Minor league status major league cost: after a change in direction, the Busch series is struggling for drivers, funding and attention. (NASCAR).(automobile racing)

Since the mid-1980s, the Busch Series has functioned as NASCAR's Class AAA circuit, providing a stable, reliable minor league racing series that represented the final steppingstone to Winston Cup. During most Cup weekends, fans could spend their Saturdays checking out rising stars such as Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Busch races that often included such perennial NASCAR favorites as Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Michael Waltrip and Jimmy Spencer.

But for the owners, drivers and teams in the Busch Series, the last year has been anything but stable. Despite Harvick's thrilling dual run to a Busch championship and a ninth-place finish (and Rookie of the Year) ...