The first big NASCAR racing weekend of the year is upon us, and that includes the Xfinity series races.
Like last year, we'll see several NASCAR Cup Series drivers racing, meaning they're pulling double duty.
NASCAR released the Xfinity racing entry list on its website, and several Cup Series drivers are scheduled to run. Among them: Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Ray Black Jr., Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Daniel Suarez.
The list is sure to reignite the debate on whether Cup Series drivers add to -- or take away from -- Xfinity when they drop down to race in the lower series. NASCAR has already limited, to five, the number of Xfinity races Cup Series drivers can appear in during a single season.
The argument for allowing Cup Series drivers is a simple one and centers around attendance and sponsorship. In theory, well known drivers like Chase Elliott and Kyle Lasron racing in Xfinity puts more fans in the stands. It also gives sponsors a chance to see that their teams are invested in younger drivers.
On the flip side, Xfinity team don't have as much money as their Cup counterparts. They don't have the most up-to-date equipment, and their cars don't run as fast. Therefore, the Cup guys are taking away win opportunities from lesser known drivers and therefore depriving them of making a name for themselves.
It's an argument that will continue to rage on. In the meantime, we have racing this weekend.
The race begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.