Nationwide trims field to 40 in 2013 & other changes

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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Announced today that they Nationwide field will now be reduced to 40 starting next year.

Cup remains at 43; Trucks 36
 
Other changes: Previous season's points will be used for first three races (instead of five) (Cup)
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Announced today that they Nationwide field will now be reduced to 40 starting next year.

Cup remains at 43; Trucks 36
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Personally I think 36 in Nationwide is enough, they do enter a lot of fillers and if its 36 it may put an end to the cope twins entries. I like Cup at 43 and Trucks at 36.
 
FenderBumper said:
There you go. I didn't think nascar had the guts to fully open the 500 field.
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I think that we were on two different pages of thought when we discussed this before. What they've announced is basically what it always was prior to the top 35. I was under the impression that you were saying that they would never base them getting into the 500 off of the finishes of the duels. They are but they also use the provisionals. That is the way it was for many, many years.
 
Here's a good description of the changes from jayski.....

NASCAR announces qualifying & testing changes for 2013: NASCAR announced a number of competition changes for the 2013 season, highlighted by a new qualifying format in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series that places a greater emphasis on speed.

Qualifying Format In The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
In NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, the series will move to a 36-6-1 format where the fastest 36 cars will make the race on speed. The next six highest ranking cars in owners points that have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and who have entered the event by the posted entry deadline will also make the field. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a seventh car will make the field based upon owners' points. Provisional positions in the 36-6-1 format will be lined up by owners' points, not speed.

In 2013, the qualifying order for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events will return to a random draw. However, in the event qualifying is canceled due to rain, the field will be set per the rule book and the starting lineup will continue to be determined by practice speeds.
Additionally, provisional positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be based upon the previous year's owner points for the first three races, as opposed to the first five races in previous years for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and four races for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Testing Policy Opened Up For 2013
Beginning next season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, there will be up to four tests per organization available to teams at tracks at which the series competes. Since 2009, teams could only test at tracks that did not hold NASCAR national series events. For the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, starting in 2013, there will be up to two tests per organization at tracks where those series compete. If the organization has an official Sunoco Rookie of Year candidate, then that team will receive one additional test. Additionally, NASCAR will open track activity early for extended practice at two additional events per series, to be determined.

Maximum Field Set At 40 Cars For NASCAR Nationwide Series
In an effort to strengthen the ownership base up and create a sense of urgency among teams to make races, the maximum starting field for the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be set at 40, as opposed to the 43-car field in previous years. A maximum NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting field will remain at 43 cars while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will hold steady at 36.
 
"Additionally, provisional positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be based upon the previous year's owner points for the first three races, as opposed to the first five races in previous years for the NASCAR Sprint Cup "

I guess this is what has me confused. My comments were mainly about the Daytona 500, and I don't know exactly how many and how those provisionals were assigned before the top 35 rule. So I have a couple of questions to try and understand these changes...

When 'qualifying' for the 500 does take place, and cars get wrecked out...

1) How many provisionals for the D500 now and pre top 35.
2) Who gets those then and now.
 
Provisionals used to be assigned according to qualifying attempts. Teams that supported the series earned provisionals. I don't remember the numbers though. It was every x number of attempts would earn a provisional. It wasn't a one to one ratio or anything like that. I haven't seen it explained yet how they will earn provisionals for next year.

Cars that got wrecked out of the qualifying races before the top 35 were able to fall back on qualifying speeds from the Sunday prior to the Duels.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think that it's foolish to think that the top name drivers will be heading home. It's not going to happen. Teams that struggle on a consistent basis are the ones that will end up going home. The top teams are top teams for a reason. They may have an issue a couple times a year during qualifying but it is not an ongoing issue. They'll be there on Sunday, including the D500.
 
Ok, thanks dpk. I too think it would be foolish to leave the 500 open to having a bunch of top names go home.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Provisionals used to be assigned according to qualifying attempts. Teams that supported the series earned provisionals. I don't remember the numbers though. It was every x number of attempts would earn a provisional. It wasn't a one to one ratio or anything like that. I haven't seen it explained yet how they will earn provisionals for next year.

Cars that got wrecked out of the qualifying races before the top 35 were able to fall back on qualifying speeds from the Sunday prior to the Duels.
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Maybe top 35 in laps completed the previous year could be used for provisionals.
 
lol "No more top 35. I put my foot down and we are going to 34"

OK, how about anti-S&P provisionals?
 
I was disappointed to see that they did not take this opportunity to get rid of the Champions Provisional.

I know it's not PC to do so, but it no longer serves a purpose.
 
Robert.L.Stinson said:
I was disappointed to see that they did not take this opportunity to get rid of the Champions Provisional.

I know it's not PC to do so, but it no longer serves a purpose.
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While I'm at it, why did they go back to random draw instead of practice speeds for order of qualifying? It makes sense to seed the riders in something other than random order so that 1) cars that are close in speed go out in similar conditions, and 2) it adds a bit of drama to see the later cars (theoretically) take over the pole as qualifying winds down.
 
By going back to random draw, you eliminate the possible sand-bagging and/or tricking out the car to go slower/faster depending on when you want to qualify. At least that's the way I see it.

This way, you go when your number is called --- and you go fast, or you go home.
 
Robert.L.Stinson said:
While I'm at it, why did they go back to random draw instead of practice speeds for order of qualifying? It makes sense to seed the riders in something other than random order so that 1) cars that are close in speed go out in similar conditions, and 2) it adds a bit of drama to see the later cars (theoretically) take over the pole as qualifying winds down.
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Welcome to the forum Robert , we enjoy getting new points of view . Keep those opinions coming. But I have to ask you. Is it really that dramatic when the first car goes out to qualify and the talking head says 'He's on the pole .' Then the second car goes out and the talking head says " New driver on the pole .' Then the third car goes out and...well you know.;) . Just kiddin ya.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
By going back to random draw, you eliminate the possible sand-bagging and/or tricking out the car to go slower/faster depending on when you want to qualify. At least that's the way I see it.

This way, you go when your number is called --- and you go fast, or you go home.
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I like the way you think Mam!
 
Robert.L.Stinson said:
While I'm at it, why did they go back to random draw instead of practice speeds for order of qualifying? It makes sense to seed the riders in something other than random order so that 1) cars that are close in speed go out in similar conditions, and 2) it adds a bit of drama to see the later cars (theoretically) take over the pole as qualifying winds down.
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I agree completely. Qualifying order based on speed made more sense to me too for all the reasons that you mentioned.
 
My favorite idea of qualifying:

Practice Friday, Sat is 100% chance of rain.

Friday practice gets turned into the first edition of qualifying I want to see. Kinda F1 style.

If it actually happened this way. It would be sweet to watch.
 
MOEJOE said:
My favorite idea of qualifying:

Practice Friday, Sat is 100% chance of rain.

Friday practice gets turned into the first edition of qualifying I want to see. Kinda F1 style.

If it actually happened this way. It would be sweet to watch.
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F1 ..ah.. great.:(
 
It's a start. Now cut the Cup field to 40 and the truckers down to 32. While I preferred the qualifying order based on practice speeds, I don't object to the random order. Just don't start awarding points for qualifying, Brian.

Has anyone actually seen this legendary '43 car guarantee'?
 
Charlie Spencer said:
It's a start. Now cut the Cup field to 40 and the truckers down to 32. While I preferred the qualifying order based on practice speeds, I don't object to the random order. Just don't start awarding points for qualifying, Brian.

Has anyone actually seen this legendary '43 car guarantee'?
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No. I hear about it every time discussions about field fillers comes up but I've never seen any evidence to support those statements.
 
Here is an old article I came upon...makes sense

From InsiderRacingNews.com, posted 12/30/02:

NASCAR started playing with the size of the fields five or six years ago. Different tracks used to start different amounts of cars in each race depending mainly on how many pit stalls the track had available to use. NASCAR wanted to standardize the size of the fields and after some trial and error, settled on a field consisting of 36 qualifiers with six provisionals that could be used by the regular drivers. That's a total of 42 cars.

The story about the odd car, the 43rd starter, began about twelve years ago when Richard Petty was having trouble making the starting lineup. NASCAR created a Champions Provisional to help get Petty into the field. In fact it could be used to help any present or ex-champion but just recently was used for other drivers, if a Champions Provisional wasn't used. It goes to the car owner with the highest points that didn't qualify on speed.

NASCAR was happy with the standardization and stuck with that number even though some drivers had to share pit stalls at some tracks before they were brought up to the present standards. They could run more at some tracks and they probably should run fewer cars at others, but it's a standard 43 cars now and I don't see that ever changing.
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Bucky Badger said:
Here is an old article I came upon...makes sense
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Hmm. I guess you (me) do learn something everyday.
I've always wondered about that.

Glad to see the new rule re: the top 35 starting positions. Never liked the current procedure.
Race what you brung, man.
 
nascage said:
Hmm. I guess you (me) do learn something everyday.
I've always wondered about that.

Glad to see the new rule re: the top 35 starting positions. Never liked the current procedure.
Race what you brung, man.
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I'm thinkin , tiptoe around in qualifying to be sure that you make the field . You can't win it if you're not in it.
 
#17D500winner said:
Surely you're not suggesting that drivers just cruise around, Ted?
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Not because they want to , but Nascar is forcing them to be extra careful in qualifying to make sure they make the field . The start and parks will use qualifying set ups , even if they have to keep them in for the race. Qualifying doesn't pay any points but a wreck in qualifying could put you out.
 
ted@economy said:
Not because they want to , but Nascar is forcing them to be extra careful in qualifying to make sure they make the field . The start and parks will use qualifying set ups , even if they have to keep them in for the race. Qualifying doesn't pay any points but a wreck in qualifying could put you out.
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Kind of like 26 qualifying races to make the chase ;)
 
I wish there were more qualifying races. Run two for each event, say at 20% of the current event length. Lineups could be determined by owner points (even - odd), practice speeds, or random draw. Top 20 cars for each Q-race move to a main event at 50% of the current event length. That would put an end to cruising around.

Hey, they do it at Daytona.
 
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