LMS’ Wheeler says change boring NASCAR qualifying
Quote selected text Published May 27th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Lowe’s Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler is calling for NASCAR to add greater entertainment value to its qualifying format by placing more than one car on the racetrack at once. Wheeler told ESPN.com Saturday that attendance for LMS pole day has steadily declined since 2001, and anticipates NASCAR will make some sort of alteration for 2008.
“It needs more drama,” Wheeler said. “I understand why they do it, but the fact that you’ve already got 35 people [guaranteed] qualified takes a lot of that [drama] out. “I think [NASCAR realizes] something needs to be done. It remains to be seen what, but I think something will be done next year.”
Wheeler is alluding to NASCAR’s Top-35 rule, which guarantees a starting position in each race to every car ranked among the top-35 in car owner points. Therefore, even if they’re slower than some other cars attempting to qualify they still make the show. Wheeler feels this reduces the zeal of pole day. NASCAR officials are aware of this concern, and said they will evaluate qualifying procedures following the season. Wheeler said awarding points for poles may help.
“That’s one thing that needs to be looked at. I’d be in favor of that,” he said. But he thinks the best option is placing multiple cars on the track at once. He said he’s thrown out ideas to NASCAR “for a couple years.” One of which, he said, is to host four, 15-minute sessions, each including 25 percent of the cars in the field. Whoever is fastest overall wins the pole.
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NASCAR should quit dicking around and run the 43 fastest cars, period. The Past Champ Provisional was brought in after King Richard missed a race years ago. DW cheapend the whole concept when he drove that K-Mart piece of crap. Jarrett did it this year. If not 43 cars, how about the 42 fastest and a promoter’s choice. He could choose a slug or a star that missed on speed. That would make the points battle interesting! If you look back into the late 1980’s, early 1990’s, a lot of the fields had 30-35 cars. We don’t need pit stops or anything else during qualifying.
i think nascar should go back to the way they were everyone had a chance to make the race with out guaranteed spots