Let’s look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which seems best suited to weather the economic downturn...

I think there should be a "sponsorship cap" in NASCAR. That would truly even the playing field. Just say you can receive 15 million per year. How can you honestly expect a sponsor to see a 30 million dollar return on their investment every year?

Simple, inexpensive solution to the Nationwide Series
problem:

1) Go to markets which Sprint Cup either doesn't have
room on the schedule for, or aren't quite big enough.

2) Five words: "Nationwide National Late-Model Series".

#1 makes it difficult, if not impossible, for "Busch-
whackers" to be involved to where they dominate the
points chase; #2 brings the cost down to where the
"moneyed classes" and the "five guys with a pickup"
are on the same level.