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Silly Season 2007by Heather Meyer ~ February 26th, 2007. Filed under: Articles by Heather. |
With the next race being in Vegas, I thought I’d get us thinking about odds.
With over 50 cars showing up each week and only eight spots open how soon till the dominoes start to fall?
We know NASCAR has limited the number of times you can use the past champions provisional to six. Dale Jarrett has used two of those.
Michael Waltrip Racing hasn’t shown a lot of promise this year. Reutimann bumped Waltrip out of the California race. Toyota isn’t happy over “additive gate”. How long will they lend their support?
Bill Davis Racing has expressed their unhappiness over the performance of Jeremy Mayfield. How long till make the driver change? Or do they drop the 36 team all together?
Red Bull is struggling too. How long do they keep Allmendinger in the car? Does this team stay a two car team or go to one?
I know this is Toyota’s first season on the Nextel Cup circuit but can these teams afford to run the whole season?
There are five single car teams trying to compete also. Mike Bliss in the 49 doesn’t have sponsorship so it’s likely this team wont last the season.
What changes do you make? Or should the question be who goes first? Driver? Crew Chief? Would they start attempting Busch series races? Do you stop attempting to the races?Toss in the Car of Tomorrow, which of these teams can afford to have just one car prepared to race?
It will be interesting to see how these teams survive the season. They are digging deep holes to make the top 35. Odds aren’t in their favor.
Will silly season start before the All Star race?
Who will that domino be?
Stay tuned to the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. If I was a betting person I’d put my money on a crew chief change and the COT being the fall guys.
February 26th, 2007 at 7:20 am
The answer is so obvious that NASCAR cannot see it. Scrap the stupid top 35 rule. Let the fastest 43 cars race. End of problem.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I agree with Kent Daughtrey. Let the fastest 43 cars race. This top 35 is for the want of sense (But I do not know anyone who as accused Nascar of having sense.)
glenn
February 26th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
It is foolish to go to “top 43 cars race”. Can you imagine Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart taking a chance of going home or sitting on the pole VS starting the race in twentieth place? Only those at the end of the standing could afford to take such a chance. Mikey might actually make a race if that rule was in effect.
February 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
“”It is foolish to go to “top 43 cars race”. Can you imagine Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart taking a chance of going home or sitting on the pole VS starting the race in twentieth place?”" (Statement by Butch Redden)
Back in the not-too-distant past, that was exactly the way it was at qualifying. You came to qualifying with your best “piece” and did well or you went home. Yes, I can imagine Jeff or Tony “taking a chance of going home”. That is the way it should be; everyone with an equal chance (not counting the fact that the “name” drivers still have the big sponsor $$$ and thus the best cars.) At least, the playing field would be a little more level!
February 26th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Racin’ should only send the 43 top qualifiers to the line. If you want to race, you qualify for the race. This top 35 business is another NASCAR folly that makes absolutely no sense (As it is with most of NASCAR’s flip flops and “throw the caution flag, Mikie just threw out a piece of insulation over in turn 3″). Qualifying was good enough for King Richard, Dale Earndardt, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Jr. Johnson, etc. It should be good enough for Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. etc. Come on you prima donnas, lets go racin’.
February 26th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
The Top 35 rule was made to protect the teams that showed up at every race versus the one-hit wonders, mainly at big payout tracks like Daytona and Indy. It was done during a time when sponsors were scaling back, 3 years ago. Now, the economy, or at least sponsorship, is on the up. What NASCAR needs to do is one of two things. Scrap the rule entirely and go back to the top 36 get in on speed and let the last 7 places be held for provisionals, or alter the top 35 rule down to the Chase teams only. During the season, only the top 12 are locked in, and the same goes for the first 5 races the following year.
If the top 36 on speed rule was allowed this week, both Michael Waltrip and Ward Burton would have raced their way in on time. That said, Elliot Sadler would have missed the show based on owner’s points/provisionals.
The time is now for NASCAR. In order to succeed and keep the sponsors coming in, they have to alter the top 35 rule and FAST! Otherwise, the new sponsors like Red Bull, 360OTC, State Water Heaters, etc. won’t last the whole year (okay, Red Bull’s a stretch). Same goes with NAPA. If Michael Waltrip is good enough to qualify on speed (top 36) but because there’s only 7-8 positions to race for each week, he misses the race, you think NAPA’s going stick with his team? They’ll be knocking down DEI’s door to sponsor the 15/Paul Menard in no time.
My .02
February 27th, 2007 at 12:39 am
i still think the top 43 race, the rest go home……….go to your local short track……if the ace guy can’t make it , he goes home…..if he keeps missing the show, his big sponser moves to a team that can……….why can’t that work with the big boys??
February 27th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I agree with all - top 43 - race or go home. It’s also not fair that NASCAR cuts practice short for the guy who really need the practice time because it takes so long to get thru inspection. Some of the go or go-home teams only got 1/2 hour of the 1 1/2 hour practice this past week-end. The past champs provisional stinks too - DJ made the race & didn’t even qualify!! There is no equality in NASCAR - the haves get more & the have nots get nothing.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:09 am
It seems we all have the same basic solution. The fastest 43 race on Sunday. And, its logical. No one ever accused NASCAR of being logical or fair. And we can sit here and talk about it until the Toyotas win a Cup race and NASCAR doesn’t give a darn what the fans want & deserve.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I still say “Fastest 43 in qualifying race; others go home”. NO PROVISIONALS!! Like someone said earlier; go to your local track on Saturday night and see how they set the field. You either race yourself into the field on speed or go home.