NASCAR Nationwide Series: Driver Changes Shake Up Future

Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne are the top-two drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series points standings who don't run a Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Normally, both drivers would be assured of at least a Nationwide ride for 2011.

However, the future of Allgaier and Bayne in NASCAR is in jeopardy after Bayne left Diamond-Waltrip Racing on Monday and Verizon—the sponsor of Allgaier’s No. 12 Dodge—is expected to drop their sponsorship after Penske Racing’s efforts at season’s end.

This situation is just one of many cases this season in which Nationwide-only drivers have been pushed aside by either Cup drivers or new management.

The season-long game of musical chairs began in April when James Buescher left Phoenix Racing’s No. 1 Chevy to join upstart Turner Motorsports’ Camping World Truck Series effort. Ryan Newman replaced Buescher at James Finch’s operation, which now runs on a limited basis due to lack of funding.

Earlier that month, crash-prone John Wes Townley was released by Richard Childress Racing after a wreck during practice at Phoenix International Raceway. Townley was mostly replaced by Clint Bowyer and Morgan Shepherd in the No.21 Chevrolet, with his father’s Zaxby’s funding of the team cut back.

Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.—both originally slated to run the No. 6 and No. 16 Fords respectively for Roush Fenway Racing (RFR)—saw their schedules cut back due to poor performance and a lack of sponsorship. Matt Kenseth, Brian Ickler, Erik Darnell and road racer Billy Johnson have seen time behind of the wheel of an RFR Nationwide effort.

In June, Tayler Malsam—victim of cuts at Kyle Busch’s Truck Series operation—joined Braun Racing as driver of the No. 10 Toyota. However, he—along with Rookie of the Year leader and teammate Brian Scott—are also out of a ride, as Braun Racing was bought out by Turner Motorsports last week.

Malsam will be replaced by Turner Motorsports Truck Series driver Ricky Carmichael, and Scott will be replaced by Buescher.

Tuesday, Diamond Waltrip Racing cut ties with Trevor Bayne, currently seventh in Nationwide points, after the organization failed to find full sponsorship for the 20-year-old’s effort for next season. According to FoxSports.com, Jack Roush is interested in bringing Bayne into the fold for the full 2011 season in one of his Nationwide Series machines—if sponsorship permits.

Allgaier, fourth in Nationwide Series points, has been given permission by Penske to search for another ride for next season. According to reports, it is expected that the 24-year-old may sign with the new Turner operation in 2011, being bumped from the No. 12 Dodge for Sam Hornish Jr.

The game of musical chairs that has been the 2010 Nationwide Series season has been an wild one—and there’s still eight more weeks to go.

Ryan Papaserge is a junior Journalism/Mass Communication student at St. Bonaventure University and a writing intern at Bleacher Report.