NASCAR is considering changing its qualifying procedures in response to complaints about the restrictive system.
With at least 50 drivers vying for 43 spots in the field, seven or more cars fail to make the race each week. Because NASCAR assures a spot to the top 35 drivers in points, only eight positions are actually up for grabs.
The policy has crippled several drivers this season, particularly Michael Waltrip, who missed his eighth consecutive race Sunday. Waltrip spent the past week lobbying for a variety of changes that could help him get into the field.
NASCAR is listening.
”We’re looking at a lot of different scenarios,” competition director Robin Pemberton said. ”There’s things that we’re looking at and we’re listening to the competitors. If we were to make a change we’d have to put our own twist on it, to make it fair for all competitors.”
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NASCAR is considering changing it because Toyota is having a hard time getting in on time.
Good job nascar change the rules so it will be easier for toyota to make it. Awww,,poor ,poor pitiful mikey cant make a race, so he wants a rule change so he can,,,sounds like BS to me.
mikey, just go ahead and quit man……….you tried and you failed.
the only thing they should change about qualifying is…if qualifying is rained out, the point leader SHOULD start first but SHOULD NOT be credited with a bud pole award. like at phoenix. gordon didn’t win the pole, mother nature gave it to him…but he still won the bud pole award. that is wrong and should not be like that
Waltrip should of quit after he left DEI. Dude seriously has no chance.
Hey!!!! i think its BS that ANYONE can get in w/out posting a good time. 35 spots are reserved for the Top 35 in owners points. THATS bull$#!t. i think its about time that NASCAR makes it that all 43 spots are based on time. it will STILL be hard for the single car, grass roots teams, but if they post the 9th fastest time, they aren’t gonna get bumped because a big time racer (gordon, johnson, mears, Earnhardt, etc) whines and uses that top 35 in points BS. if your 44th fastest, you go home, end of story.
i ALSO agree with Petty’s comments about cheating. if your caught cheating, don’t suspend the crewchief and fine the team, send them home for the weekend. that’ll stop it REAL quick.
i would have to agree with Anonymous.. why not make them all have to qualify.. But then i can also see fans getting upset cuz say there fave top 10 racer is not racing cuz they did not qualify.. and after spending money to tavel in alot of cases and for their tickets.. would really upset them.. my Fav Driver had only raced a total 5 races.. he is not in the top 35.. But he dosent try to change the rules about it.. he gets in his car every week and goes for it!
So i guess i am undecided.. maybe make it top 30 or some thing.. wait 13 not a good number..lol Top 25?
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so then what your saying Anonymous is cuz they are struggling they should change rules to suit there needs (Toyota or Michaels)??? OR just leave them alone and he will get there on his own.. even if he does mot make any races any time soon..
and yes ignoring your filty mouth you have on you..
You need to grow up on that part..
i’m guessing that wasn’t directed at me.
but let me clarify. i think ALL spots should be open for qualifying. if a driver’s not fast enough, then thats the teams problem to try and remedy. ok, so the fans loose if their driver isn’t fast enough. what about the fans of guys like Robby Gordon and the home-grown, single car guys?
NASCAR needs to have NO special treatment for any team!
No it was not directed at you.. Nash (the FIRST Anonymous) yes i do see your point i would like to see more Ward.. but at the same time have to remember that it is the headliner names that most want to see race.. and that is what sells the tickest and not disapoint the fans.. cuz if there is no fans there is no Nascar.. there would also be fewer ticket sales and people traveling to the races if there is a chance that (examples only Since i know they are big favs) Jeff Gordon or Dale JR did not qualify.. that is why maybe make the number of postions just increse it a bit more..
you have a point, Lost. and i think perhaps there should be something. maybe top 15? that would still give 28 spots up for grabs. and it also allows the chance that a favorite goes home. i don’t think a favorite going home will cause the fans to go. they still enjoy the race.
NASCAR should change their UNDERWEAR as frequently
as they change the rules!!
this IS crap!! the top 35 drivers are guaranteed
a start….what ever happened to the best man wins?
C’mon, NASCAR!!
Get a freaking grip!!
You’re ” We’re changing the rules” needs to stay in
place for atleast a season… that is—as soon as
you fix this!!
No,it should be 43 fastest make the race,thats it… I’m a Gordon fan,if he has a probvlem and qualifyies 44th,then thats the way it goes… Its the only fair answer to the solution,we don’t have this locked in crap in other forms of racing. If Sam Hornish or Marco Andretti crashed in all there qualifying attempts at Indy,they would be out of luck,thats they way it should be
There is no reason to have guaranteed starting spots for anyone. These racers are supposed to be the best, the best can qualify for their races.
Nascar needs to stop babysitting their drivers and ask them to drive.
Actually if you have been a NACAR fan for more then the past couple of years you would know that at one point there was only one spot reserved for anyone. That was the 43rd starting spot. It was reserved for a past Cup Champion. All other 42 spots were based on qualifying times. The qualifying changes came around the same time as the new chase for the cup rules changes because the majority of the OWNERS complained about the possibilty of their driver not qualifying if they were in the chase. It is also based on the different points funds owners can enter to get extra cash for their finishing spots.
It should Be the top 35 FASTEST Cars, with the 8 spots reseved for first the cars in the top 35 who failed to make it, then if there is any spots open, a spot for the most recent winner not locked in. that is how it should be IMO anyways
I agree w/most of what yall are saying. I think the top 35 being locked in is crap. Also, I agree w/ what alot of others are saying to, that points need to be given for where you qualify. Not alot but some.
HELLO! WHY NOT TAKE THE TOP 10 JUST LIKE THE CHASE THEN FROM 11 TO 43 GET IN ON TIME NOT POINTS!
AND MICHAEL WALTRIP SHOULD NOT GIVE UP!!!!!! DEI AND ALL OTHER TEAMS HAD TO START SOMEWHERE BUT DID THEY GIVE UP, NO! THEY ARE AWESOME!
MICHAEL WALTRIP IS NOT A QUITER HE WILL NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAY TO GO MIKEY!!!!!
The top 35 is for owner points, not driver points. This allows the owner to guarantee his sponsor on the track. I personally think there are WAY too many changes in such a short period of time, they need to get back to the ‘old days’. I didn’t read most of the comments above so if that point was already made, then my bad. But I get a little tired of people talking sh*t on here all the time about drivers. If you don’t like someone, then you don’t like them… but damn!
I bet all the people talking crap about Michael Waltrip were on his bandwagon a few years ago when he raced for DEI…
THANK YOU MICHELLE!!!
LET’S GO RACING NOT FIGHTING!!!
it aint racing, it’s markitting,
YOU ARE SO RIGHT BILL!!!