newb with newb question: qual vs. grid; points

H

holdensteady

Guest
Sorry to ask stupid questions, but I am very new to NASCAR and trying to learn. I am trying to figure out how qualifying works vs. the actual grid that races, and how points work.

I noticed that for the Michigan 400 on August 17th this year, there were three empty spaces listed for the qualifying times on the NASCAR website. They are at positions 28, 31 and 39. This is at

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-...pure-michigan-400.raceResults.qualifying.html

I also notice that JJ Yeley, Martin Truex Jr. and Trevor Bayne aren't listed in the qualifiers, but did drive in the actual race. So I assume these three guys were in those qualifying spots. Questions:

Why weren't they listed with the qualifiers? Did they fail to qualify, have mechanical problems during qualifying, etc.?

If one of these things took place, why weren't they put in the last three qualifying positions? What was used to determine they would be in those places if they don't have qualifying times?

I also notice that some drivers such as Landon Cassill never seem to get any points no matter where they place. Why is this?

Again, sorry for what may be really stupid questions. Just trying to learn.

Thanks, H
 
Welcome to the forum holden. Don't have any idea how the computor might have omitted three times from the website , but I believe that all of the cars have to make an attempt to get into the race .Points are awarded for every position ,including last . Then , at the end of the year , they are discarded , and the champion is determined by cage match .:)
 
LOL^

Not sure about the q thing with those 3.. thats really weird... but Landon Cassill and some other drivers do not recieve points because NASCAR made a rule a couple of years back that a driver can only run for points in one series. I believe Landon Cassill runs for points in the Nationwide series.

Points are awarded per position.. 43 cars.. 43 points to first place.. 42 for 2nd etc.... one bonus point for anyone who leads a lap, another one for whoever leads the most laps and 3 bonus points for the winner with a max points day being 48 points.

Also, there are no stupid questions.

Welcome to the forum :)
 
Thanks for the reply on the points - makes sense I guess that you can't earn points in two series.

Hopefully someone can definitively answer the question on the qualifying positions. Looks like some kind of voodoo going on there.
 
Im confused about that qualifying thing..

Found HERE that positions 28, 31, and 39 were filled by Juan Pablo Montoya, Casey Mears and Landon Cassill.

On the link you posted though, Juan Pablo isn't there, Landon qualified last and Casey Mears is 26th...

On the list I posted it has Tony Stewart listed as 26th and Travis Kvapil last ... So basically..... I have no clue what happened there lol
 
holdensteady said:
Thanks for the reply on the points - makes sense I guess that you can't earn points in two series.

Hopefully someone can definitively answer the question on the qualifying positions. Looks like some kind of voodoo going on there.
Click to expand...
They used to be able to run for points in any series... After 2011 they changed it after Brad Keselowski won the NNS title while driving full time in the cup series as well.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Im confused about that qualifying thing..

Found HERE that positions 28, 31, and 39 were filled by Juan Pablo Montoya, Casey Mears and Landon Cassill.

On the link you posted though, Juan Pablo isn't there, Landon qualified last and Casey Mears is 26th...

On the list I posted it has Tony Stewart listed as 26th and Travis Kvapil last ... So basically..... I have no clue what happened there lol
Click to expand...

Which brings us to the most important lesson to this new fan: Don't go to the NASCAR website. Ever.

Okay, maybe to read Andy's piece from yesterday. But then leave, quickly, before you develop a headache trying to navigate and translate that clusterbomb.
 
Truex Jr and Bayne had someone else qualify their cars.
From Jayski..."Matt Crafton is in the #78 for Martin Truex, Jr. Ryan Blaney is in the #21 for Trevor Bayne, who is at Mid-Ohio for Nationwide practice."
I think Truex Jr's wife/girlfriend was very ill. And I'm pretty sure Yelley filled in for Ryan Truex because he had a bad wreck and wasn't cleared to race.

http://www.jayski.com/news/races/2014/story/_/page/23-Michigan-2014-NASCAR-Race-Info
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Im confused about that qualifying thing..

Found HERE that positions 28, 31, and 39 were filled by Juan Pablo Montoya, Casey Mears and Landon Cassill.

On the link you posted though, Juan Pablo isn't there, Landon qualified last and Casey Mears is 26th...

On the list I posted it has Tony Stewart listed as 26th and Travis Kvapil last ... So basically..... I have no clue what happened there lol
Click to expand...
That was the first Michigan race...he is asking about the second race.
 
Bottom line, it sounds like it is not the driver that qualifies, it is the car (or even more specifically, the car number).

Thanks all.
 
holdensteady said:
Bottom line, it sounds like it is not the driver that qualifies, it is the car (or even more specifically, the car number).

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

In qualifying , it's always the driver . Where he qualifies is where he starts unless someone else qualifies the car for him ,then he starts last . Points for the race finish position are awarded to the driver unless he is a racer from another series , he can only accumulate points from the series he races in . Lastly , there are car owner points . They are awarded to the car owner , no matter who is driving the car , and count toward a different (owners) championship.
 
ted@economy said:
In qualifying , it's always the driver . Where he qualifies is where he starts unless someone else qualifies the car for him ,then he starts last . Points for the race finish position are awarded to the driver unless he is a racer from another series , he can only accumulate points from the series he races in . Lastly , there are car owner points . They are awarded to the car owner , no matter who is driving the car , and count toward a different (owners) championship.
Click to expand...

Thought I'd add to this good explanation: the qual results will show how the drivers qualified, even if that's not where they start. So if a car goes to the rear (driver change, back up car, etc) he's still credited officially with the original strain spot in the record books. That's why the blank spots weren't listed 41-43, although those cars started 41-43.
 
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