Rookie exception: NASCAR chairman Brian France says there will be at least one additional exception to the new rule limiting Cup teams to no more than four cars.
Roush Racing, the only team currently racing five cars in Cup, is grandfathered through the 2009 season to run them all. France said that other teams will also be allowed a fifth car under very specific circumstances.
"Once we reach that cap, as it applies to everybody else beginning in '06, there will still be a feature that will allow a four-car team to run a fifth car in a program that is getting a rookie ready for the following season with a limited number of races attached to it."
New drivers are allowed to run up to seven races in a season without losing their rookie status. Denny Hamlin, who won the pole for Sunday's race in only his sixth Cup event, will also run next week in Homestead but will still be eligible to run for Rookie of the Year in 2006.
From SI.com
Roush Racing, the only team currently racing five cars in Cup, is grandfathered through the 2009 season to run them all. France said that other teams will also be allowed a fifth car under very specific circumstances.
"Once we reach that cap, as it applies to everybody else beginning in '06, there will still be a feature that will allow a four-car team to run a fifth car in a program that is getting a rookie ready for the following season with a limited number of races attached to it."
New drivers are allowed to run up to seven races in a season without losing their rookie status. Denny Hamlin, who won the pole for Sunday's race in only his sixth Cup event, will also run next week in Homestead but will still be eligible to run for Rookie of the Year in 2006.
From SI.com