[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

It's a retirement bonus. That's all it is and it's been mismanaged by NASCAR since it's inception. Applying the Past Champ's provisional as implemented by NASCAR to another sport shows how ridiculous it is: imagine last year's US Open champ (pick your Open: Golf, Tennis, etc.) not having to make the cut .. in other words they automatically make the field for the final round. So, Tiger Woods would have an automatic into the final round for life. Or, even worse if applied like NASCAR does: for any PGA event anywhere, anytime he doesn't have to qualify for .. anytime .. no matter how bad a year he's having! Or last year's Super Bowl winner getting an automatic wild car slot in this year's "playoffs".

I have a different, an possibly unpopular, perspective on this: it's my opinion that the Champ's Provisional should only be available for 1 race per year for life and the priority,aka pecking order, of the Champs should be reversed from what it is now = oldest to most recent.

That does several things:

1. it prevents debacles like this current PE-Terry Labonte thing where the past champ is finishing worse than the driver he's replacing and the only reason for doing it is to accumulate owner's points (which leads to another discussion about the "Chosen" which I'll not venture into at this time - suffice to say I'd like the "Chosen" to go the way of the Dodo;
2. it gives older past champs a chance to come back and run in a race which gives the tracks a tremendous marketing tool. can you imagine the clamor for tix to Talladega if Bobby Allison was to compete?
3. it stops this nonsense of giving recent champs who are still competing, an automatic bye on qualifying. if they're an active driver, they should have to compete for positions like any other driver.

What's in place now is nothing more than preferential treatment for the "haves" .. the intent of Past Champs provisionals is to bring back the oldies that are the cream of the "PAST", not to give the recent champs an automatic by when they have a bad day. If that's what you want, make it the choice of the track to select the Champ who will receive the provisional.

I still say the best solution is to do completely away with ALL provisionals and ALL guaranteed starting spots.

But your's makes some good points.

[bob101]

Looks like Kyle made a smart decision.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by bob101

Looks like Kyle made a smart decision.

Never thought about that, but even if it wasnt his this is a race to skip

[BiscuitMan]

Looks like Kyle Petty will be skipping this week's race at Pocono.

This could be a "sign" of things to come.... retirement.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

Looks like Kyle Petty will be skipping this week's race at Pocono.

This could be a "sign" of things to come.... retirement.

If it is, I wish Kyle well. He has earned his retirement.