The Nationwide Series in 2011 will look and feel completely different than in the past. The COT will be making its way into the series for the full season as it was tested in a limited amount of races last season. That also means that Pony Cars will be back in NASCAR once again which is a good thing as NASCAR and manufactures look toward bringing back the brand identity in all three major touring series.

We’ll have some new drivers like Cup veteran Elliott Sadler who is driving for KHI and is a preseason championship favorite. We have new up and coming drivers like Justin Allgaier, Brian Scott, Aric Amirola, Ryan Truex, and Danica Patrick will be back once again running a limited schedule. Of course the usual Cup Drivers will be racing on Saturdays, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards, but this time there is a catch.

Can you name the last time a Nationwide regular won the series title? If you guessed 2005 you would be correct as Martin Truex doubled down on the championship winning his second series title in a row. Kevin Harvick, Carl
Edwards, Clint Bower, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski have been the past five champions all the while driving in the Cup Series full time.

This time none of them can repeat as per the new rule, a driver can only run for one championship out of the three major touring series which guarantees a new champion and that it won’t be a Cup driver. That doesn’t stop them from coming in and winning a bunch of races and taking away paychecks from teams who really need the money but it’s a win-win situation. Fans want the Nationwide Series to be for the young drivers, and want to find that next big driver while NASCAR knows that Cup drivers help sell more Nationwide series tickets so the money will still be made from Cup drivers in the Nationwide Series. With Cup drivers out of the way who has the best shot at winning the title?

Elliott Sadler: Elliott Sadler will be heading back to the Nationwide Series and is a top contender for the title driving for Kevin Harvick Inc. Sadler had great success driving for KHI last season running well in the Nationwide Series and even got a win in the Truck Series at Pocono driving KHI equipment. Sadler looks to bring home another drivers championship to add to what Ron Hornaday has done in the Camping World Truck Series.

Aric Amirola: Over the past five years, Amirola has spent time in all three series gaining valuable seat time and now has the opportunity to bring home his first NASCAR championship driving for Dale Jr. Amirola finished second in the Truck Series last year and won two races to boot. His Crew Chief Tony Eury Sr. is no stranger to winning a Nationwide title as he won two with Dale Jr and is looking for similar success with Amirola.

Justin Allgaier: Verizon will be wondering what could have been if Allgaier is able to pull off the Nationwide Championship in 2011. Verizon decided to move their sponsor efforts to Indy Car and no longer be a sponsor in NASCAR. Allgaier would have been a force this season even if Penske had retained him, but now that he has joined Turner Motorsports who has Hendrick backing he is a championship favorite.

Jason Leffler: I’m sure Leffler would have appreciated that drivers could only run for 1 title back in 2007 as he would have took home in first Nationwide Series title instead of Carl Edwards. He has been one of the most consistent Nationwide only drivers over the past 5 years but like Allgaier is joining Turner Motorsports and is splitting the 38 with Kasey Kahne while running for the championship.

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