The Top 35 Guarantee Has Got To Go.

By Mark Young

Qualifying.  The last time I checked involved going as fast as you can to determine whether or not you get to race....Oh wait a minute I must have been dreaming or was caught in some kind of time warp or something because that doesn't happen anymore.  Now days it is nothing more than a simple parade lap that helps determine the order that crew chiefs get to pick what pit stall they want on Sunday.  It is my opinion, like many other fans that I talk to, that this is ridiculous and needs to be eliminated from NASCAR.

Now I am pretty sure everyone knows why NASCAR decided to guarantee the top 35 cars in owner's points a starting spot because of money.  Ah yes, the almighty dollar, something that evidently the France family doesn't have enough of.  Someone at the main office in Daytona seems to think that if Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, or Tony Stewart fails to make a race that the stands will be empty.  Well that isn't going to happen, in fact at least 75% of the tickets to races are sold in advance so they are going to get their money anyway.  Isn't it ironic that I mentioned Junior, Gordo, and Smoke?  All three of those guys have missed the chase and people still went to the races, the same thing would happen if one of them missed a race.

This year there are 52 full-time teams scheduled to compete in the NEXTEL Cup Series, that means that if they all show up 11 haulers will be headed back to North Carolina on Friday afternoon.  That list doesn't include James Hylton, Kirk Shelmerdine, Morgan Shepherd, and the slew of rookies that will likely run one or two races this year.  The top 35 guarantee, combined with the silly provisional rules, makes the chances of these independents making the show slim and none and to me this sucks.  James Hylton has some very good equipment at Daytona and has run some very impressive testing laps but he is going to need some serious luck if he wants to make the race.

I think that qualifying should mean something.  Every car should earn the right to race on Sunday.  If Jimmie Johnson crashes on his qualifying lap at Las Vegas in a few weeks he can't race on Sunday.  There shouldn't be any provisionals, they shouldn't be allowed to get out the backup car, they should go home.  The fastest 43 cars should be the ones to race on Sunday.  Provisionals were created to serve as a mulligan of sorts but they have been abused.  Darrell Waltrip ran an entire season relying on the past champion's provisional.  Bill Elliott has run races for several teams the past couple of years because of his "get out of jail free card", the past champion's provisional.

NASCAR claims to be a fan driven sport.  Well if the fans drive the sport then why do they keep making new rules to guarantee that their pockets stay lined and the golden parachutes get bigger?  We didn't ask for the Chase, TV did.  We didn't ask for the top 35 guarantee, TV did as did the sponsors.  What is going to happen when Michael Waltrip or Brian Vickers miss a few races?  Don't you think NAPA or Red Bull is going to be a little ticked if they have to sit out even though they qualified fast enough to make the race?  Brian France has created a monster with the top 35 guarantee and I predict that by the time we get to Bristol in March the Car Of Tomorrow won't be the only thing he has to worry about.

That's what I think, what say you?