Quote:
Originally Posted by crazybill5280
...I always hate it when a faster qualifier goes home so a regular that is way off the pace can ride around in the way on race day...
|
The same argument can be made for both the new qualifying system and the old provisional system. How many times last year were faster qualifiers turned away becasue Joe Ruttman or Kirk Shelmerdine had the provisional? Then Joe or Kirk runs ten laps and pulls the car into the garage. At least this year those last eight (or seven plus champion) will be based on qualifying time so you don't have slower cars make the field just because they had a provisional. I personally think both systems have their pluses and minuses. I'm going to wait and see how it plays out before I pass judgement.
I do think 35 is too many guaronteed spots. When this thing was first discussed, I thought 20 or 25 would be a good number. 25 is enough that realistic championship contenders won't worry about missing a race, but leaves enough spots open that new teams have a good shot at making the race. I'm also completely against this system for bush and truck series. Busch and truck are were new teams get their start. Limiting who's able to race in the lower series limits the talent pool that feeds into cup. For cup, the highest level of stock car racing in the country, if not the world, I'll wait to see how it works before I make up my mind. But for lower series, I can't see how limiting the talent pool will do anything but shoot nascar in the foot in the long run.
edit: As I think about it some more, I think the same argument I make for not using this format in busch and truck series. This format may keep existing cup teams around past their prime, just because they were good the previous year. Getting an automatic start for the first six races makes it easier to get into the top 35, so you get an automatic start for the rest of the season, which makes it easier to finish in the top 35. I'm still not entirly against it, but now I'm less sure.