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SportsDecember 14, 2001

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR set an age requirement of 18 for participants in its major series, another move in its push for stronger safety measures. "It was in the best interests of safety, competition and professional development that we institute these new age requirements," NASCAR President Mike Helton said Thursday. "Younger competitors need as much experience as they can accumulate before competing at NASCAR's professional levels."...

By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR set an age requirement of 18 for participants in its major series, another move in its push for stronger safety measures.

"It was in the best interests of safety, competition and professional development that we institute these new age requirements," NASCAR President Mike Helton said Thursday. "Younger competitors need as much experience as they can accumulate before competing at NASCAR's professional levels."

Beginning in 2002, all drivers, crew members and other participants in the Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series and all NASCAR Touring Series' must be 18 or older in order to compete. The age requirement matches the existing standard for the Winston Cup Series.

The age requirement will immediately affect drivers like 16-year-old Kyle Busch, younger brother of Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch.

Kyle was scheduled to run the full truck schedule next year for Roush Racing, but will not be allowed to compete under the new rule. Roush, who also owns Kurt Busch's Cup car, plans to keep Kyle under contract.

Kyle's age came up in November when sponsor Marlboro prevented him from racing in a Craftsman Truck race. The objection from Marlboro was based on an interpretation of the agreement between big tobacco companies and state attorneys general that precludes the involvement of people under 18 in events sponsored by the companies.

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Sponsorship issue

Under the new requirement, the sponsor issue would not have come up because Kyle Busch will be prohibited to race in major NASCAR-sanctioned events for at least another year.

Also, drivers like 21-year-old Casey Atwood will be less likely to break into Winston Cup until later in their careers.

Atwood was 17 and had become the youngest pole winner in Busch history when he caught Ray Evernham's eye in 1998. Evernham had Atwood continue to hone his skills in the Busch series then hired him to drive one of his Cup cars this year.

But under the new requirement, drivers like Atwood will be relegated to the low-level NASCAR Weekly Racing series, likely pushing back by years the time they will be ready for Winston Cup.

Helton said that was NASCAR's goal in setting the age requirement, as well as a concern over the welfare of minors.

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