[oncea3fan]

speed just said that if cup qualifing rains out, nascar will use 2008 top 42 points to set the field.

this is another step in the right direction, last year is over forgetaboutit.

[jks812]

Thats the way it should be. Go by this years, not last years. If it had rained out at Daytona I could understand them using the points from last year. But now they have points for this year and they should go by that.

[Racer Duck]

As of 2:30PM CDT, Jayski says:

• Entry List for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway is posted, 48 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Not in top 35 of 2007 owners points (2008 race attempts/owners pts standings in parens):
  #00-David Reutimann (1/18)
  #08-Burney Lamar (1/53)
  #2-Kurt Busch [Past Champ 1](1/2 switched with #77)
  #10-Patrick Carpentier (1/48)
  #21-Bill Elliott [Past Champ 3](1/45)
  #27-Mike Skinner (1/51)
  #34-John Andretti (1/40)
  #44-Dale Jarrett [Past Champ 2] (1/17)
  #49-Ken Schrader (1/46)
  #55-Michael Waltrip (1/28)
  #78-Joe Nemechek (1/41)
  #83-Brian Vickers (1/13)
  #84-A.J. Allmendiner (1/44)
  removed from the entry list:
  #37-Kevin Lepage (1/49)
  #60-Boris Said (1/47)
  #87-Kenny Wallace (1/43)
  In the event qualifying is cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 2,44,21,83,00,55,34,78
  missing the race would be [5]: #'s 84,49,10,27,08
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's California Entry List
  (2-18/20-2008)
• What happens if qualifying gets rained out?
  If it is the first five races of the season, the previous season OWNERS points are used:
  
  #1) - Previous season Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Race winners from the previous and current season not already in the field
  #3) - ALL Past Nextel Cup Champions not in by 1 or 2
  #4) - Current season Owner Points [Top 35][not in by rules 1-3]
  #5) - Current season race attempts ties broken by current owners points standings [not in by rules 1-4]

If NASCAR is modifying the qualifying by throwing out the Chosen rule for California, Robby Gordon has a possible law suit against NASCAR: their penalty assessed at Daytona dropped him from 8th place finish to 42nd, i.e., he can make a case they're making a change to further punish him.

This should be interesting.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

speed just said that if cup qualifing rains out, nascar will use 2008 top 42 points to set the field.

this is another step in the right direction, last year is over forgetaboutit.

Only because there are no top 35 from last year out of the top 42 this year so far other than past champs,correct?

[Racer Duck]

While I agree the Chosen Rule should be thrown as far as East is from West, I also realize that making such a significant change just hours before the commencement of the event is unconscionable and shows complete disregard for teams who have put up their entry fees and already spent great sums of money getting their teams and equipment to the race site expecting the race to be conducted under the currently published rules.

If NASCAR goes thru with this, they will have become, truly a dishonorable, despicable, outlaw organization. Some will applaud, I'm sure. Most will not when they understand the extent of the shadow cast on the organization.

What good will the written rules be if NASCAR can decide on their whim to countermand them, or to modify them to benefit one group or another. Every racer wants to believe they have an equal chance to compete, but when the sanctioning organization can change the rules at a moment notice and thus shattering that belief, I'm sorry, but most racers will not race where the climate is that unstable.

Think about it: would you spend the money to travel 3000 miles and be on the road for 2 weeks to attempt to race where someone can make a change which eliminates you from competition at a moments notice? When the Chosen are no longer protected, the whole complexion of the sport changes. I'm not arguing against doing away with the Chosen, but I am saying there's a proper time to do it, and this isn't it.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

.

What good will the written rules be if NASCAR can decide on their whim to countermand them, or to modify them to benefit one group or another. Every racer wants to believe they have an equal chance to compete, but when the sanctioning organization can change the rules at a moment notice and thus shattering that belief, I'm sorry, but most racers will not race where the climate is that unstable.

I have tried to make this exact point several times before. Whether it is to benefit a group or penalize another, written rules should guide all outcomes. Written rules, when changed, should allow teams time to adjust without incurring harm or financial loss as a result of the change.

Nascar decided on a whim in 07 to change the outcome of a race by throwing a red flag with 10 to go in one race and letting another finish without throwing the yellow when half the field was crashing behind the leaders. They finally clarified the red flag rule but only after an outcry by fans and teams.

You have to wonder why a change was announced for this start. If they didn't like the old rule, they had the whole offseason to fix it. Was the coffee too strong in the trailer this morning?

[Racer Duck]

I think I figured it out. If ya look at Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - Lineup and Qualifying Info down at the table with lineup if qualifying gets rained out shows the Chosen in their 2007 finishing order first, the Past Champs next, then the non-Chosen (go-or-go-homers - let's call them "goghers" or "gophers", OK?) in their 2008 owners points order.

On the one hand the Gophers who finished well in 2007 aren't getting to carry over their achievement, while those who have performed the best in the 2008 races get to start.

I think this gives a new team lots of incentive to perform well during the first races of the season 'cause they're not fighting the "good old boys club" from last year.

[Tuck4Bama]

So where does that put JR?

[rlhdrider]

The no yellow in the '07 Daytona 500 DID cost Mark Martin a 500 victory! He had the lead when the crash occured. Every other race saw instant yellows. Guess they let 'em race to the flag even tho' everyone was crashin' 'cause it was the DAYTONA 500!

[Mudbug]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

So where does that put JR?

I think 15th but Im not sure how that work's. Im still trying to figure it out.

[Tuck4Bama]

1 16 Greg Biffle Ford3M
2 28 Travis Kvapil FordYates Racing
3 17 Matt Kenseth FordCarhartt
4 15 Paul Menard ChevroletQuaker State / Menards
5 01 Regan Smith *ChevroletCoors Light
6 48 Jimmie Johnson ChevroletLowe's
7 11 Denny Hamlin ToyotaFedEx Freight
8 41 Reed Sorenson DodgeEnergizer e2 Lithium
9 40 Dario Franchitti *DodgeTarget
10 77 Sam Hornish Jr. *DodgeMobil 1
11 24 Jeff Gordon ChevroletDuPont Cromax Pro
12 31 Jeff Burton ChevroletAT&T Mobility
13 42 Juan Montoya DodgeWrigley's Juicy Fruit
14 45 Kyle Petty DodgeWells Fargo
15 9 Kasey Kahne DodgeBudweiser
16 8 Mark Martin ChevroletPrincipal Financial Group / Mark Martin's 700th start
17 29 Kevin Harvick ChevroletShell / Pennzoil
18 19 Elliott Sadler DodgeU2 3D / Best Buy
19 12 Ryan Newman DodgeALLTEL / Samsung HDTV
20 26 Jamie McMurray FordCrown Royal
21 18 Kyle Busch ToyotaInterstate Batteries
22 5 Casey Mears ChevroletCARQUEST / Kellogg's
23 99 Carl Edwards FordDish Network
24 6 David Ragan FordSo. Cal Insurance
25 1 Martin Truex Jr. ChevroletBass Pro Shops / Tracker
26 20 Tony Stewart ToyotaThe Home Depot
27 38 David Gilliland FordFreeCreditReport.com
28 66 Scott Riggs ChevroletHaas Automation
29 96 J.J. Yeley ToyotaDLP HDTV
30 7 Robby Gordon DodgeJim Beam
31 70 Jeremy Mayfield ChevroletHaas Automation
32 43 Bobby Labonte DodgeHamburger Helper "My Hometown Helper"
33 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. ChevroletAMP Energy / National Guard
34 22 Dave Blaney ToyotaCAT Paving Products
35 07 Clint Bowyer ChevroletDIRECTV
36 00 David Reutimann ToyotaAaron's Dream Machine
37 84 A.J. Allmendinger ToyotaRed Bull
38 55 Michael Waltrip ToyotaNAPA AUTO PARTS
39 34 John Andretti ChevroletFront Row Motorsports
40 49 Ken Schrader DodgeQtrax.com
41 44 Dale Jarrett ToyotaUPS
42 10 Patrick Carpentier *DodgeCharter Communication-s
43 83 Brian Vickers ToyotaRed Bull
44 08 Burney Lamar Dodgerhino's energy drink
45 78 Joe Nemechek ChevroletFurniture Row Racing
46 2 Kurt Busch DodgeMiller Lite
47 21 Bill Elliott FordLittle Debbie
48 27 Mike Skinner ToyotaBad Boy Mowers
* Denotes Rookie Overview

NASCAR officials use a qualifying draw to determine the qualifying order. The qualifying draw usually take place the morning of qualifying day. Each team sends a representative to draw a number from a spinning ball, starting with the team whose owner is highest in the owner point standings. When every team has drawn, the qualifying order is set.

NASCAR.COM

[BiscuitMan]

I understand how NASCAR arrived at the starting lineup for the Auto Club 500. However, it would seem more fitting to use current standings for points. Ryan Newman and Burt Busch should be on the front row and the rest of the lineup based on where they have scored so far this year. Not, using results from last year. This is 2008 and the line should reflect that.

[rlhdrider]

I like your thinking biscuitman. Why can't NASCAR think that way? Seems like the logical thing to do. I guess I answered my own question, "logical", NASCAR doesn't very logically!

[Mudbug]

I agree with both you guys. With the new car we should have new rules in place to benefit the winners of past races of that year. I guess this is why we have amendemets to rules.

[rlhdrider]

Not so much the new car, that's immaterial, new year, new points. Last years points should be just that, last years points. Didn't they already have a banquet and payouts? It's a new year, start from last weeks points!