NASCAR could soon alter the "Kyle Busch Rule" while allowing Cup Series drivers to compete in more than five races annually.
NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell confirmed that discussions are taking place regarding the future of the Xfinity Series, which has become a fan-favorite. He told "Out of the Groove" creator Eric Estepp that the Cup Series drivers served as a benchmark for the drivers in the secondary series.
O'Donnell specifically pointed to the example of Kyle Larson saying that he wants to embarrass the drivers in the Xfinity Series. As O'Donnell noted, if a driver beats Larson, they force the Cup Series owners to take notice.
"We lost a little bit of that," O'Donnell told Estepp. "So, we're looking at the future. Maybe we have some more Cup drivers back in the (Xfinity) Series, open up eligibility a little more.
"Still trying to figure that out, but I think that's where the (Xfinity) Series was really clicking, where you had rising stars getting their names out there but also getting to showcase their skills against some of the Cup guys every now and then."
It wasn't that long ago that Cup Series drivers frequently competed in the Xfinity Series. Drivers such as Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Larson, and Joey Logano took on numerous races while essentially pulling double-duty.
Harvick, Edwards, and Busch all won Xfinity Series championships while competing full-time in the Cup Series. Busch, in particular, dominated in Truck and Xfinity competition while making numerous starts across the series.
As the years progressed, NASCAR altered the eligibility rules. The sanctioning body made it only possible for drivers with five years of experience to compete in seven Xfinity Series races. This became known as the "Kyle Busch Rule" based on the champion's past success in spot starts.
The rules changed further in 2020 as NASCAR decreased the number to only five races for drivers with more than three years of full-time experience. This schedule could not include playoff races or the regular-season finale.
The Truck Series rules changed as well. Prior to 2020, Cup drivers with more than five years of full-time experience could only compete in five Truck races. The number of races remained the same in 2020 and beyond, but NASCAR changed the experience number to only three full-time seasons.
Additionally, NASCAR made it impossible for Cup drivers with more than three years of full-time experience to compete in specialty events. This included the Dash 4 Cash and Triple Truck Challenge bonus programs.
With NASCAR considering relaxing these rules, it's possible that more Cup Series drivers could return to the Truck and Xfinity Series lineups if they have sponsorship in place.