Mikey Calls For Changes To Qualifying

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kat2220

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Racing notebook
Waltrip calls for changes to qualifying, more
Posted: Friday April 27, 2007 4:54PM; Updated: Friday April 27, 2007 4:54PM


TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Michael Waltrip has failed to qualify for seven of the eight NASCAR Nextel Cup races this season, and he believes the system now being used to select the fields is somewhat flawed.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner, now also owner of a three-car, first-year team, says he has a better idea.


"They ought to draw for qualifying, like they do now," Waltrip said. "Then, the top 35 go out one through 35. Then you've got this drama built. Then you let the scrubs go out. Let's see who has got what. Seven of these guys are going to make it. It would be more fair if we were right there together."

As it stands now, the top 35 drivers in the car owner points are guaranteed a starting spot in the 43-car field, actually leaving eight spots to fill. Those positions are filled by qualifying speed, with one spot reserved for any former series champion who fails to make it on the other criteria.

Dale Jarrett, Waltrip's teammate and the 1999 champion, has used five of his six allotted provisionals already this year.

Under the current rules, everyone entered gets his qualifying position in the blind draw.

Last week at Phoenix, qualifying began in the late afternoon and the track temperature changed by more than 20 degrees as the session progressed. That gave the drivers who drew later qualifying spots a decided advantage over the early qualifiers.

Kyle Petty, another longtime stock car racer, agreed with Waltrip that a change in qualifying procedure could be good.

"On at least two occasions, he's been beat by the luck of the draw," Petty said. "He's been fast enough. Other guys have been beat by the luck of the draw, too, and other guys have got in by the luck of the draw."

Waltrip also had a suggestion for NASCAR about a change when qualifying is rained out, as it was two weeks ago at Texas. In that case, the formula for determining the field includes the top 35 in points, then former series champions, the previous year's race winners, qualifying attempts during the current season and, finally, back to the current points.

Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota went home that weekend without racing.

"Texas was a crisis," he said. "Our sponsors pay as much for us to compete as sponsors pay for cars in the top 35. It was more upsetting to Domino's and NAPA that qualifying got canceled on Friday and that's it, go home. They said, `Why couldn't we have qualified on Saturday?'

"They should come up with qualifying for the whole field," Waltrip said. "Say it rains on Friday. Set the top 35 by points and we're going to have a session for the other guys on Saturday. We're going to try to get qualifying in for these guys so they can go home knowing they had a chance."

On that suggestion, Petty did not agree.

"If qualifying gets rained out, it just gets rained out, sorry," Petty said. "You got beat by God then, not the luck of the draw. That's the way it's been. We play an outdoor sport and you've got to live with it. The race tracks and NASCAR and everybody, we have a schedule. You can't manipulate stuff like that."
 
kat2220 said:
Racing notebook
Waltrip calls for changes to qualifying, more
Posted: Friday April 27, 2007 4:54PM; Updated: Friday April 27, 2007 4:54PM


TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Michael Waltrip has failed to qualify for seven of the eight NASCAR Nextel Cup races this season, and he believes the system now being used to select the fields is somewhat flawed.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner, now also owner of a three-car, first-year team, says he has a better idea.


"They ought to draw for qualifying, like they do now," Waltrip said. "Then, the top 35 go out one through 35. Then you've got this drama built. Then you let the scrubs go out. Let's see who has got what. Seven of these guys are going to make it. It would be more fair if we were right there together."

As it stands now, the top 35 drivers in the car owner points are guaranteed a starting spot in the 43-car field, actually leaving eight spots to fill. Those positions are filled by qualifying speed, with one spot reserved for any former series champion who fails to make it on the other criteria.

Dale Jarrett, Waltrip's teammate and the 1999 champion, has used five of his six allotted provisionals already this year.

Under the current rules, everyone entered gets his qualifying position in the blind draw.

Last week at Phoenix, qualifying began in the late afternoon and the track temperature changed by more than 20 degrees as the session progressed. That gave the drivers who drew later qualifying spots a decided advantage over the early qualifiers.

Kyle Petty, another longtime stock car racer, agreed with Waltrip that a change in qualifying procedure could be good.

"On at least two occasions, he's been beat by the luck of the draw," Petty said. "He's been fast enough. Other guys have been beat by the luck of the draw, too, and other guys have got in by the luck of the draw."

Waltrip also had a suggestion for NASCAR about a change when qualifying is rained out, as it was two weeks ago at Texas. In that case, the formula for determining the field includes the top 35 in points, then former series champions, the previous year's race winners, qualifying attempts during the current season and, finally, back to the current points.

Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota went home that weekend without racing.

"Texas was a crisis," he said. "Our sponsors pay as much for us to compete as sponsors pay for cars in the top 35. It was more upsetting to Domino's and NAPA that qualifying got canceled on Friday and that's it, go home. They said, `Why couldn't we have qualified on Saturday?'

"They should come up with qualifying for the whole field," Waltrip said. "Say it rains on Friday. Set the top 35 by points and we're going to have a session for the other guys on Saturday. We're going to try to get qualifying in for these guys so they can go home knowing they had a chance."

On that suggestion, Petty did not agree.

"If qualifying gets rained out, it just gets rained out, sorry," Petty said. "You got beat by God then, not the luck of the draw. That's the way it's been. We play an outdoor sport and you've got to live with it. The race tracks and NASCAR and everybody, we have a schedule. You can't manipulate stuff like that."
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Mikey's got a point. I think they should qualify F1 style (problem is some of these drivers can't handle that).
 
Sorry dissagree, outside of the fact that rain outs suck you have to live with it. By tweaking the qualifying on Mikeys basis it would take a math major every race to figure out who is in and who is out. The best way and i have always felt this way is : allow 2 past champions provisionals per race, the rest qualify on speed and speed only, no owner or driver points involved. You miss on speed ...oh well, and don't say that would hurt sponsors...blah blah, some major sponsors get sent packing every week. Too many damn politics in this sport these days!:cool:
 
I think it should be similarly to what Mopardh9 suggested, you qualify on Speed with only a few reserved spots. However, I was thinking maybe 3 reserved spots for the top 3 in driver points, only because I don't see the chase going away and the points should count for something. I would actually like to see heat races, but that won't happen.
 
I do like the idea of those outside the top 35 qualify together. Adds a little more drama and excitment if you ask me. :bounce:
 
Just a question here.

Why "past champion provisionals" at all? What have certain past champions done this year so far? Just took a chance to race away from other, younger drivers that have their life ahead of them...not behind!
Maybe it was a good idea at first to get certain fans to come purchase a ticket but today that provision just gets in the way of the younger drivers.
Perhaps it is intended for past champions that might crash on the timing lap and not be able to make the race without it.. BUT the drivers that are using it this year simply can't make the cut.
How about this: Only past champions in the top 35 can use the provision?
Betsy :rolleyes:
 
Well there is another way. Let's let the teams bid on their spot. High bid gets the pole. You only get 1 bid and its blind. Low bids go home. Think of the money NASCAR could make then. If a sponsor wants to be on the track then pony up. :D
 
barelypure said:
Well there is another way. Let's let the teams bid on their spot. High bid gets the pole. You only get 1 bid and its blind. Low bids go home. Think of the money NASCAR could make then. If a sponsor wants to be on the track then pony up. :D
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I sure hope Nascar don't see this. There eyes are just $.
 
BobbyFord said:
I think they should leave it like it is.
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I totally disagree. The rule was built to protect the best funded team, to protect those sponsors. There are 50+ big sponsors out there, let the fastes cars race!
 
tkj24 said:
Works for me.
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Because your driver's guaranteed a spot in the show.

Let me put it this way: Say you're driving in NNC for a smaller team. You outqualified Johnson, Earnhardt, Harvick and Stewart and 20 other cars, but 7 cars outqualified you.

Wouldn't you be upset with going home?
 
Vern Demerest said:
I totally disagree. The rule was built to protect the best funded team, to protect those sponsors. There are 50+ big sponsors out there, let the fastes cars race!
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Yeah, Mikey was 20th fastest in qualifying and he gets shown the door.
 
BobbyFord said:
That's why they should let it be.
If you can't run with the best, go sit down until you can.
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I really don't get where you're coming from. There are some really, really good cars going home week in and week out. What you're saying is a new team can't be one of the best becouse they weren't around last year. If they weren't around last year, they're going to strugle this year, as they aren't in the top 35 in points. Most of the teams outside of the top 35 in points are qualifying in the top 35 starting positions, but becouse they weren't around last year and out of the top 35 in points ,they miss the field. Totally not fair to those high dollar sponsors nor team members at the shop that bust there butts.
 
Just take a look at the speeds of the "Go Home" cars at 'Dega and compare them to many of those in the top 35 in points.
 
kat2220 said:
Just take a look at the speeds of the "Go Home" cars at 'Dega and compare them to many of those in the top 35 in points.
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Well, I'm wondering if those RCR cars held something back to get grouped together. I noticed they're all right there at the back.

I don't think changes to qualifying would help Mikey, but he does have a valid point.
 
Vern Demerest said:
I really don't get where you're coming from. There are some really, really good cars going home week in and week out. What you're saying is a new team can't be one of the best becouse they weren't around last year. If they weren't around last year, they're going to strugle this year, as they aren't in the top 35 in points. Most of the teams outside of the top 35 in points are qualifying in the top 35 starting positions, but becouse they weren't around last year and out of the top 35 in points ,they miss the field. Totally not fair to those high dollar sponsors nor team members at the shop that bust there butts.
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They are not using last year's points now. Starting with Martinsville they go off this year's points.
 
tkj24 said:
They are not using last year's points now. Starting with Martinsville they go off this year's points.
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I understand, however it's the lack of those points that get the non top 35 teams so far behind the 8 ball, they just can't catch up. Once that happens, these teams have to qualify so far up front it's next to impossible(almost). on top of that, not making it in the field and getting track time as you know just kills them.
 
Personally, and I know I'll probably get somr grief on this, Can the Top 35, can the provisionalsand can any other guaranteed starting spots. If ya ain't fast enough to make the race, go home.
 
My feeling is this top 35 deal is just plain unfair especially to new teams in those first five races. I don't like the idea of F-1 style qualifying either, but with that in mind maybe overall speeds in practice sessions could apply to who gets to attempt to qualify. maybe the top 45.
What I saw today was just stupid with some cars in race trim (top 35)and others in qualifing setups with super thin oils etc. only to be impounded and really have no realistic chance of winning let alone even finishing the race.
Sorry but it's just a Budwieser fueled opinion of mine.
:beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang:
 
Mikey is just crying because he cannot get his act together. What I do not understand is why Toyota is not stepping in and doing something. I heard at one point they sent engineers to the shops but nothing more. Surely we know Toyota has deep pockets and the know-how they need to get he job done because it is obvious the Toyota teams are not.
 
all car quilf.
run heat races
43 car feature
1st car highest in points that did not make it, and 1 more prov.

Thats my view and im sticking to it! ;)
 
Waltrip had the 20th best time. How is that not getting the job done? I think the system is pretty stupid the way it is now.
 
It's pretty easy for those of us who are fans to throw rules around like they mean nothing. It's a bit different when you have millions of dollars invested. The top 35 was put in place just for that reason. So you say, well there are teams that have million dollar sponsors that still aren't making the field? Then it's time to change it even more, but where does one stop? Elimnate all the provs and you could end up with a situation like what happened a few years back at the Indy 500, where the series champ and previous winner didn't make the field. I can hear it now...Jeff Gordon or Dale Earnhardt or Jimmie Johnson or any of the top teams blow an engine while qualifying and don't make the race. That isn't going to happen in NASCAR. The only way you are going to fix this problem is to franchaise 43 teams and they compete in each and every race. That will prevent anyone from not making the field, but it will also prevent a new team from trying to break into NASCAR.
 
wolfcub said:
Mikey is just crying because he cannot get his act together. What I do not understand is why Toyota is not stepping in and doing something. I heard at one point they sent engineers to the shops but nothing more. Surely we know Toyota has deep pockets and the know-how they need to get he job done because it is obvious the Toyota teams are not.
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You expect change overnight? Toyota is getting their hands in the mix. A car built jointly between MWR and TRD should be ready for Charlotte.
 
NASCAR considering tweaking qualifying: NASCAR is considering changing its qualifying procedures in response to complaints about the restrictive system. With at least 50 drivers vying for 43 spots in the field, seven or more cars fail to make the race each week. Because NASCAR assures a spot to the top 35 drivers in points, only eight positions are actually up for grabs. The policy has crippled several drivers this season, particularly #55-Michael Waltrip, who missed his eighth consecutive race Sunday. Waltrip spent the past week lobbying for a variety of changes that could help him get into the field. NASCAR is apparently listening. "We're looking at a lot of different scenarios," competition director Robin Pemberton said. "There's things that we're looking at and we're listening to the competitors. If we were to make a change we'd have to put our own twist on it, to make it fair for all competitors."(Alabama Live)(4-30-2007)
 
buckaroo said:
It's pretty easy for those of us who are fans to throw rules around like they mean nothing. It's a bit different when you have millions of dollars invested. The top 35 was put in place just for that reason. So you say, well there are teams that have million dollar sponsors that still aren't making the field? Then it's time to change it even more, but where does one stop? Elimnate all the provs and you could end up with a situation like what happened a few years back at the Indy 500, where the series champ and previous winner didn't make the field. I can hear it now...Jeff Gordon or Dale Earnhardt or Jimmie Johnson or any of the top teams blow an engine while qualifying and don't make the race. That isn't going to happen in NASCAR. The only way you are going to fix this problem is to franchaise 43 teams and they compete in each and every race. That will prevent anyone from not making the field, but it will also prevent a new team from trying to break into NASCAR.
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Hmm franchise the teams, that is quite a different angle on it, but what happens when a franchised team can't come up with funds? Plain and simple, you make it in on speed, the 43 fastest cars make the race. How hard is that? Why are you people making it so difficult, racing is based on the fastest car going going fast for the longest time it takes to win the race. Fast equals winning slow equals not winning, in most cases. Why do people get their panties in such a wadd about Jeff Gordon not making a race if he blows and engine, yet when he wins at Dega and breaks Big E's record they have a coniption fit???!!! You can't have your cake and eat it too. Plain and simple, don't make it any more difficult than it already is folks.;)
 
That's fine for the weekend warriors but that's not the way to run a multi-million dollar business. Mikey may lose NAPA. That's millions of dollars that could well end up somewhere else.
But, then I don't really expect some of you to understand...
 
barelypure said:
That's fine for the weekend warriors but that's not the way to run a multi-million dollar business. Mikey may lose NAPA. That's millions of dollars that could well end up somewhere else.
But, then I don't really expect some of you to understand...
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Duh he would of made like 3 more races than he has if it was qualify or go home.
 
And who would have gone home in his place?
What do you do about their sponsor?
This is not your Saturday night short track racing. This is Big Business. Start up businesses in almost every endeavor have a hard time getting started. He knew the risks before he started so I don't feel sorry for him.
You are trying to oversimplify the situation.
 
barelypure said:
And who would have gone home in his place?
What do you do about their sponsor?
This is not your Saturday night short track racing. This is Big Business. Start up businesses in almost every endeavor have a hard time getting started. He knew the risks before he started so I don't feel sorry for him.
You are trying to oversimplify the situation.
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No it is cut and dry, either way you have good cars going home, why not make equal for everyone, no special considerations. So a big sponsor does not make the race, if he is pissed he will go elsewhere with his money. It is called business for a reason, it is sometimes not nice, but after all this is not 6 th grade this is the real world.
 
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