Long odds a non-Cup driver wins Nationwide title

1. With his victory at Bristol, Justin Allgaier moved up to third in Nationwide points. Can a non-Cup driver win the title for the first time since Martin Truex Jr. in 2005?

Dave Rodman: It won't be easy, but if Bristol was a microcosm of a season -- or a potential season -- Mr. Allgaier showed me a lot on Saturday. Every other lap, you'd say "he doesn't look good enough to stay." But he ended up in Victory Lane.

David Caraviello: Why not? Allgaier clearly has talent, he has sponsorship, and he's running for a Penske Racing team with Cup know-how. There's absolutely no reason he couldn't win, other than the fact that there are a lot of moonlighting sharks in the water.

Duane Cross: Very long odds of that happening, my friends. It's a good storyline when a Nationwide-only driver wins a race, but until the trend away from Cup Lite picks up speed, the second-tier series is still there for the taking by the big-dollar Cuppers.

David Caraviello: No question, it's still long odds. Among the contenders, Justin is still in the minority. But he's been up front a lot, had a chance to win at Daytona, did it at Bristol. He knocks out a few more race wins, he should be right there.

Dave Rodman: But to reinforce what I started to say, and with Caraviello's background info -- when you add in teammate Parker Kligerman pushing him from the wings, and in-house Sprint Cup support, I'd say he's a lot better than a long shot. He obviously didn't win a year ago, but the kid showed a lot of improvement. He knows how to win a championship -- he did it the best way, with a family team, which teaches you a lot. He laid the foundation in 2009.

David Caraviello: No question, Dave. This isn't exactly a standalone Nationwide operation here, of the sort we saw back in the Randy Lajoie/Jason Keller heyday. There's a lot of Cup power behind this outfit, and that clearly is going to help.

Duane Cross: Pos. 1-7 in the Nationwide standings include Allgaier and six Cup Series drivers. The law of averages -- not to mention experience -- will pay dividends for one of the drivers not named Justin Allgaier. Again, it would be a great story -- and no doubt give the Nationwide Series a much-needed shot in the arm.

Dave Rodman: Duane, I like the law of averages as well as the next guy, but at Bristol, when it was time to push the button and go -- Allgaier was gone. Those Cup boys were either fading, or they never really mounted a challenge when it mattered.

David Caraviello: Here, perhaps, is the bigger question -- would it be a good thing for a Nationwide regular to win the title? I mean, I understand the Cup guys are who sponsors want in the cars, and to a certain degree, Cup guys are who the fans want to see. But I wonder if it would bolster the integrity and the reputation of the series if a Nationwide regular like Justin were to break through and win the championship.

Duane Cross: It would be a good thing, no question. The series needs one of its full-time, not-running-the-Cup-Series drivers to win the championship. It's just not gonna happen at this point in time.

Dave Rodman: It would certainly bolster the reputation and integrity of Penske Racing. And when you look at all they went through over the last couple weeks, to go one-two certainly speaks well to the team, and the teammates. Don't forget, after going bad-loose in qualifying and DNQ, Kligerman stuck around and celebrated in Victory Lane. That's another kid that gets it.

Duane Cross: No doubt, Dave, Allgaier put himself in position to be there at the end -- but this is one race in a very long season. Let's see how things are shaking out in August, September. Don't forget -- David Gilliland was the next big thing after he won a Nationwide Series race. Let's keep some perspective.

David Caraviello: Let's remember, Brad Keselowski was in the title mix until the final weeks last year. And Nationwide/Busch regulars won three straight titles -- two for Truex and one for Brian Vickers -- before this current streak of moonlighting dominance. So we're not talking about something that can't be done. Difficult, maybe. Impossible? No.

Duane Cross: Parker Kligerman is a guy who deserves to be racing full time in the Nationwide Series. He cannot get sponsorship for whatever reason to fund a full-time car. That is sad -- and it's also a large part of the problem in the Nationwide Series. Sponsors believe they get more bang for the buck with a "name" rather than spending the funds on a driver who could contend for a championship and multiple celebrations in Victory Lane. That mentality just ticks me off.

Dave Rodman: As far as Allgaier is concerned, I'm focusing on a feeder series championship, and a top-10 finish in a national NASCAR Series in the last three seasons. I'll stand behind him.

David Caraviello: And if Dave Rodman stands behind you, well, how can you go wrong?

Dave Rodman: At least you'll go down well-fed. (Continued)