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December 16, 2007
NASCAR allows point switch for Hornish to ensure a starting spot
We saw it last season with the merger or DEI/Ginn, the #15 getting the points to be able to make the races. Now we're going to see it again for 2008, NASCAR is allowing Penske to switch the points for Hornish, to guarantee him a spot in the first five races. By switching the points, it makes Kurt Busch have to make it in on speed or use one of his Championship Provisionals.
While some say big deal, I don't agree with this, of course I don't agree with the top 35 rule either. I think each and every driver should make the race on time or go home, no matter who they are.
If I could make changes to qualifying, there wouldn't be anymore top 35 being guaranteed a spot, everyone would be required to make it in on time. I would also change the Championship Provisional, I would make it where the only one that could use this would be last years Championship winner (in this case Johnson), but only allow two provisionals at max, all other times they would have to make it in on time.
Other changes would be if a car fails pre-qualifying inspection, they don't get to qualify period, they just pack it up and go home.
Your thoughts? What changes would you make to qualifying?
December 16, 2007 in NASCAR | Permalink
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Comments
K2
Watch Mrs George.
clue us in a lil more ok........ we dont all live in NC and sleep eat nascar ..........its not the ex tv NFL personality Phyliss george is it LOL???
Posted by: aggie | Dec 19, 2007 9:36:23 AM
Why is NASCAR allowing these guys to come in with an advantage over drivers who have paid their dues and earned the right to race? If you can't qualify in, go home. I think what Michael Waltrip did was okay, think about how many years he has been in the sport and earned the right to run. Plus, his drivers didn’t make all the races so wasn’t much of an advantage for him.
I'm a long time Kurt Busch fan and will be so pissed if he misses any races because of this. Penske is an idiot and I just hope his stupidity doesn't get in Kurt's way! Good luck to Kurt and Ryan but as far as Sam….
Kurt may not NEED the points, but he earned them far and square! If Sam wants to run with the big boys, he should earn the right like everyone else! NASCAR needs to start listening to the fans…..before they lose us.
Posted by: Kristy | Dec 19, 2007 7:52:16 AM
kurt busch doesnt need the points sam hornish does. this is no different from a rookie driver getting hired into a top 35 points position or going old school a car with alot of provisionals
its still up to hornish and what he does on the track to keep his team on the track
btw just wanted to make a predition for next year.
jr, kurt busch, tony stewart and matt kenseth will be dueling it out for the championship next year . gordon will be up there buti have a feeling johnson will be running flat
Posted by: Kevin | Dec 19, 2007 2:16:45 AM
personally i think they abolish the point switch since it is not fare others sorta like when jeff gordon crying when things dont go his way like the seasaon before last
when he was narrolly knocked out of contention for the race for the chase and cowincidenty this past the made a change to twelve drivers instead of the ten it has allways been and allways worked .
Posted by: william merbach | Dec 19, 2007 12:16:59 AM
If I had an invite from RG to go to Dakar I'd be there in a New York minute, K2. So what are you waiting for, bud? I'm counting down the days until the Twitter updates start. I hope those knees are healing well.
I don't have as much of a problem with the Top 35 QF rule as I do with these ridiculous points swaps but that's what the rule has produced. I don't blame The Captain for exploiting the system that Brian France created.
Posted by: Barb g | Dec 19, 2007 12:10:22 AM
K2
2) Damn Aggie, you and the damn 7 post shaker.LOL The damn thing is almost ancient now....
besides cost and space, do only 4 teams have one??
3)I hate computers....honestly k2 probably for what you and if u want hassle free computing get an i book or wipe the drive and take off all of the manufactuerers bells and whistles off that laptop!!
k2 get on aplane to the Dakar race, as that would be an experience of a lifetime
Posted by: aggie | Dec 18, 2007 11:57:21 PM
"Two-time defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is in London this weekend, representing the United States in the ROC Nations Cup event"
let's send tony stewart next year.
Posted by: exile | Dec 18, 2007 11:48:29 PM
F5, I have a feeling your guess is real accurate on whose equipment she is running....
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 18, 2007 10:48:05 PM
Aggie,
Pipe down please.
1) Not looking for a wife..... My girls are my babies(yes Aggie the Bassett and the Jack Russell) But she is good. Watch Mrs George.
2) Damn Aggie, you and the damn 7 post shaker.LOL The damn thing is almost ancient now....
3)I hate computers....
Bill,
The Qual rule is BS in itself period(not attacking you), its a joke.. RACING WAS ALWAYS BASED ON RACING IN ITSELF... Dont give 2 shits whom is racing..
Sponsors leaving for that< not making it , no they arent leaving for that at all..They are walking away for the dumb shit.....
F5,
Dakaar, might take RG up on that offer to see it, as hell he changed the freaking radiator in the freaking desert... With camels there..... yeah see a HMS driver or many more drivers doing that at all never happen... EVER>.....These boys are racers and half insane...
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 18, 2007 10:46:24 PM
K2, I'll give those "Rally" guys credit, they make Kamikaze pilots look sane...the only ride I'd scream like a little girl!...I prefer a sticky clay short track with dirt late models!...But it would BE an expierience!...I'll keep my eyes on this new "Hotshoe"...I got an Idea who's equipment she's runnin'
Posted by: Fan #5 | Dec 18, 2007 9:20:18 PM
K2,glad all is well with the other knee.Happy Holidays to all.I got what I wanted for Christmas sorta...Racing back @ the Rock!Ho,Ho,Ho....getting back to the roots!
Posted by: DJ | Dec 18, 2007 9:19:48 PM
The top 35 rule needs a change.I do not think it has to be so extreme that say someone like JJ,who I don't pull,spins out like he did @ Dover recently,wouldn't make the race because of it.I believe they used to go by the top 25 owners points or something like that.I think it is fair to say the top 25 from last year can fall on their points if they f up.Bill,you are correct IMO.Personally,I think top 20 but to say if you are not fast enough with what you bring therefore "no soup for you" is to extreme.Too many things can happen.Like I said,2 day qualifying,trying to get it in no matter what with rain,snow,whatever...get it in.
Hornish doesn't have to worry....As soon as he gets his ass booted a few times or he does something stupid out there,he has his pop to fight his fights,therefore he will not get fined or points taken from him.What a looser.Total BS that he gets the 2's points.He might be in the top 35 after the five races,but it will not have anything to do with his driving ability.All we need is more Robots in NASCRAP.He and the 15 riding coat tails and needing a new barber or stylelist or something not to mention points just to race.Tell the 15 the porkchops are out and look stupid and his drab personality is much like his racing.At least his teamate, the 1 became more fan friendly as his success rose this year.Either way,IT IS ALL BULLSHIT.Thanks Bri'.............
Posted by: DJ | Dec 18, 2007 9:15:04 PM
I'd have to agree with most of what you said in regards to what you would change except your qualifying rule. That's a bit harsh and unrealistic. So if a team shows up for tech and a shock bracket has broken making the car too low then they just have to go home? Sorry, that too extreme. They already have big name sponsors leaving the sport in droves, are you trying to drive the rest of them out? If you do that then NASCAR has to start separating what offenses cause disqualification and which lead to fines and suspensions only. That's just what they need.......more rules to convolute!
Posted by: Bill | Dec 18, 2007 7:15:23 PM
K2
I HATE COMPUTERS, Geek 1, cant fix the email issue.. Geek 2 tries Weds...
get geek 3 to sell a mac/ibook and iam serious!!!!!! or get vista off your laptop
asap and install xp pro
or here have a good laugh
http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac/apple_getamac_holiday_hp_ref.mov
Posted by: aggie | Dec 18, 2007 7:02:39 PM
F%
...I forsee a gloomy outlook for the likes of The Wood Bro, Morgan Mclure, and any other single car outfit..
it is just so hard today, getting the sponser is onething but then getting the engine and all the 7 post shaker info you need it imposible i think for these guys to finish in the top 20 any weekend
K2
F5, want to go to Dakaar Rally?
Go asap, looks just unreal on TV, especially the bikes and the chase trucks K2 how does guys ride in that sand, fix break downs with a full racing suit on is just ???????? to me!!
k2
She is a doctor, mother,ex Golden gloves champ.....
Is she a new wife prospect for you??
Posted by: aggie | Dec 18, 2007 6:51:43 PM
Keith, to some extent I agree. MY issue is not Roger spinning the rule at all. Issue is NASCAR being do F***ING stupid and all the gray areas we have..
Shouldnt happen,F5 you are right on all accounts with Morgan Mcclure, and the Woods... Just wrong.
Only promising thing the Woods have is Marcos coming in some...
Mergers needed:
Evernham , RGM,Wood Brothers,PE, and MM..
F5, want to go to Dakaar Rally? Seriously thinking about it ... Was asked (just to see it), something I always wanted to see live, cause if you race that race you got a pair of "iron ones"
I HATE COMPUTERS, Geek 1, cant fix the email issue.. Geek 2 tries Weds...
Off Topic:
Gretchen, WTF is up with your Falcons being morons Sunday supporting Vick? I know you and Deb were thrilled with that.LOL...
F5, was talking to PA and there is a new lady out there trying..... her resume:
She is a doctor, mother,ex Golden gloves champ.....She might be the one.. damn sure not a Shawna by any means.... She is racing Hickory this year in a car prepared by... Well wont go that far...
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 18, 2007 6:12:49 PM
One more thought, then I'll go my corner, put a bullet in the lucky dog. As we say in God's country, "gitterdun". Happy holidays from the Ole Geezer!
Posted by: Geezer88 | Dec 18, 2007 2:55:01 PM
keith12,
You're right, Penske is a good businessman and you can't blame him for taking advantage of a stupid NASCAR rule. However, I think all of the teams who do this should be worried. The same thing could happen to them some day.
Posted by: Diane | Dec 18, 2007 2:10:44 PM
Dottie, NASCRAP will always be changing, just not for the better, IMO.
No I don't BLAME Roger, as it is well within NASCAR's $hitty, ever-bending rules- except for the rules on the Crap of Tomorrow- so he's allowed to do it. What pi$$e$ me off is that NASCAR allows it. THAT's what stinks to high heaven. Not Roger at all. Brian F. is at fault for how all of this $hit has played out.
Posted by: Gretchen | Dec 18, 2007 2:08:46 PM
as unfair as the points swap seems, Nascar has allowed it to happen. Roger Penske is a smart businessman. He is ensuring that his 3 teams will race on sundays. Can't really blame him for using Nascar's flaws to his advantage. and kurt busch really has no reason to be ticked off. unless qualifying gets rained out, it really won't effect him. kurt typically qualifies well too. this is good for penske racing, because they will have 3 fulltime teams in the show. now, if roger would have swapped with ryan, that would have been wrong.
Posted by: keith12 | Dec 18, 2007 1:53:34 PM
On the OW's coming into NASCAR, Brian
France only see's the $$$$$$ signs and
he could care less about the fans. As
long as Brian holds his title, NASCAR
will never change or be any different,
so I don't think, we have much to look
forward to when it comes to the races.
Kurt2
Glad you got your surgery over with on
both knee's and hope your recovery is
fast. Take care, have a "Merry Christmas"
and a "Happy New Year".
Posted by: Dottie | Dec 18, 2007 1:43:05 PM
K2 I agree, Yates getting swallowed by Roush...If something happens to BE, It could be a tough row to hoe...I forsee a gloomy outlook for the likes of The Wood Bro, Morgan Mclure, and any other single car outfit...Thanks Brian!
Posted by: Fan #5 | Dec 18, 2007 1:22:41 PM
kurt2
Just be a damn shame for example a Hornish to make Daytona 500 and the Wood Brothers have to go home...
This is so very true. I feel us real NASCAR fans are losing what we love about this sport. I don't think it will ever be the same. It sure makes me sad!!
Posted by: Diane | Dec 18, 2007 12:43:02 PM
Diane,
The change was due to saving money(it isnt) and less "downtime " at the track for drivers and us...
ENATION:
Read your post and all I can say is welcome to the "real world of NASCAR"....
Just be a damn shame for example a Hornish to make Daytona 500 and the Wood Brothers have to go home...
Thanks Brian, great job your doing ...
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 18, 2007 11:26:36 AM
Diane,I believe that was the reason,the money saved.I totally agree with the 2 day thing for qualifying.I agree and have for some time that the TOP 35 was crap along with the COT and the Chase.All part of Brian's tenure.I think it is crap that a team can spend alot of money and effort to travel many miles,hotels,food ect...,be one of the fastest in practice,put a strong lap down and the rain comes.You can't tell me they couldn't get it in be it Sat morning or hell,alot of the tracks have lights now.Total BS and Boris and the Saidhead's agree.So who is saving money in that scenerio?Oh yeah,the money grubbing,sponsor friendly,rich get richer types.While the other types loose out at the chance to at least break even.
I get sick and tired of hearing that these OW's have paid there dues and deserve to be in Nascar.What the hell have they done in NASCAR?What ranks did they climb in NASCAR?Maybe they have raced much of their life,but not in NASCAR.Tell that to the Stremme's,Marlin's,Sauter's of the NASCAR world and I'm sure they would tell you where to stick it.I agree with Aggie totally on all she posted.I hate to see guys that HAVE paid their dues in NASCAR,to lose out to some international flavor and money.This all is my opinion,but I found other ways to keep me from drooling on the couch watching the races and that was to pull against JPM.So unless,the 7 picks it up a bunch and contends,I'll be doing the same and now I'll have the 27,41,10 and 42 to pull against!It's like Fantasy Racing man.If I didn't have my 4 drivers to pull for last year when the race was so boring,I'd be drooling and snoring,only to wake up with about 8 laps to go,when the racing MIGHT get interesting.
All this crap that Brian allows is absolutely killing the sport.Wake up boy,your losing fans.Total Bull Crap Series,that is what I recommend it be called.As I said earlier,can't wait for the Truck Series!Ya'll have a nice day...........
Posted by: DJ | Dec 18, 2007 11:08:18 AM
Geezer88,
You are right. In a post yesterday I mentioned going back to the 2-day qualifying. It was exciting to get up Saturday morning, turn on the TV and see if any of the slower qualifiers or a guy who crashed or had engine trouble could bump someone else out of the race. It was also good because if quals. were rained out on Friday, they could try again on Saturday. I think they changed it to save the owners money. Does anyone else know if there was a different reason for the change?
Posted by: Diane | Dec 18, 2007 9:20:13 AM
Kathy, I believe you have hit the nail on the head on this one. But I think the old Saturday morning second day qualifying was the way to go. Before the field is final, allow a driver to stand on his time, or take a second shot at making the back of the field. That way, if you blow an engine, lose a tire, or hit the wall you get a second chance. Then it's the top 43 with no provisionals. Now let's have a re-fill, and again Merry Christmas to all!
Posted by: Geezer88 | Dec 18, 2007 3:02:14 AM
This whole top 35 is just as many have said pure BS.......as for Sam the guy is sofa king slow and i doubt he'll amount to anything in nascar, IMO in the irl any one of 12 guys could win in those penske cars
its like Helio he has 2 titles THAT no one cares about, indy 500 and dancing with a teen ager titles...Helio WHO CARES, those 2 titles and 3 bucks will get a you 2 happy meals!!!!!
the irl is like glorified spring training now with, some bs 500 mile race in the middle of it.....worse series on tv, what was that lap time gap in one race 18-30 seconds???
Sam is going to get another reality check in 08 like he did in 07 only worse as true fans will turn on him
the whole open wheeleers-CGR and iam sure its been done in colaboration with nascar for getting ratings in foreign tv markets, or just plain puplicity???? who knows BUT u put BF and CGR together and you get hi hype BS.....nascar has always been a monkey see monkey do type of racing series and right now this is just another phase for the zoo keeper and the chimps to show the fans how stupid the zoo is being run!!!!
Posted by: aggie | Dec 18, 2007 12:58:43 AM
I didn't realize the incredible amount of possible scenarios involving owners switching points with their cars...
Damn, STRICKLINFAN82 really put that stuff in my mind now...I gotta be honest,if Dale Jr. only made the race because he got points switched from another car I would be pissed..
I root for my driver with the stereotypical passion that most NASCAR fans have,but I want my driver to make the race on his own...not with the points that someone else had earned...
The more we talk on this site about these negative subjects concerning NASCAR,the more it becomes depressing...I guess until you dig deep into the politics of this sport you really don't realize how screwed up NASCAR is...
Posted by: earnhardt nation | Dec 18, 2007 12:36:56 AM
oops forgot...
so its fair for the Wood Brothers not to make it next Daytona should Kurt use it? No , the Wood Brothers are a stable in this sport...
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 17, 2007 11:06:41 PM
Red,
Many sponsors are in fact fine with the rating decline, please look at the monetary game per sponsor that came out last week.. The 2, 24 etc... They are fine. Write a $20 million dollar check and get a massive return in visiblity , plus the tax write off involved..
StricklinFan, I agree with your post, but I am looking at it a face value, and its BS to let a unproven driver do this swapp crap. IF(wont happen) KUrt had to use all the provisionals to get in, Roger would have to ask NASCAR again.... Just stupid. Thank god I didnt follow Kurt over there...
J2, Please enlighten me where anyone say a thing about Jr., Jeff or JJ??//??? NO ONE.
sorry for this Kathy and blog, please open up a little farther to insert Jr, since you already have JG, JJ and RH placed firmly in your orfice...
Yeah other knee was done today J2, good meds......
Well the Geek squad needs to go away, as I had to get a computer guy to head over tommorrow to fix it... I cant access any email period....
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 17, 2007 10:55:09 PM
"As long as Mr.H keeps writing those big checks to NASCAR, HMS will never have to worry about the top 35". How's that sound?
Posted by: jeff | Dec 17, 2007 10:42:40 PM
Johanna Martin
Very good post Johanna, I agree with you
and I couldn't have said it better. You
are so right.
Kathy
Good blog and I agree with you also.
Posted by: Race Fan | Dec 17, 2007 6:48:40 PM
Oh, I forgot the one other obvious possible abuse of the champion's provisional that could and probably will happen in 2008. If Kyle Petty and the #45 car continue to flirt with that 35th place cut-off in owner's points next year and end up falling below the cut-off point, no problem again! Teammate Bobby Labonte has a champion's provisional, so The King will just swap the 43 and 45 cars' owner's points!
Anyone can feel free to write down all the scenarios I wrote down, and the second any of those situations play out let's see if the team owners abuse the champion's provisional to fix the problems. My guess would be absolutely. Why not? If NASCAR is going to have such an awful rule and let teams continue doing these point swaps, why wouldn't an owner take advantage of it? I know I would. That's why the champion's provisional rule needs to go away!
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Dec 17, 2007 5:58:48 PM
Provisionals ???? I got an idea, the only driver eligible for a provisional is the defending champion of last years race. If he doesn't make it on speed...otherwise it's the fastest 43. And while I'm at it, changing engines...go to the back of the pack, ONE LAP DOWN and no more luck dog.
Posted by: scrounger | Dec 17, 2007 5:52:08 PM
(post continued)
- Hell, if Sam Hornish struggles in the first 5 races and the 77 car falls to 36th or lower in points after race 5, no problem again! Roger Penske will just swap the points of the 2 and 77 cars.... AGAIN!
- Any other full-time team that falls outside of the top 35 points will decide to "re-evaluate their program by putting in a veteran driver", which will obviously be Bill Elliott or Terry Labonte who, imagine this, also have a past champion's provisonal that will also guarantee their car s starting spot! Can you ever imagine a situation like this happening? Cough cough.... Michael Waltrip, the artists formerly known as Hall of Fame Racing, and the Wood Brothers.... cough cough.
NASCAR, STOP THIS NOW BEFORE IT GETS EVEN MORE OUT OF HAND!
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Dec 17, 2007 5:49:59 PM
(I apologize in advance for the multiple posts, but the site kept flagging my comment for spam when I tried to post this as a single comment)
If NASCAR doesn't abolish the past champion's rule things are just going to get more and more ridiculous as car owners find ways to abuse this terrible rule:
- Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin have a bunch of early season DNF's and fall outside the top 35 in points after race 5 - no problem! J.D. Gibbs will just swap the points of the 20 and the 11/18 car since Tony Stewart has a past champion's provisional.
- Joey Lagano decides to run a few Cup races at the end of 2008 in a 4th Joe Gibbs car but it's a shame he has to earn a starting spot... Wait! Just swap the points on the 20 car and the 4th JGR car. Lagano is now locked in and Tony Stewart has a champion's provisional!
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Casey Mears fall outside the top 35 - no problem! Rick Hendrick will just swap the 88 or 5 car's points with the 24 or 48's points since Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson have champion's provisionals.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Dec 17, 2007 5:48:54 PM
kurt2,
Hey, if I was the "whom" you were referring to when you talked about Kurt Busch's reaction to this situation, I was speculating about what Kurt Busch's reaction would be if NASCAR came in today and abolished the champion's provisional, not his reaction right now.
Obviously Busch couldn't care less about having to qualify on time right now (since he's "technically" driving for a brand new race team) because he has the first option of the champion's provisional, so he's probably all for the 2-77 point swap right now. What does he have to lose right now? Nothing. What would he have to lose if the champion's provisional rule suddenly went away... everything!
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Dec 17, 2007 5:32:23 PM
All it probably will take is for Junior to get healthy, translation: start winning.
That prescription will resolve most of the interest level issues.
The rest is just commentary.
K2, found a way to work in HMS.
Posted by: Jon2 | Dec 17, 2007 4:35:51 PM
Brian and Nascar and all this crap reminds me of an old Grand Funk Railroad song, I'm Your Captain and Please Don't Take This Ship Away From Me. Well, if something does not happen to the captain then the ship is gonna sink. The ship has been taking on water now for awhile. The front of the ship is already under water and the only part of the ship that is above water is the butt end and it ain't pretty. The captain has to go away by whatever way. Don't really care!!
Posted by: Deb | Dec 17, 2007 3:12:28 PM
K2,
How can sponsors be happy with ratings down, attendance down and all? Seems if they want to keep them happy, BF (man that has some proise for some slang) would be packing his bags for AA or some other place where we can't harm the world.
Hi, I'm the CEO of Acme Brand X and we sponsor a car that can hardly make the show, but NA$CAR has kept me happy with a rule that sees my driver out drove by a team that has to go home.
We value our relationship with NA$CAR, because like any get out of jail card, we get to see our car finsih in the back of the pack week in and week out. It's the best bang for our buck, The France family that is.
Posted by: Red | Dec 17, 2007 2:22:06 PM
Hey, ya'll ever notice that Smurfette was the ONLY girl in the shroom village, and THEN baby smurk showed the f*** up? Talk about a child support NIGHTMARE!
k2, I thought you were ignoring me....lol!!!
Posted by: Gretchen | Dec 17, 2007 12:50:46 PM
If NASCAR wants to protect their stars from not making a race, all they have to do if they like that 35 number is to start the top 35 cars based on qualifying speed and then fill the field based on the point standings of the non qualifiers. This way if say Stewart or Gordon has a flat tire or blown engine during qualifying they can still get in based on their points standing.
Posted by: Peter | Dec 17, 2007 12:37:15 PM
First , off topic:
I hate Best Buy. Damn laptop or whatever sucks, I cant access any freaking email period... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.. Sorry for that rant...
Kurt should be pissed off, and was at first..Said a few choice words on the "lets give Sam the points"...
J2,I figured in ome f'd up way you would find a way to make this relate to Fantasy Island.. I swear the other day I saw some SMURFS going up the road to HMS
The Top 35 rule will stay, sorry, I dont like it either. It should be fastest in, or go homw, but NASCAR will ensure the TOP sponsors stay happy above all..
F5, ran into P.A this weekend... Looks like the boys "over there" might actaully turn some things around in time... DR is still at the reflecting pool, wondering where to begin this tenure...
Posted by: kurt2 | Dec 17, 2007 12:32:26 PM
Hornish is a "hack." When his old man's money runs out, (and it will) he'll be gone.
Posted by: Rich | Dec 17, 2007 12:07:50 PM
I know it will never happen, but I wish they would go back to the 2-day qualifying. Eliminate provisionals, guaranteed starts, etc. Rainouts on qualifying day wouldn't be so much of a problem if they could qualify the next day. I think they eliminated the 2-day quals. to save money. But it sure was nice for race fans. Qualifying was a lot more exciting back then.
Posted by: Diane | Dec 17, 2007 11:26:18 AM
Yes keith i understand that. Kurt will be just fine, but I'm just saying as a matter of principle, I'd be p.o.'d. SH hasn't earned $hit.
Posted by: Gretchen | Dec 17, 2007 11:12:23 AM
Gretchen,
There's no reason for Busch to be pissed off. By race 6 he will be firmly entrenched into the Bogus35 and Hornish will be back to qualifying his car in.
Posted by: Keith | Dec 17, 2007 10:47:37 AM
You're all right, the Top 35 is a joke, from what I understand it has to do with keeping the top teams and their sponsors happy just in case they have a bad qualifying effort, unfortunately it makes it where they don't really have to try in qualifying and can work on race setups instead.
Keith,
As far as it being in the slow part of the season, I guess they hope not to piss off the hardcore seasoned fans by doing it this way, plus they probably think most fans don't really care.
Posted by: Kathy | Dec 17, 2007 10:10:56 AM
Kat,
Amazing, isn't it, that they do the announcement during the slow part of the season...Or, maybe, they figured we'd just let it pass by.
For qualifying:
1) Eliminate the T35
2) If they keep a Top # of cars, I'd limit it to whatever # the Chase cars are (for this year). And, it would be set after, not before, the first 5 races. Or, at the end of the season, the points are set and no trading would be allowed to change the Top-whatever.
Posted by: Keith | Dec 17, 2007 9:47:56 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
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