Economy stunting progress of development drivers (cont'd)

Still, Wise could be bouncing back and forth from MWR and Fitz until something more concrete surfaces for the young driver.

"We'll make the best of it," said Wise, who realizes the effect the economy is having on development programs. "Every team has to be careful on how much they spend developing their drivers right now. When times are tough cutbacks are made in personnel, testing and of certainly development programs."

“

When you're out of the racecar, you'll do anything to make yourself better.

”

LANDON CASSILL

The plan is to run Wise for the remainder of the Nationwide season in MWR equipment because Waltrip knows the bright young talent could be the future of his Cup organization.

Same sentiment applies for Landon Cassill, who made an independent initiative this season to improve his development. The 19-year-old driver, who competes for seat time in the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports with his Cup star counterparts Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and occasionally Mark Martin, understands Hendrick's high-dollar sponsors want high-profile drivers to match their investment; young up-and-comers don't always garner the network face time sponsors prefer.

Since signing with Hendrick in January 2007, Cassill has yet to run a full schedule in the Nationwide Series and still could benefit from consistent seat time.

Acknowledging that fact, Cassill accepted an offer from David Dollar to run a Truck Series race at Kansas in April. Bringing home a 13th-place finish was a boost to Cassill's confidence.

"After that I found sponsorship myself to run that truck because it made such an impact on my learning curve, I needed to be in that truck. I used a connection I had at Go Daddy.com and got engine support from Chevy. When you're out of the racecar, you'll do anything to make yourself better," said Cassill, who in six Truck starts notched one top-five and another top-10 finish.

Taking matters into your own hands and using creative sponsorship approaches is something all NASCAR teams face today and their young drivers are very much aware of that fact.

Ask Brad Coleman, the driver tapped by Hall of Fame Racing to become their next Cup star. He has been a Hall of Fame test driver for the majority of the season and left his full-time Nationwide ride to make one start with the Cup team and has since been sidelined.

And had Chip Ganassi Racing's open-wheel driver Dario Franchitti had not announced his return to the Indy Racing League from NASCAR, development driver Bryan Clauson would be without a ride.

"I think that we all understand the circumstances," Wise said. "It's a universal issue for almost everyone signed to a development program last year. You just have to fight through this low and hope it works out."

Bill Davis Racing development driver Michael Annett said young men need to come to NASCAR with eyes wide open and have a backup plan in place.

He has made five Truck Series starts this season and hopes to make a start in the Nationwide Series later this season and run full-time next season.

"We are just waiting on sponsorship," he said.

Aren't they all.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.