I dont see the how the top 35 rule has anything to do with these layoffs. You've given examples of teams on both sides of the rule, both dealing with income problems.
Maybe Morgan-McClure is 46th in the standings because they could not nail down sponsors. What came first the chicken or the egg?
These actions are the insane cost of going fast in the motorsports world.

Had the field been established by the fastest 43 cars instead of the top-35 rule, Ward Burton, for example, probably would have only missed a couple of races. Therefore, the team would have received a "paycheck"...for those races.

David Caraviello on Nascar.com is addressing the teammate issue today.

Having to run both regular cars and the COT has hurt many of the smaller teams who don't have the money and sponsorships that the larger teams have.

I think teams would have a better chance of getting sponsorship if they were in the top 25 or so in points. Can't get to the top 25, if you are sent home each week because of the top-35 qualifying rule.

The 13 team doesnt get sent home each week and they're having to drop people. The "paycheck" helps but you need to get to the front(somehow), because its the car on the camera that pays the bills. Sponsors want their names on TV. Where did the 13 car finish last week, where did he finish any week? Without looking at the past results on Nascar nobody could give me that answer, Because he wasnt at the front and therefore not on the tv screen. Thats why they can't pay the bills.

It’s a sad day when NASCAR sends home the driver who qualified and was the pole sitter and 3 other drivers who qualified in the first 5 positions. It’s especially sad when they could have completed qualifying the next morning in about 90 minutes and given all who entered a chance to qualify to race. That’s all the go or go home teams want…an EQUAL chance to qualify to race. The top 35 rule doesn’t give them that opportunity.

I’m going to use Ward Burton as an example of what the 14 regular go or go homers have had to face this season because he is the one you mention above in your article. Ward Burton has missed 2 races due to rain and lineup by points. He qualified for 13 races within the 43 spot field and was sent home for 5 of those 13 races because of the top 35 rule. I dare say there are several more in the go or go homr group with the same stats.

NASCAR has leveled the field…for the 35 and added speed bumps for the last 14 each week.

The top 35 rule is responsible for allot of what is happening to the small teams ..they can't get sponsorship because they are not in the top 35 ..It is a hindrance that they can not overcome . Comparing it to Ginn is foolish .. they are not out of the top 35 yet ..so they can make races and continue to collect a pay check each week . The top 35 rule made field fillers out of decent teams that were able to compete in February and March , but now because of it , we have smaller teams ready to close their doors ..and Ginn doesn't have the top 35 rule to use as an excuse .

Everyone's absolutely correct about Ginn and the top 35 rule. The subject of this blog was a few layoffs. The next sentence really confused folks and I am sorry about that.

Also- I have to clarify that Ward Burton is 46th in the driver point standings but for owner's points, they are in 44th.

I was contacted earlier today by a Morgan McClure Motorsports representative and the reports of an earlier layoff of 14 were false.

I apologize for the confusion.

Let's just say they change the rule and the fastest 43 cars make it into the race. There still will be a hand full of teams going home every week. Will we then start complaining that they should let 50 cars into the race?

justracethecar