Rules are rules I know, but it seems a shame that NASCAR is so stuck on 43 starters that they could not allow just one more. What would it hurt? I’m not a JJ fan but it just seems a shame that only ONE car couldn’t qualify. I know there has to be a line drawn but when you have 43 spots and 44 sign up………what’s one more.

I’ve seen it once this year in Trucks and now in Cup……don’t seem right when it's only one.

Heck, Nascar started 50, 60, 70 plus cars at some races in the past. But, then again, a rule is a rule. Seen it happen many times in our little "hobby". How many races have you been at where there is only 1 car in the "b" or "c" main. I guess Poop happens!

remember when they only started 36 at Bristol?

I agree - DUMB - especially at a track like POCONO - where there's enough room for 60+ cars and they could go 6-7 cars wide at some points.

hell why not just race and not have any losers either. this is real life not fantasy land

remember when they only started 36 at Bristol?

Back then a lot of the smaller tracks had smaller fields. It was because of available pit stalls.

I agree - DUMB - especially at a track like POCONO - where there's enough room for 60+ cars and they could go 6-7 cars wide at some points.

It's not how many cars fit on the track. It's how many fit in the pits. They started 43 cars at Dover and there are only 42 pit stalls. Two teams had to share a stall. How many do they double up? How long before some dummy screws up and tries to pull into a stall that has a car in it? I think they were right when they set field size by available stalls.

I always laugh cause guys talk about preserving traditions, but if you look back at the 'old days' of NASCAR they ran a TON of cars. Give the cars FULL SIZE Gas Tanks and TIRES that will last 1/2 the race and you wouldn't need as much pit space.

NASCAR hasn't been about 'racing' for years. It's about entertainment and $$$ -

I watch NASCAR and have my favorite drivers - but I so much more enjoy REAL racing when ever I can get it.

It's not how many cars fit on the track.
It's how many fit in the pits.
They started 43 cars at Dover and there are only 42 pit stalls.


My bet is that with the millions the tracks rake in at a cup race,
that they may be able to get a loan to make a few more pit stalls....:drunk:

To send one guy home at places like Pocono/Michigan/Dega etc.
is ridiculous. I can see a limit on the shorties, but not the Spudways.

As for the "rules",
they could go back to the old rule which included some
"promotor's provisionals".. :thumbsup:

Back in the day racing wasn't as popular either.

If you allow 44 this week, and only 43 next week someone will complain. They are doing it right. Now if they would just drop ticket prices then they may get back to the way it was a few years ago.

...I understand the 43 car deal too, it just sucks when only 44 cars show and ONE has to go home...

It doesn't make a difference if it was 44 or 75 who showed up - only 43 are racing. You know that when you mail your entry form in.

..a friend of mine use to race r/c at the Yokota Air Base in Japan - he had to walk about a mile to the train station, lugging his r/c equip. behind him... take about a 30 minute train ride, then walk again from the station to that track... TOP 10 qualified cars raced the mains...everyone else was DONE, and went home. His first few trips, he qualified 11th~ It just made him GET BETTER and make the show.

If you allow 44 this week, and only 43 next week someone will complain.


Bet it won't be the guy that qualified 44th....... :rolleyes:

The only problem I have is with the top 35 rule my belief is that every team should have to qualify period. I believe this would make some of these teams step their games up a bit more. Especially when you can hear the difference in motor packages as the cars pass you at the track. None of the team cars sounded the same at all when they were going down the front straight at Pocono during qualifying.

The only problem I have is with the top 35 rule my belief is that every team should have to qualify period. I believe this would make some of these teams step their games up a bit more. Especially when you can hear the difference in motor packages as the cars pass you at the track. None of the team cars sounded the same at all when they were going down the front straight at Pocono during qualifying.

Yeah, but can you imagin the amount of money they would loose if Jr., Gordon, or some of the other big names didn't make the race?

Yeah, but can you imagin the amount of money they would loose if Jr., Gordon, or some of the other big names didn't make the race?


They wouldn't lose any money,
but it just wouldn't be as good of a product..

its racing your fast or go home there a lot more cars at the dream and only 24 make the show as fo not being as good if the big names don't make it it would show you that your driver sucks

its racing your fast or go home ..
as fo not being as good if the big names don't make it it
would show you that your driver sucks

So if Tony Stewart blew a tire on his qualifying run,
and Jeff Gordon blew a motor.... they both suck.
So Kenny Wallace and Morgan Shepherd make the show instead.
Great.
The 200 people that Home Depot sent to the race, to sit in the
100,000 dollar suites can talk about how nice it would have been to
see Tony in the race.

You just can't compare Sprint Cup, to a Saturday night feature
at Podunk Speedway.
It's a completely different animal.
For those that believe the only way it should happen is either make it
or put it on the trailer... that is exactly what the Saturday night joints
are for.
For those that want to see something different, there is NSC racing.
Neither is trying to say that they are right..
They are just different.
NASCAR racing isn't D.I.R.T. racing.
It isn't sprint car racing.
It is what it is.

Sad but true:cry:

Sad but true:cry:

But it really isn't...

I don't get upset that McDonalds doesn't have extra crisp real chicken.
If I want that, I can easily go to KFC.
I don't expect KFC to offer up 1/4lb. burgers.
Or Taco Bell to have pizza.

The auto racing market has dragsters, Indy cars, Trucks,
off road, midgets, modifieds, yada, yada, yada...
And... NASCAR racing.

All different.
For a reason.

I've got an idea that woudn't work in practice, but here we go anyway.

Have the top 42 spots (could be less) determined by qualifying position only. Leave position 43 open. The rest of the cars that couldn't qualify in the top 42 have a shoot-out race and winner races their way into the main event. Even if 50 cars showed up or a big name had a problem in qualifying everyone still has a chance. If you can't qualify or race your way in - either you don't deserve to be there or you have really bad luck.

For various reasons - tires/fuel/safety/sponsors this would never work but it would be interesting to see.

Rules are rules I know, but it seems a shame that NASCAR is so stuck on 43 starters that they could not allow just one more. What would it hurt? I’m not a JJ fan but it just seems a shame that only ONE car couldn’t qualify. I know there has to be a line drawn but when you have 43 spots and 44 sign up………what’s one more.

I’ve seen it once this year in Trucks and now in Cup……don’t seem right when it's only one.

it's like a class of 8 10.5 cars within a lap of each other and one or two that are 4-6 laps slower with one that can stop spreading debris on the track. just a different perspective:cool: jj's owners could go run trucks and be a lot more competitive. it's silly to look at someone like stacey compton trying to run 30th in points just to optimize his salary without spending the bucks it takes to run 10th. I'm not sayin stop racing just go back a step and reevaluate your program. now stacey's not embarrassing himself so bad in the trucks!