NASCAR could change rules surrounding NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in its two lower national series, according to a new report.
.@NASCAR is considering changing its rules in the coming seasons to allow Cup drivers to compete in Xfinity and Truck races more often. https://t.co/d4rrEmyNcW
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 19, 2025
Buschwhacking was a term created by NASCAR fans in the early 2000s, used apathetically to describe NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in, and usually dominating, the sport’s lower national divisions.
NASCAR took control of this issue in the 2010s, with rules such as requiring drivers to declare for points in only one series, and limiting the number of races Cup Series drivers with more than three years of experience can enter in the lower series. Even in the 2020s, NASCAR continued to tweak these rules, reducing that number to five races in the Truck and Xfinity Series.
NASCAR’s current rules has been effective in preventing this.
This season, Cup Series regulars have five wins in the Xfinity Series and three in the Truck Series. This is far from past seasons, like the 2009 season, when Cup Series regulars won 30 of the season’s 35 Xfinity Series races and ten of the season’s 25 Truck Series races.
However, according to a new report from Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, NASCAR officials are reconsidering this rule.
Per Stern, by doing so, NASCAR is seeking to find “the right balance between talent development and entertainment value.” This includes discussions with teams, drivers, series officials, TV partners, and NASCAR’s newest series title sponsor, O’Reilly Auto Parts, who takes over the mantle for Xfinity in 2026, with NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell asking, ‘Does that rule as it stands now make the most sense to continue as it is? Do we tweak it?”
Nonetheless, the response to this news suggests that there is already fan opposition to the idea. On X, user Justin Champagne responded to Stern’s report, saying, “We don’t want this. The Xfinity series has been the best it’s been in years with the lack of cup drivers in it, in my opinion.”
While other users have suggested that allowing the top tier of drivers to race in the lower division more often will bring better competition, more eyes, and new lessons to younger drivers.
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