Interesting Note For Sunday's Race

[TonyB]

Well at least I find it interesting.

There have been 21 Cup level races at Watkins Glen. Starting up front has been very important with 2/3 of the winners having started in the top 10 and only once has a race winner started outside the top 15.

When did the race winner start outside the top 15? It was the only time prior to this year that qualifying was cancelled. In 2000 qualifying was cancelled and Steve Park won from the 18th starting position.

If you would have compiled a list of drivers to watch before qualifying was cancelled, mostly likely Robby Gordon and Ron Fellows would ahve been on that list. Robby Gordon starts 23rd and Ron Fellows starts 43rd.

In early practice on Saturday, Ron Fellows posted the 4th fastest time and Robby Gordon posted the 9th fastest time.

Fellows faces down history in attempting to win the races. In the modern era on NASCAR Cup racing (1972 to present), the highest official starting position of a race winner on any type of track was 39th by Bobby Labonte in November of 2001 at Atlanta.

 

[EatMorePossum]

Originally posted by TonyB@Aug 14 2004, 11:06 AM
In the modern era on NASCAR Cup racing (1972 to present), the highest official starting position of a race winner on any type of track was 39th by Bobby Labonte in November of 2001 at Atlanta.

I could have sworn Earnhardt started 43rd and won one. That may have been due to having to start in the rear when he actually qualified better, so maybe that doesn't count.

Seems like Kurt Busch did it too...

 

[TonyB]

Originally posted by EatMorePossum@Aug 14 2004, 01:15 PM
That may have been due to having to start in the rear when he actually qualified better, so maybe that doesn't count.

That is certianly the case... A number of drivers have started at the "rear of the field" due to penalty (ie, going to a back-up car, missing drivers meeting, changing engine, etc.) and won from back there. However NASCAR considers your OFFICIAL starting postition to be where you qualified (or where you were placed when the field is set by points) and everything else a penalty occured in the course of the race (just like being sent to the end of the line on a restart.)

Also of note with the drivers starting at the rear of the field, frequently cars that they would line up behind yield to the penalized car because they know it will be fatser and don't want to hold them up.

 

[Lap3Forever]

Originally posted by TonyB+Aug 14 2004, 02:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (TonyB @ Aug 14 2004, 02:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-EatMorePossum@Aug 14 2004, 01:15 PM
That may have been due to having to start in the rear when he actually qualified better, so maybe that doesn't count.&nbsp;

That is certianly the case... A number of drivers have started at the "rear of the field" due to penalty (ie, going to a back-up car, missing drivers meeting, changing engine, etc.) and won from back there. However NASCAR considers your OFFICIAL starting postition to be where you qualified (or where you were placed when the field is set by points) and everything else a penalty occured in the course of the race (just like being sent to the end of the line on a restart.)

Also of note with the drivers starting at the rear of the field, frequently cars that they would line up behind yield to the penalized car because they know it will be fatser and don't want to hold them up. [/b][/quote]
Dale Jr. 2003 Aaron's 499 at Talledega was one. (i think )