Qualifying procedure change
This entry is long overdue...
I read about the new qualifying procedure and I've been meaning to throw my two cents in.
They've made a rule change for drivers trying to qualify for a race that are outside of the top 35 in owner's points. Starting with the time trials at California on Feb. 22, (for the Sprint Cup Series) all drivers trying to qualify that are outside the top 35 in owner points will do so in one group at the end of the qualifying session.
The first thing that came to mind when I read that was what about a weather provision? If it looks like weather is going to play a role in ending the qualifying session early, then I would think they should let the drivers outside the top 35, qualify first.
If it starts raining, after the entire group outside the top 35 has completed their attempts, let their qualifying run stand. At least that way, they had the opportunity to try to get in. Line up the rest of the field on points and bump out the last of the drivers that qualified in the first run. Then it wouldn't be a complete waste of time and money.
Remember last year when Boris Said was sent home after an incredible qualifying run at Daytona due to weather? He was sitting on pole when he was sent packing. At Watkins Glen, he never got the chance to qualify because of weather -- a track where he clearly would have had a good qualifying run.
Here's the article that was on nascar.com.
All for now...
Posted at 01:00 PM
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