Backseat Blonde - New Season Needs Some Explaining to Casual (and Even Not So Casual) Fans

February 14, 2005

New Season Needs Some Explaining to Casual
(and Even Not So Casual) Fans
By Allison Wagda

We’ve made it through the Bud Shootout and round one
of Daytona 500 qualifying.

Much as I’m loath to admit it, I’m already confused by
some of the changes. Sure, every season brings a host
of minor changes, a half-inch off this spoiler, a new crew chief over on that team, a
driver change or a number swap. We’re used to all of that. But I’m drowning in details
already.

I guess it was too much to ask after the total overhaul known as 2004 that we could
take a little break. But given the innocuous nature of most of the changes, I suppose I
can’t complain too much (don’t fall over in shock just yet).

I just wish I had a guide to it all. I’ve already made an ass out of myself once acting
like I knew what I was talking about when I had my head firmly planted in a place
distinctly lacking sunshine and fresh air. Was I the only one who thought qualifying
yesterday was simply an exercise to determine the front row as well as the line-ups
for the Twin 125s urgh I mean Dual at the 150’s or whatever those two races this
Thursday will be called?

So there I was, pretty much stomping my righteous foot as I declared to several other
fans that yesterday’s exercise meant little to those not currently guaranteed entrance.
I thought they were only racing for position in the 150s (or the front row), where THEN
they would fight for those coveted 8 spots up for grabs

Yet all of the sudden one of the commentators started talking about how relieved
Jason Leffler and Boris Said must be to have earned a berth in the 500. So I wiped a
little of the egg off my face and spent the next 20 minutes or so listening intently to try
to figure out exactly how this was all working.

Let me see if I get this. The top 35 in owner points are guaranteed a spot no matter
what. New driver, new number…it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s the same team/car
or something like that. So the Fed Ex #11 was not guaranteed a spot because it was
a new team with a new sponsor, a new driver, a new number and new cars, but the
#07 Jack Daniels was guaranteed because, despite a new driver, a new number
and a new sponsor, it was reincarnated?

Hmmm okay…

All cars attempting to make the field had to run Sunday’s stage one of qualifying. The
session determined the front row (Pole winner and the #2 spot), the line ups for the
150s (odds in one race, evens in the other), AND four cars to be added to the 35, for
a total of 39.

On Thursday, all cars will race. Those 39 who have already “earned” a spot are
merely racing for their place on the starting grid (except for Dale Jarrett and Jimmie
Johnson, who already secured on the front row thanks to Sunday’s qualifying). The
rest of the field still has to make the race, fighting one another for one of the
remaining four spots.

Is that right? I don’t even know. I think I need a cocktail. Talk about convoluted.

I’m going to veer for a sec…I supported the idea of automatic entrance for the top 35
(essentially all those who show up every single week). It’s fair, given the investment
from sponsors, and frankly it’s not that different from the provisional system.
However, we should start fresh each year. This Daytona 500 qualifying process as it
stands is borderline ridiculous.

Okay, back on track. There are those of us who follow the happenings in NASCAR
day after day, week after week. All year long we scour the Web for the latest tidbits,
and rant or rave about every little change.

It’s easy to forget most casual fans have slumbered through the off-season. Sure,
every February offers something new, but this year there seems more to learn than
most. Pit road speeds will now be electronically monitored, and I’ll be curious to see
how many scandals that causes. Will drivers be penalized for going one mph over
the speed limit? Five?

There have also been changes to the car set-ups, the HANs device is now the only
safety harness available to drivers, we’ll finally know if liquor is quicker than beer,
Eury Jr. will be wearing blue instead of that trademark Bud red, and everyone will be
asking the big question…where is Ward? (we already miss you dude.)

And who knows, depending on the week qualifying could be Friday, could be
Saturday, we could have Happy Hour or perhaps not, cars will be impounded (at all
or just those qualifying Sunday?), yikes. Maybe NASCAR should publish a “Brian
France’s New NASCAR Revolution for Dummies” book, because right now I kind of
feel like one.

I’m sure the FOX commentators have been following all these changes throughout
the off-season, and they now have the rewarding task of explaining them to us (over
and over and over again). On the bright side, perhaps all this will give them
additional fodder so we don’t have to learn about aero-push one more time.

I have to admit, aside from being stumped a few times already, it was awesome to
see the cars under the lights of Daytona on Saturday night. It’s inspiring to see just
how many hopefuls have gathered to attempt to run the 500. It’s thrilling to see these
guys coming to play with their “A” game.

Perhaps I don’t need to understand what’s going on anymore. Most of these
changes are pretty frivolous anyways…the racing is what really matters. Bring it on!

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