NASCAR Provisionals

Elwood · October 12, 2001

I got this article from Yahoo sports. Thought it might make for interesting arguments.

Time to do away with flawed provisional system

By Lee Spencer - The Sporting News

As much as I enjoy answering mail, I also like to read thought-provoking correspondence from fans.

Such is the case with Blake Keithley of Salt Lake City, who enjoys playing devil's advocate. If there were more hours in the day, I am certain we could delve into some deep discussions and cure all that ails NASCAR -- at least from our perspective.

In last week's column on the Pettys and Wood Brothers, Keithley, who is a self-professed Mopar man, brought up the fact that if NASCAR did away with the provisional system Kyle Petty would have had the opportunity to run in more events.

Maybe it is time to get rid of provisionals all together and let the fastest qualifying cars race. Can you imagine the Carl Longs and Stuart Kirbys of this world coming out en masse?

As it was last week at Charlotte, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon, Derrike Cope, Buckshot Jones, Frank Kimmel and Petty all went home.

Provisionals have been around since the mid-70s in a variety of quantities and forms. Ironically, it was because of Kyle's father Richard that the champion's provisional was adopted in the first place when the King missed four races in 1989.

Currently, NASCAR awards provisional starting spots to drivers who are not among the fastest 36 in time trials.

In the first four races of the season, positions 37 through 42 are determined by the owner's points from the previous year.

From the fifth event of the year on, the provisional spots are based on current owners' points. The final starting spot -- 43rd -- is known as the champion's provisional and is awarded to the most recent titleholder in need.

If a former champ does not need a provisional, then the next driver whose owner is highest in points would receive the final spot. Although the champion's provisional was once unlimited, now the maximum number of "get out of jail free cards" are limited to eight.

Each car owner starts the season with four provisionals to his credit. After a driver has completed eight qualifying sessions, his owner will be awarded an additional provisional for a maximum total of eight throughout a season.

If a driver uses a provisional during the first four races, his owner is not charged for the provisional if the owner finished in the top 25 in points. The same rule applies after the fourth race of the season if the owner is currently among the top 25 in points.

Confused? I'm not surprised.

This is NASCAR's ultimate welfare system for teams or drivers who have not done their homework prior to coming to the track.

In his last few years on the circuit, Darrell Waltrip was the poster child for the champion's provisional. This year's biggest offenders of not making the race on time include Elliott Sadler (who used 12 provisionals), Matt Kenseth, Terry Labonte and Kurt Busch (who each used nine). Is it any wonder that three of these drivers are powered by Roush engines?

However, look at the drivers this season who have not resorted to using anything other than their on-track performance to make the show: Kevin Harvick, Ricky Rudd and points leader Jeff Gordon.

Sure, I know everyone is going to have an off-day from time to time and to that I say, too bad. This system has been in place for the past four seasons, but the good news is that NASCAR is constantly taking the process under review.

"Believe it or not, we talk about that stuff a lot more than people think," said Kevin Tripplett, NASCAR director of operations. "We look at it at the end of each season."

As we're nearing the end of the year, here is my recommendation: do away with the provisional system and let the chips fall where they may. NASCAR has been protecting its top teams long enough as evidenced by the bonus system applying only to the top 25 in points.

Next season there will be new teams entering the fold while others will be left in the dust. If NASCAR wants to improve the show, they will reward points for qualifying so there would be more than just monetary incentive for winning the pole which will become increasingly harder as the sanctioning body moves to the one motor per race rule.

Unless a driver is willing to mat the pedal all around the track, he might be better off waiting for the next opening up in the TV booth.

Lee Spencer covers NASCAR for The Sporting News. Email her at <a href="mailto:[email protected].">[email protected].</a>

Elwood · October 12, 2001

I voted yes, but I think they could make a few changes to the current system. But I don't think they should get rid of them completely.

FIRECAT · October 12, 2001

I voted no. I tend to agree with most of that article. I feel that the current system is flawed, there are too many times when the better cars go home because someone else was able to use a provisional. I say if you can't get in on speed then your out, no matter who you are. Start the 43 finest cars each week. There has to be a better way.

Kansas Kid · October 12, 2001

So will these same people who don't like the fact that NASCAR is using provisionals say the same thing if they were gotten rid of? I seriously doubt it, and here is why.

At some point in time, Jeff Gordon is going to need a provisional. I bet this person would be crying for a provisional system should Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Mark Martin, etc, miss a race. Would you like to go see a race where Carl Long, Frank Kimmel, or some other guy took the place of your favorite driver? I bet not. There has to be a provisional system to make sure NASCAR's best drivers get into a race should they have a bad qualifing attempt. What happens if a guy who is top 5 in points blows a motor 30 minutes before qualifing and can't make a run, should he have to go home? Hell no! I say keep em!

General Lee 01 · October 12, 2001

I say keep em. :stupid:

antig24 · October 12, 2001

:stupid: keep em

October 13, 2001

Dump 'em.

Who wants to watch their favorite driver get lapped on lap 28? Put the fastest cars on the track. Period.

And while we're on the subject of changing NASCAR, let's have a 51 race season. They can take a week off to have the banquet, then back to the track. if you can't handle racing for 51 weeks straight, go somewhere else.

Jpshostr · October 13, 2001

I say keep them. The whole point of qualifying is to get the fastest cars on the track, if you aren't one of the 43 fastest cars out there during qualifying, tough. These drivers are big boys, they can handle it.

General Lee 01 · October 13, 2001

Quote from Friz, posted on Oct. 12 2001,10:04

Dump 'em.
Who wants to watch their favorite driver get lapped on lap 28? .

Who wants to spend their race weekend not seeing their driver in the show at all?

That'd be worse than getting lapped IMO.

Actually I'd say find a way to get every entry into the show. Like, allow only the full time teams to even enter the races or something. An extra 2 or 3 pit spaces isn't gonna hurt much either.IMO

October 14, 2001

I'd rather see 40 guys that I never heard of race hard than watch my favorites go laps down.

I was furious today when the Busch rainout was inevitible and TNT decided to show the last Charlotte race instead of the NASCAR Modifieds live! To me, the actors aren't what I want to see. The show is.

General Lee 01 · October 14, 2001

What I'm getting at Friz, is that it's worse point-wise for the "stars" to miss the whole race, then be in it and go laps down.

If I go to the races, I go to see Mark Martin, Dale Jr., etc in the race. Them racing up Front would be even better. But, I would rather see them doing bad than not seeing them at all.

Kansas Kid · October 14, 2001

So since when has a poor qualifing attempt assured a driver of not running good in the race? I didn't know that it did.

Do any of you guys notice how poor that Jeff Burton usually qualifies (or Dale Earnhardt used to for that matter) and he is usually passing cars on his way to the front. Heck, he has won several times starting from a provisional starting position in the last couple of years.

Now, just how often does a no-name driver who spends all his time working on a qualifing setup just so he can make the race go a lap down before the first pit stop. Quite often.

If I want to see a show, the top name drivers who qualify bad need to be in the race, because the more then likely will work to the front of the pack. Not go straight back like some of these other guys.

Jpshostr · October 14, 2001

Quote from Kansas Kid, posted on Oct. 14 2001,1:42

So since when has a poor qualifing attempt assured a driver of not running good in the race? I didn't know that it did.

So basically you are saying that the qualifying system is pointless here. Then why have it at all? Go off of points so your great drivers will always be in the race, of course you would be shooting yourself in the foot since no new drivers would ever get a chance.

Have the qualifying be just like the Olympics or whatnot, if you aren't fast enough to make the pack, tough, go get ready for the next race. Let the guys who did earn their spot as one of the fastest 43 cars go race.

Kansas Kid · October 14, 2001

Quote from Jpshostr, posted on Oct. 14 2001,1:51

So basically you are saying that the qualifying system is pointless here. Then why have it at all? Go off of points so your great drivers will always be in the race, of course you would be shooting yourself in the foot since no new drivers would ever get a chance.

Hmmm, don't remember saying they should get rid of qualifing. Don't remember saying that the new guys shouldn't get a chance to run either. I'm just saying that if a Jeff Burton, Dale Jr, Ward Burton, Jeff Gordon starts in the back odds are they will end up running much better then a Frank Kimmel. How often has any of these no name drivers done much other then cause wrecks? I mean look at it this way, if Frank Kimmel were to be fast enough to quailify in the top 36 he deserves to be in the race, and he will with the current system. But if he doesn't make the top 36 then he obviously isn't any better then the every week teams that qualify back there. At that point NASCAR needs to have some loyality to the drivers who help make the sport, and put on a good race every weekend.

Elwood · October 14, 2001

I think getting rid of them would be a terrible mistake on NASCAR's part, but they could find a way to change it a little. There has to be an in between somewhere. If not, then I think what they are doing now, is a lot better than not having them.