NASCAR: Should underfunded teams such as BK Racing target young drivers?

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Gray Gaulding, driver of the DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: Gray Gaulding, driver of the #23 Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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FONTANA, CA – MARCH 16: Gray Gaulding, driver of the #23 Earthwater Toyota (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Gray Gaulding (continued)

However, it can be speculated that patience was not considered a virtue by Gray Gaulding, as he opted out of his deal with Roush Fenway Racing and decided to jump straight into the Cup Series to drive for BK Racing in 2017 on a limited schedule, thus losing his loyal sponsor Krispy Kreme and possibly his chance at a dependable Cup Series ride in the future.

Obviously, this did not lead to much success, as Gaulding only managed two top 20 finishes, with both coming at Talladega, in 18 races for BK Racing during the 2017 season. He was lucky – or unlucky depending on how you choose to view it – to be given a contract to race for BK Racing full-time in 2018. He is currently competing for the team.

Instead of developing his career at a normal rate and earning his stripes in the lower divisions of NASCAR, Gaulding opted to take the low-hanging fruit and drive for an underfunded team that he had no chance of succeeding with.

Had he stayed with Roush Fenway Racing in the Xfinity Series, who knows where he’d be right now? Maybe his Krispy Kreme Ford would be driving around the track on Sundays.

It’s not fair to make assumptions about Gaulding’s mindset, though. Either way, can a young man be blamed for taking the Cup Series contract and salary that were thrown at him at age 20?

At what point does that blame shift to the race team itself?

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