Top 35 rule gone in 2013

[dalejrgamer]

Oh for crying out loud just line them up for Q by points already! No reason to watch any of that now except dega, tona and the all-star. Theres a reason they stopped doing that...fools. At least give them points!

You mean you actually like qualifying getting devalued?

 

[ShadowKnight508]

Full Update (credit to Jayski):

NASCAR announces qualifying & testing changes for 2013: NASCAR announced a number of competition changes for the 2013 season, highlighted by a new qualifying format in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series that places a greater emphasis on speed.

Qualifying Format In The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
In NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, the series will move to a 36-6-1 format where the fastest 36 cars will make the race on speed. The next six highest ranking cars in owners points that have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and who have entered the event by the posted entry deadline will also make the field. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a seventh car will make the field based upon owners' points. Provisional positions in the 36-6-1 format will be lined up by owners' points, not speed.
In 2013, the qualifying order for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events will return to a random draw. However, in the event qualifying is canceled due to rain, the field will be set per the rule book and the starting lineup will continue to be determined by practice speeds.
Additionally, provisional positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be based upon the previous year's owner points for the first three races, as opposed to the first five races in previous years for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and four races for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Testing Policy Opened Up For 2013
Beginning next season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, there will be up to four tests per organization available to teams at tracks at which the series competes. Since 2009, teams could only test at tracks that did not hold NASCAR national series events. For the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, starting in 2013, there will be up to two tests per organization at tracks where those series compete. If the organization has an official Sunoco Rookie of Year candidate, then that team will receive one additional test. Additionally, NASCAR will open track activity early for extended practice at two additional events per series, to be determined.

Maximum Field Set At 40 Cars For NASCAR Nationwide Series
In an effort to strengthen the ownership base up and create a sense of urgency among teams to make races, the maximum starting field for the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be set at 40, as opposed to the 43-car field in previous years. A maximum NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting field will remain at 43 cars while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will hold steady at 36.(NASCAR)

 

[Enter Sandman]

That wasn't the sponsors. It was the team owners buying a ride that did make the race, and re-dressing the car to their colors.

Cal Wells did that I believe 3 times. Michael Waltrip did it once or twice when MWR was first getting off the ground but then vowed to never do it again.

Thanks for the clarification.

Happy to officially see the end of the top 35 era. It's new that's only second today to the potential end of the NHL lockout.

 

[Fisha695]

I just read through the entire transcript and there is so much Bullcrap in the answers I think I'd need to provide everybody with Waders if I'd post it.. haha

For example they feel that the new qualifying format will make S&P cars race the entire race because the provisionals go by where the team is in points...

My thoughts on that are the Top 35/36 cars on speed each week (barring a rare qualifying crash) are usually the Top 35/36 in points anyway & if one of those top cars would crash thus needing a provisional then one of the slower S&P cars would move up into the locked-in-on-speed spot anyway.

If there was 50 to 60 cars showing up each week maybe it'd work the way they think it'd work but on average this year (including this weekend) there have only been 45 cars showing up per race & with the new bodies & chassis modifications for next year I suspect that number won't grow.

 

[RP Motorsports]

In reality, not a whole lot is going to change. It all sounds more significant than it really is. Theres still not going to be any top tier (or tier two for that matter) teams missing the race, because of the provisionals. You might occasionally see a go-or-g0-home team make the race when they wouldnt have before because the number of positions available to them, but thats about it.

I think going back to a qualifying draw will be a more significant change than the other stuff. Now you wont have the fastest car in practice getting to qualify in optimum conditions (granted, that wasnt the case at every track, but it was at most). And personally, I prefer it that way. Practice shouldnt be a competition. Its supposed to be an opportunity to shake down the car and get it dialed in.

So all in all, I'm cool with the changes.

For example they feel that the new qualifying format will make S&P cars race the entire race because the provisionals go by where the team is in points...

Yea, I wonder though if they truely believe that. I personally dont think so. They arent stupid (well Brian is, but Pemberton, Helton, Darby, and the rest of the actual competition directors arent). I think they're just hamming it up to the media who dont know any better.

At the end of the day, nothing is going to "make" S&P teams run the full race, except for funding. They park it early because they dont have the funds to run the whole race. They literally dont have enough money to pay a tire bill, pay personnel/crew, etc... And NASCAR knows that. So thats why I think they're just sprinkling a little sugar on things.

 

[Phantomguy24]

The one rule i'm glad they kept unchanged was the practice speeds setting the grid in the event of a rain out. I t was cool seeing Mears lead the way at Bristol, but more importantly I think it's a better determining factor for setting the field than points.

 

[MattSRD28]

If we're going to a 36-6-1 format, then we need to drop the use of the word "provisionals" completely and entirely because in using that word, we're referencing a confusing part of the past that is in no way part of this new format.

36-6-1 is fastest 36 is in, then the 6 highest in owners' points amongest whoever's left, and 1 past champion or a 7th highest in owners' points. That's it. Nothing else need be considered.

So it's not like how it used to be with caps on provisional usage, or 2nd/3rd round qualifying or any of that. Teams either have the speed, have the points, or they have the DNQ. So no need to confuse the daylights out of people in an attempt to explain what provisionals used to be and how they're back. They're not.



It's a fine idea, but like RP, I don't think the result will look a whole lot different in terms of who makes it in and who doesn't.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

New Update (Credit to Jayski):

NASCAR Announces Changes for 2013 (UPDATE):

There will be no limit to the number of provisionals. NASCAR did not consider heavily just having the best 43 cars in qualifying start a race. "We felt like there always needed to be some sort of opportunity for a guy that has a bad day and points are worth something to make the field," [NASCAR vice president of competition Robin ] Pemberton said in a phone interview. As far as how NASCAR will set the field for the Daytona 500, it will do it much like it had before the top-35 rule was put into effect. Qualifying speeds will determine the front row, then the 150-mile qualifying races will set the majority of the spots with the remainder of the field set by qualifying speed (among those remaining) and provisionals. "The final details will come out with the entry blank," Pemberton said during a teleconference. "But there will be a speed element that's in there along with a finishing order to the (qualifying races) that will be in there. Those final details haven't been worked out. But basically it all wraps around it being the fastest cars and also the ones that perform in the (qualifying races) to set the 500 lineup.

 

[Markfan]

If we're going to a 36-6-1 format, then we need to drop the use of the word "provisionals" completely and entirely because in using that word, we're referencing a confusing part of the past that is in no way part of this new format.

That's just semantics, people know what they mean by that. At this point, it would be more confusing to call it something else than it would to keep it the same.

It's a fine idea, but like RP, I don't think the result will look a whole lot different in terms of who makes it in and who doesn't.

Actually, all 5 of the first 5 races of this year would have different qualifiers. (I didn't even check past the first 5, but Robby Gordon and Timmy Hill in-particular would have benefitted by this change if it was made for this season.) In fact, if they use a format for the Daytona 500 lineup similar to the past, several, fully-sponsored cars would have missed the race.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Actually, all 5 of the first 5 races of this year would have different qualifiers. (I didn't even check past the first 5, but Robby Gordon and Timmy Hill in-particular would have benefitted by this change if it was made for this season.) In fact, if they use a format for the Daytona 500 lineup similar to the past, several, fully-sponsored cars would have missed the race.

This is true, but as far as the 500 is concerned, its a whole different deal itself. With the amount of cars that enter, and the qualifying procedures in place (the twins along with pole-day procedures), theres basically always going to be sponsored cars that end up going home.

That being said, there could potentially be a few small changes here and there as far as the first five races (or 2-5, as Daytona is different all together). But I dont think it'll be anything significant. As I said before, maybe it'll change a couple go-or-go-homers who do/dont make a race, but thats about it. Its still going to benefit you to be higher in points, in order to make use of the provisionals, so in a sense, its going to be similar to having a top 35 rule in place (unless something catastrophic happens, and several higher tier teams have problems and use up the provisionals).

 

[Harry Nurpplez]

You mean you actually like qualifying getting devalued?

What are you taking about?

 

[nascarfreak88]

New Qualifying Rules in 2013

Anyone talked about qualifying yet? If nobody has, its the new 36-6-1 rule. The fastest 36 are locked in, then 6 highest in owners points, then the most recent champion not already in. 2012's owner's points will only be in effect for the first 3 races as opposed to the first 5 like in previous years. Order will once again be determined by a random draw, and if qualifying happens to be rained out, practice speeds will determine the lineup.

And this year there will actually be a rookie battle. Imagine that!

 

[RP Motorsports]

Anyone talked about qualifying yet? If nobody has, its the new 36-6-1 rule. The fastest 36 are locked in, then 6 highest in owners points, then the most recent champion not already in. 2012's owner's points will only be in effect for the first 3 races as opposed to the first 5 like in previous years. Order will once again be determined by a random draw, and if qualifying happens to be rained out, practice speeds will determine the lineup.

And this year there will actually be a rookie battle. Imagine that!

Yea this was announced/covered many months ago. Pretty much old news.

Though I will say it should be interesting to see how things shake out for some of the smaller underfunded teams.

 

[Markfan]

And this year there will actually be a rookie battle. Imagine that!

Considering the two up for the honors, I'd say this has no chance of being anything less than as one-sided as 2005 or 2009. (n)

Granted, anything is better than the ROTY "battles" of 2010 through 2012. lol

 

[Mo Neenja31]

2005 ROTY sorta sucked, Carl wasn't eligible since he took over Burton's ride in 2004 halfway and Travis Kvapil couldn't do much against Kyle Busch despite being in a Penske ride

 

[labontefanboy]

Who are the two you guys are talking for ROTY? Stenhouse is one, but the only other new full-time Cup driver is Danica, and she had more than 7 races last year.

 

[FloridaFan88]

Danica is eligible for ROTY because she declared to run for the Nationwide Series championship. Since she has not competed for the Sprint Cup championship, she keeps her eligibility.

 

[Markfan]

but the only other new full-time Cup driver is Danica, and she had more than 7 races last year.

NASCAR decided that since there are barely a handful of rookies that have appeared in the last 4 seasons that they would also accept declaring for another series as an exception to the rule.

This results in the rather annoying inconsistency of Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski being ineligible for driving 13 and 15 races (respectively) in a previous season, yet making it ok for Trevor Bayne to become eligible in the future, despite him running not just one, but two seasons with 16 or more races.

Effectively, someone could run the full season now and still be eligible for ROTY honors years later if they really wanted to.

 

[4WideRacing]

I thought they were capping it at 10 races. I wish Nascar would make some rules a lot more clear than they do.

 

[MattSRD28]

I thought they were capping it at 10 races. I wish Nascar would make some rules a lot more clear than they do.

Does it matter? What significance does ROTY have anymore?