Who can forget 2001? The place was the California Speedway. The victim was 16 year old Kyle Busch. He came down to the speedway, all ready to qualify for what would be history in the making. Only to have Nascar put a brake on his attempt. And for what reason?


Well he was to young to buy a pack of cigarettes acording to the federal government. And since the race was sponsored by Marlboro, the feds also said that he was to young participate. Im sure that some of you have went to buy your kid a Jr t-shirt. And have noticed that it say's Jr instead of Bud. Or you go to Walmart to buy his car. And you find out that you have to 21 or over to purchase it.


Well at that time. Nascar raised the age limit to 18 in order to race in any of their 3 top racing series. But there were still stipulations when Kyle started to race in the Busch series. If he won a race. He wouldn't be allowed to crack a cold Busch beer, or even take pictures with a can or bottle in his hand. Or for that matter. Even have any thing that resembled a beer in victory lane.


Which to Kyle it was okay. Because after all he was here to race and not to promote drinking. Well now we move up to 2005. The same exact track at which he wasn't allowed to race because of his age. So what does he do? At that age of 20. He becomes the youngest driver to ever win a cup race. And with the new rule that Nascar is going impliment. That record is basically set in stone.


Nascar is now gonna require that all drivers who want to compete in the cup series, be at least 21. The age of 18 will still hold for the Nationwide series as well as the Truck series. There reasoning is so that it gives the younger drivers more time to develop. To maybe mature more before coming up to handle not only the longer schedule. But also the pressure of driving in the upper series.


Also to try to generate more of an interest in the lower series. Maybe with that new rule. They should also make some of these drivers, who are coming from the other racing series, at least drive 21 races in the Nationwide series. Just because they are over 21, doesn't mean that they are mature enough to handle these stock cars. The maturity that I am talking about. Is the maturity that it takes to go from one animal to another.


You don't go into a cowboy bar and ride the mechanical bull. And just because you can stay on for the 15 seconds? Does that mean that you are ready for the pro circuit? Or because you hang out a doughnut shop 5 days a week. Does that qualify you to be a cop? Im Out