And apparently another angle from which to try and approach the open-wheeler-NASCAR debate.

I endured the Busch race over the internet last night. It was like watching one of the Car Chase shows, where even though you know the more man the cops are chasing is about to chash grotesquely into a tree/lamp post/other car/ditch/building (delete where applicable), but you keep watching just to find out how bad.

There were 25 cautions and 1 red flag over the 250 lap event, to put into context the record i 26, 15 years ago when teams were showing up with cars built from scrap (slight exaggeration possible).

Anyway, one much asked question has been 'why are team owners going to the ranks of IRL, Champ Car and F1 to fill seats when the Busch series is the purpose built feeder eries where they should be getting their talent.

After watching the Memphis demolition derby I have found the answer. None of them can drive.

Now this may seem a little harsh, but I have my reasons. This race was one of the handful a season where the Busch only drivers get a chance to shine, where they're not swamped by hoards of Buschwakers taking their victories and their TV time. In the Memphis race there were only 4 drivers who will start the race at Atlanta later, even the inclusion of David Reutimann brings it only to five Cup drivers, massively below the flood that will greet Busch teams at the remaining 3 races.

Their chance to shine and they blew it. Only a handful of Busch drivers came out the race with some dignity intact - Ambrose, Leffler and Keller. The rest of them looked like they'd just showed up in their street cars, and with about as much know-how.  To my count at least 4 drivers where held at some point for over-aggressive driving and one was parked. We had two cases where drivers actively chased other in cars with the intent of either wrecking them or just letting them know of their anger. One of these caused one of the scariest crashes as a car was turned, under green, up the track infront of just about the whole field. We also had the mandatory, wait until your 'attacker' comes past so you can yell at them moment.

Now, before I get told that this is part of racing. I know. These are all competitive guys, all pumped up on adrenaline, who want to win. But are petulant NASCAR angering moments going to make team owners sit up and take notice of the Busch series a feeder series, or put them off employing these guys and go to the drivers who they know can handle themselves. Even without these penalties are owners going to want to employ someone who's only passing tool appears to be the bump'n'run, especially at a track where clean passes were taking place all the time.

Now the fact these drivers don't appear to have the talent, or perhaps the equipment, maybe down to the underlying problems with the Busch series, due to things like Buschwackers and guys from other forms coming to NASCAR. Whether the quality of the racing is the cause or a symptom of these problems, last night did nothing to find a cure.

PS. Before you point out Dario, one of the open-wheeler guys, caused a wreck. Again, I know. I believe that was a brake problem, not stupid driving, probably due to inexperience and the fact that these bigger cars much have different braking issues to 'ickle IRL Cars. Before the crash he was aquitting himself well in the top 10 - after that with damage and naff brakes he was a mobile chicane.