Marker
06-08-2007, 06:28 PM
What do you think about the current NASCAR NEXTEL CUP qualifying procedure?
I am definitely NOT a fan of the current system. It is what it is for now, but I think they need to re-evaluate it. In my opinion, they should race the 43 fastest qualifiers. If they allow ANY provisionals, perhaps the current champion, and the winner of the same race last year.
I mean come on, if may use Michael Waltrip as an example, he would have made all but 2 races this year if all drivers had to qualify on time. In one case he was 20th fastest, faster than 32 of the 50 drivers attempting to qualify, but he went home. To me that's just not right.
Sure, they want to encourage the teams to show up and keep those sponsors happy and they have full field. The benefit for top 35 in owner points came from days when they struggled getting full fields. They've had no fewer than 49 team show up to any race this year.
And how difficult are they making it for new teams.
This week, Chad McCumbee, who has never driven a cup race, or a Bucsh race. He has race trucks, and currently spends his time with the ARCA series, yet he gets a guaranteed spot, while sending Kenny Wallace & Michael Waltrip (who were faster in qualifying) home. And Sterling Marlin, who due to a transmission failure was never even able to run a qualifying lap, will race on Sunday as well.
I say, let the fastest 43 race. If Jeff Gordon or Dale Jr fail to make a race, so be it. Mark Martin is proving that if you miss a race (or 3) you can still content for the chase. Also, those 35 who are guaranteed spots have nothing to lose, if they push to far and crash during qualifying, they still race. Maybe if a qualifying crash could take any of them out of a race, then maybe they wouldn't be that half second faster.
I am definitely NOT a fan of the current system. It is what it is for now, but I think they need to re-evaluate it. In my opinion, they should race the 43 fastest qualifiers. If they allow ANY provisionals, perhaps the current champion, and the winner of the same race last year.
I mean come on, if may use Michael Waltrip as an example, he would have made all but 2 races this year if all drivers had to qualify on time. In one case he was 20th fastest, faster than 32 of the 50 drivers attempting to qualify, but he went home. To me that's just not right.
Sure, they want to encourage the teams to show up and keep those sponsors happy and they have full field. The benefit for top 35 in owner points came from days when they struggled getting full fields. They've had no fewer than 49 team show up to any race this year.
And how difficult are they making it for new teams.
This week, Chad McCumbee, who has never driven a cup race, or a Bucsh race. He has race trucks, and currently spends his time with the ARCA series, yet he gets a guaranteed spot, while sending Kenny Wallace & Michael Waltrip (who were faster in qualifying) home. And Sterling Marlin, who due to a transmission failure was never even able to run a qualifying lap, will race on Sunday as well.
I say, let the fastest 43 race. If Jeff Gordon or Dale Jr fail to make a race, so be it. Mark Martin is proving that if you miss a race (or 3) you can still content for the chase. Also, those 35 who are guaranteed spots have nothing to lose, if they push to far and crash during qualifying, they still race. Maybe if a qualifying crash could take any of them out of a race, then maybe they wouldn't be that half second faster.