Good drivers without rides due to open-wheel infusion

Restrictor plates, the Chase, the COT ... a host of changes have altered NASCAR since the time stock-car racing was a fixture on 19-inch big screens.

More change is under way, which is good -- on the surface. But when one digs deeper ...

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The 2008 Sprint Cup season will go down in history as a watershed year, featuring the most diverse group of drivers in the sport's 60-year history.

Colombia native and 2007 rookie of the year Juan Montoya will be back. Dario Franchitti, who was born in Scotland, will make his Cup debut. The '08 lineup also includes two Canadians, Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier. And for the first time since Dick Johnson in 1989, an Australian will make a Cup start when Marcos Ambrose drives part time for the Wood Brothers.

This is an exciting time in the history of the sport.

But there also is some concern.

Montoya, Franchitti, Villeneuve and Carpentier, along with Americans Sam Hornish Jr. and A.J. Allmendinger, have moved into the highest level of stock-car racing with an open-wheel background and virtually no experience in a stock car.

Meanwhile, drivers who have worked their way through the system are now on the outside looking in, trying to find a Cup ride, or settling for the Nationwide or Truck Series.

Some would argue the open-wheel guys have plenty of experience with the laps run in their respective series and deserve to be there. I disagree. I see team owners being patient with torn-up racecars, a lack of experience and spotty performance for one reason -- money.

Look at the list of drivers currently on the sideline: David Stremme, Johnny Sauter, Tony Raines, Boris Said, Scott Wimmer, Kenny Wallace. With the exception of Said, and maybe Wallace, these guys aren't overly attractive to sponsors, no matter how successful they are on the track.

Stremme is a perfect example of this, losing his ride to make room for 2007 IndyCar champ Franchitti. Stremme ran three full seasons in the Busch Series, finishing as high as 10th in 2004 to earn his Cup ride.

After a rough Cup rookie season in which Stremme posted four DNFs, a best finish of 11th and a season ranking of 33rd in points, he did everything that was asked of him in Year 2. Stremme had three top-10s, improved his lead-lap finishes by seven, his average finish by a full position and ended the season 24th in points. Yet, with all the skill and potential to have a stellar third season, he finds himself a part-time driver for Rusty Wallace Inc. in the Nationwide Series.

Sauter, who was prominently featured in ABC's NASCAR in Primetime, an opportunity to get his name and face in the limelight, ultimately was bounced when Gillette Evernham Motorsports added Carpentier to its team, a move that led Haas CNC to snatch up Scott Riggs in favor of Sauter. (Continued)