Backseat Blonde - ‘Year of the Rookie’ Fails to Pay Dividends

November 8, 2004

Nothing Sacred From NASCAR Change Machine…
Even Qualifying
By Allison Wagda

Another week, another change, another looming
controversy. This time it’s qualifying.

Note to the folks at NASCAR: Really, we could all use a
break. You don’t have to “fix” everything all at once.
Please…take a vacation, or at least a valium or two.

Note to self: Deep breathing calms the voices.

Oh, but wait. This isn’t the column I originally produced for today. On Friday night,
after reading about NASCAR’s proposed new changes to race qualifying procedures,
I vented and ranted and raved in my typical manner, opposing the concept and once
again accusing NASCAR of putting entertainment before sporting competition.

Sample paragraph from the original story… “Real is the last word I’d use to describe
this new system. Automatic qualification for certain teams? That’s bull. If a full-time
Cup team cannot place in the top 43 cars, they don’t deserve to race. Plain and
simple. That’s the whole point of qualifying!”

I’ve changed my mind – conditionally and with some hesitation.

I decided perhaps a bit of introspection was past due. It’s easy to pick apart new
ideas and dismiss them out of hand (especially with NASCAR’s recent track record.)
Too easy, perhaps.

So I decided in this instance, I stepped back, and carefully considered all the
benefits and the potential ramifications, especially as it relates to the integrity of the
sport. That’s of paramount importance to me.

And I found the changes, as reported by the intrepid, resourceful and all-knowing
David Poole from That’s Racin, to have some merit.

Fellow traditionalists, before you descend into anarchy, please let me explain.

According to Poole, qualifying will work something like this: Teams will arrive Friday
afternoon for practice, with the car set up in race trim. Saturday, cars will qualify for
Sunday’s race with that configuration, and the top 35 Cup teams (in the
championship points) will be guaranteed a spot in the field, no matter their time.
Cars will then be impounded after qualifying, and start the race with the same set-up.

These changes are still under consideration, so nothing is set in stone. But what I
took away the following. Yes, the top 35 teams in points would make the field, no
questions asked. But there was no indication they’d be ensured of starting in the top
35. The other 8 spots would be up for grabs among full-time teams struggling and
the various other drivers who show up on the radar every now and then, like Ron
Fellows. Then the 35 “lucky schmucks” and the eight racers would line up based
upon qualifying speed.

Under the current system, there is image, and there is reality. In the realm of
qualifying today, admission to the main event is enhanced by just a touch of illusion.
The current system already protects these regular competitors from an occasional
off day. If a team misses the set-up, or a regular driver crashes during qualifying, they
can take a provisional – one of several spots reserved in the field for past champions
or for drivers who, through competition, have earned certain points. But miss it too
often, and risk facing exclusion from the race. I’m not a huge fan of provisionals, but
that’s not the point today.

I guess in a way we can thank Scott Wimmer and Scott Riggs for creating another
reactionary change. NASCAR must have received calls from their sponsors incensed
at the loss of publicity since they were sent home from Martinsville last week.

Full time teams are pretty well insulated. If you look at the points system now (either
current or classic), all of the regular drivers would make the cut. Johnny Sauter, an
on-again, off-again driver, stands in 36th.

The proposed new system is not as big of a change as it sounds when you consider
the provisionals. And there are several key benefits.

As much as I champion the idea of pure competition, we have to face the fact that that
our sport is fueled by sponsor dollars. These sponsors need some sort of continuity
to put together reasonable marketing forecasts on their investment. It’s life in a
capitalist society, and an aspect of the sport we must accept. In this regard, stability
in the race line-up provides some level of job security for our favorite drivers.

Even more attractive to me is the idea that part of the proposed system actually
improves the legitimacy of competition. By impounding cars immediately following
qualifying, teams would be forced to abandon some tactics that may provide an
unfair advantage during qualifying but could be detrimental during the race. Cars will
need to be optimized for the race itself, not to make a solo trek with little wind
disturbance. It’s more of an indication of the action to come (to some extent).

That leads into the biggest potential benefit of all – a Pole Winner Bonus (not yet
mentioned as part of the changes, but crossing my fingers…)

It’s something for which we fans have been clamoring for a long, long time. Under
this new qualifying configuration, with cars forced to qualify in race trim and everyone
facing the same disadvantages, it would be exceedingly fair for the pole winner to
score some major bonus points. It’s overdue.

Plus, as an added incentive to teams, fewer changes mean fewer headaches and
reduced expenses. In an era of spiraling costs, any way NASCAR can save the team’
s money without causing significant harm to on-track action should be welcomed.

I do foresee several major potential pitfalls NASCAR should take care to avoid when
making these ideas law.

Veterans - Seems like almost all of our revered veterans are planning to run part-
time in the next couple of years. What if Bill Elliott cuts a tire on his qualifying run? He
won’t be in the top 35 (right now he’s in 48th due to his intentionally sporadic
schedule). If more that 43 drivers make a qualifying attempt, he’ll be sent home.
Right now under the prior-champion provisional, he’d still be granted a place in the
line-up.

Do we want a new qualifying system to take away what few opportunities we have left
to see these great drivers perform?

Early Season – Of even greater concern to me now is the early part of the season,
specifically the first five races or so. As noted before, taking the top 35 right now
would hardly make a difference to the line-up.

It’s easy for even a championship-caliber driver to suffer from some misfortune on
the track every now and then. A blown engine, a flat tire, incidental (or not so
incidental) contact with another competitor, all can end a race prematurely for a team.

So let’s say you are one of the eight cars to finish at the back of the pack after
Daytona, due to “the big one.” On the heels of that bad luck, you head out to
California Speedway the following weekend and, during qualifying, slide into some
oil from a previous qualifier. You’re not in the top 35, and with 52 cars vying for one of
those coveted eight spots up for grabs, you have no way of making the cut. You are
done.

That would sincerely suck for you. Now, let’s say your name is Earnhardt. Or Gordon.
Or Stewart. Or Kenseth. Or any other contender.

Your championship hopes would take a major blow just one race into the season.
You’d be 300 points or so behind first place in a flash (poor finish at Daytona, no
points from Fontana). Maybe it wouldn’t even be your fault.

Something to consider, especially if the point of this whole exercise is to placate
sponsors.

The new system is not perfect and could use some adjustments, however it is worth
considering.

But I do keep wondering where all the change will end. And with every change, as my
head spins more and more and I lose the ability to consider each one independently
and objectively, I hope for a new kind of change. One that offers all of us race fans a
viable alternative to satisfy our racing fix.

King Richard, you’re our only hope.

Just One Cooler Should Do it, Honey
Poole also reported that NASCAR is expected to shorten many race weekends,
especially at ISC-owned tracks, to 2 ½ days, with practice on Friday afternoon,
qualifying Saturday (I assume no Happy Hour), and racing Sunday.

Shortening race weekends may benefit drivers and teams already pushed to the limit
by an exhaustive schedule, but it has a detrimental affect on fans. Many people take
time off and spend an exorbitant amount of money for a NASCAR vacation. They
travel great distances, rent RVs or pay hyper-inflated prices motel rooms, and use
valuable vacation time. Up until now, race weekends have been filled with events and
entertainment for those at the track. If the cars only take to the track three times the
whole weekend will it be worth all the hassle?

Or would you rather go to the Bahamas?

Muzzle the Nozzle, Bamboozle the Crowd?
Don’t remember where I heard this (may have even been on the race broadcast), but
apparently Brian France has found yet another aspect of stock car racing to play with,
Pit Road.

Word is NASCAR’s leadership is considering alterations to the gas canister used to
fuel cars during pits stops in order to slow the dispensing of gas. Currently, cars take
around 11 seconds to refuel, and teams are pressured to train extensively in order to
make sure all the other functions done (tires, adjustments etc.) can all be completed
shortly thereafter.

Apparently, some teams are complaining about the level of competition among pit
crews (meaning those who perform the best become hot commodities), and costs
are rising to keep the best talent. The idea is if you slow the refueling to 16-18
seconds, any group of men will do, and teams can go back to paying them peanuts
and acting as if these men are lucky to do the job.

Pit Road battles are a key aspect of this so-called TEAM SPORT. Sounds like a scam
to me.

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