Jeff Gluck: Qualifying rule frustrations persist

By Jeff Gluck

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
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COMMENTARY

NASCAR, many believe, is all-powerful. Conspiracy theorists are sure NASCAR can control the outcome of races, influence sponsors to sign with certain teams and handpick new rides for its popular drivers.
           
But even those with the wildest imaginations know NASCAR has no control over the weather. Except for when it does.
           
No, NASCAR can’t choose when it rains and when it doesn’t. But being flexible with its qualifying rules and schedule is 100 percent within its control.
           
There are few things more aggravating than seeing qualifying canceled on a rainy Friday. Not postponed, mind you – canceled.
           
Because of NASCAR’s ridiculous and ancient qualifying rules, some go-or-go-home drivers never get the chance to go at all. Even if Saturday is forecast to be the most perfectly clear and sunny day in the history of the world, NASCAR refuses to postpone qualifying to that day and simply cancels it outright, setting the field via top 35 points and a complex tiebreaker system.

Meanwhile, those drivers and teams whose very livelihoods depend on making the race – or at least getting the opportunity to do so – leave the track without ever having a chance to show their stuff.
           
These rules keep the underdog locked in its kennel. Weather permitting, everyone deserves a chance. How could the All-American sport act so un-American?
            
There is no more crucial time in NASCAR for the go-or-go-home drivers than in the first five races of the season, when the top 35 is determined. In that sixth race, the team in 36th place could easily miss the show and fall further behind. Once you’re out of the top 35, it’s a major battle to get back in it.

And yet NASCAR is willing to leave it up to the weather. It happened at California (Friday rainy; Saturday morning and afternoon sunny) and it threatened to happen at Atlanta this weekend, too.
           
One of my most vivid memories of last year was standing in Boris Said’s sparse hauler at Watkins Glen after Friday qualifying was rained out. Said, one of the country’s best road racers, was denied a chance to get his No Fear Racing entry into the field even though the Saturday forecast called for clear skies.
           
“It pretty much puts me out of business,” he said then, looking crestfallen.
           
There was no silver lining, no positive he could find. And this was only a month after he was sent home by rain in the July Daytona race despite being 20 minutes or so away from winning the pole. The rain washed away his top-of-the charts time and his team’s dreams of making headlines.
           
Look, I can compromise. NASCAR doesn’t need to hold a full qualifying session on Saturday if there isn’t time.
           
But how about holding a session just for the go-or-go-home drivers? That way, the top 35 could be locked in based on the order of their points, and the guys who need a chance to qualify the most would get that opportunity.

Go ahead. Tell me why that wouldn’t work or why that would be a problem. Convince me that isn’t the right thing to do.
        
It’s just one of the sport's several no-brainers that is stuck on the shelf, a light bulb gathering dust while waiting to be lit.

In the meantime, NASCAR looks dim for not acting on such an obvious fix.

Average Rating: 3.0

Comments

16 responses to "Jeff Gluck: Qualifying rule frustrations persist"
  1. 1
    Norman May said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 10:46 AM

    Wrong again Jeff! Boris Said is the PROBLEM. Boris (and one-offs) is why NASCAR has this rule. Boris shows up to the RP and Road Course races and says no thanks to the rest. WHILE, the Wood Bros, Red Bull, MWR and other show-up EVERY week. NASCAR is just a hobby for Boris, while it is NASCAR is everything to Wood Brothers. I want the drivers who make it a hobby to go home EVERY week.

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Sally Baker said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 10:58 AM

    I think you have the perfect solution. The 'do or go home'ers' deserve a chance to at least try to make the race. I'm sure they could fine time to let 15 cars qualify and at least give them a fighting chance.

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    John Stark said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 12:05 PM

    I think that drivers should only be locked in one series. If they are locked in the Sprint they are not locked in the Nationwide or truck. John Stark

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    donald davies said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 12:25 PM

    I've advocated what you have suggested for the past two years! Additionally, I would like to see only the first race of the season, Daytona, be based on the prior year points. From that race on, the top 35 should be on the current year points. Five races ensures that it will be virtually impossible for those outside the top 35 to ever be part of the 'in' group. And NASCAR wonders why the stands aren't full anymore?

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    Thomas Hurley said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 2:36 PM

    Mr. May, I must assume you want Mark Martin to go home, being as he is only running a part time schedule, and there was a time in the not to distant past that the Wood Brothers only showed up at the highest paying races, and David Pearson would spank the field, collect the check and go home, this sport was built on the backs of hobbyist's as you would call them. Boris Said would run every race if he had sponsorship, so do your homework, and know what you are talking about before you write it.

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    RALPH W OLSEN said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 3:58 PM

    This whole qualifying system sucks to put it mildly. EVERYONE should have to qualify. No locked in by LAST YEARS points and no past champions provisonals. The fastest 43 race, the rest go home, period. If it rains on Qualifying day, qualify the next day even if its just before the race. It's time NASCAR stopped all this nonesense.

    Report as Abuse
  7. 7
    said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 6:26 PM

    I think it would be very simple, if the top 43 cars in qualifications started the race, that would make it simple, you either qualify or don't. No top 35, no past champions, forget who the driver and sponsor is and you either qualify or you don't. Cheat and your out of the race, no points at all.

    Report as Abuse
  8. 8
    said:
    Mar 8, 2008 at 6:26 PM

    I think it would be very simple, if the top 43 cars in qualifications started the race, that would make it simple, you either qualify or don't. No top 35, no past champions, forget who the driver and sponsor is and you either qualify or you don't. Cheat and your out of the race, no points at all.

    Report as Abuse
  9. 9
    Norman May said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    Wrong again Jeff! Boris Said is the PROBLEM. Boris (and one-offs) is why NASCAR has this rule. Boris shows up to the RP and Road Course races and says no thanks to the rest. WHILE, the Wood Bros, Red Bull, MWR and other show-up EVERY week. NASCAR is just a hobby for Boris, while it is NASCAR is everything to Wood Brothers. I want the drivers who make it a hobby to go home EVERY week.

    Report as Abuse
  10. 10
    Sally Baker said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    I think you have the perfect solution. The 'do or go home'ers' deserve a chance to at least try to make the race. I'm sure they could fine time to let 15 cars qualify and at least give them a fighting chance.

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    John Stark said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    I think that drivers should only be locked in one series. If they are locked in the Sprint they are not locked in the Nationwide or truck. John Stark

    Report as Abuse
  12. 12
    donald davies said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    I've advocated what you have suggested for the past two years! Additionally, I would like to see only the first race of the season, Daytona, be based on the prior year points. From that race on, the top 35 should be on the current year points. Five races ensures that it will be virtually impossible for those outside the top 35 to ever be part of the 'in' group. And NASCAR wonders why the stands aren't full anymore?

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    Thomas Hurley said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    Mr. May, I must assume you want Mark Martin to go home, being as he is only running a part time schedule, and there was a time in the not to distant past that the Wood Brothers only showed up at the highest paying races, and David Pearson would spank the field, collect the check and go home, this sport was built on the backs of hobbyist's as you would call them. Boris Said would run every race if he had sponsorship, so do your homework, and know what you are talking about before you write it.

    Report as Abuse
  14. 14
    RALPH W OLSEN said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    This whole qualifying system sucks to put it mildly. EVERYONE should have to qualify. No locked in by LAST YEARS points and no past champions provisonals. The fastest 43 race, the rest go home, period. If it rains on Qualifying day, qualify the next day even if its just before the race. It's time NASCAR stopped all this nonesense.

    Report as Abuse
  15. 15
    said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    I think it would be very simple, if the top 43 cars in qualifications started the race, that would make it simple, you either qualify or don't. No top 35, no past champions, forget who the driver and sponsor is and you either qualify or you don't. Cheat and your out of the race, no points at all.

    Report as Abuse
  16. 16
    said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    I think it would be very simple, if the top 43 cars in qualifications started the race, that would make it simple, you either qualify or don't. No top 35, no past champions, forget who the driver and sponsor is and you either qualify or you don't. Cheat and your out of the race, no points at all.

    Report as Abuse

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