NASCAR will 'have conversations' with Truck Series drivers over poor racing

Last week at Daytona, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was under caution more than it ran green flags, and that’s an issue. The Truck Series gets a bad rap as it is, but between the season finale at Phoenix in 2023 and the season opener at Daytona, things have to change.

There are a few issues that you just can’t fix when it comes to the Truck Series. For starters, experience level. Many of these drivers are young, they haven’t raced superspeedways a lot, and frankly, some might not need to be there.

However, at the end of the day, this is what the series is. It is there to act as a stepping stone for many, and a barrier to others. Dean Thompson put it simply after getting wrecked from the Daytona race, it’s a development series.

That doesn’t mean the race product has to be awful. It can be flawed and still be an exciting display of motorsports. College football isn’t the most polished sport either, but that’s part of the draw.

Elton Sawyer, Senior VP of Competition knows NASCAR has to talk with the drivers. But there’s only so much that they can do.

“You can sit and talk to the drivers for days but until they experience that, they’re learning,” Sawyer said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “They just don’t know until you live that. We will continue to have those conversations, that dialogue with our young drivers and get some of our veterans to help.”

🔊 "We will continue to have […] that dialogue with our young drivers."

After a season-opener that saw over 50% of the race run under caution, #NASCAR's Elton Sawyer addressed the racing in the @NASCAR_Trucks Series ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hOncTX925a

— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 24, 2024

What else could NASCAR do to improve the on-track product?

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series needs a reset

Let’s not act like there isn’t real talent in the Truck Series. There is. But let’s not act like there are times when even that talent can make mistakes. Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim were arguably the two most talented drivers in the series last year and they made the biggest mistakes of the season.

On a superspeedway, it gets dangerous though. Drivers have to have car control and understand their role in the draft. There is a reason why the Truck Series isn’t allowed to lock bumpers, they aren’t ready for it. At least, most of them.

Ben Rhodes, two-time champion spoke with the young drivers ahead of Daytona. Matt Crafton is a three-time champion. Johnny Sauter was in the field. You had Corey LaJoie in the race, a Cup Series talent. Yet, the level of respect was just not there at all.

This weekend in Atlanta, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series can put on a good show. The drivers just have to take their time and not get aggressive too quickly. Aggression and that “looking to prove themselves” mentality makes the series great, but there is a fine line to walk in regard to that.

Daniel Dye will lead the field to green later today in Atlanta. 2:00 PM EST on FS1.