grow in popularity each | | | | NASCAR's popularity is widespread and it has much |
| year. | | | | more going on than you might think. Did you know |
| The Busch series is NASCAR's second highest level | | | | that there are twelve racing series in NASCAR? The |
| series. It might be compared to the minor leagues in | | | | three national divisions get the most press, of |
| other professional sports. But the difference is that | | | | course, but all over the country racers are struggling |
| many Chase drivers also drive in the Busch series to | | | | to make a name for themselves and gain national |
| gain extra practice on the tracks or to work on | | | | attention in hopes of moving up to one of NASCAR's |
| certain things. So the Busch series has a good mix of | | | | three top series. NASCAR seems to offer something |
| up and coming young drivers with veterans sprinkled | | | | for all audiences and gives a wide variety of drivers |
| in. Busch races are usually held the day before Cup | | | | an opportunity to compete and possibly move up to |
| races at the same location except for the races in | | | | the next level. |