Cup drivers prop up Busch Series

If F1 has GP2, Champ Car has Atlantics, IRL has IPS, ALMS and others have SCCA why is it that NASCAR has the Busch support series with most of the same drivers that drive the NASCAR Cup cars, while the other professional series have different drivers for their support series? Do the "world's greatest drivers" (by NASCAR accounts) need practice with going around in circles and turning left? Or just practice in breaking the rules? Greg W., Renton, WA

Dear Greg, The answer is quite simple. Yes they use it for practice, but the big names from Nextel Cup bring a lot of viewers and race ticket buyers to the Busch Series. This is why the Busch Series is the 2nd most watched race series in the USA. Without the big names the France family would have to support the Busch series out of their own pocket because it would not be self-sustaining. Despite this, yesterday at Daytona we saw more empty seats than we have ever seen for the Busch race at Daytona. Mark C.