Duel 150’s Observations
Written by Scott Keller · February 17, 2005
Today’s Duel 150’s had plenty of action, but the new rules seem to make these races less important than in years past.
More Laps, Less Meaning
NASCAR unveiled their new format for the Daytona 500 qualifying races today with the Gatorade Duel 150’s. In years past, only the top two qualifiers were guaranteed a starting spot in the race, but new rules for 2005 guarantee starting spots for the top 35 owner-points earners. This means that only 8 spots were available for independent teams or new teams. Of those 8 spots, only 2 non-garanteed cars in each of the duel 150’s could transfer into the big race.
So here are the results:
I just have to say it like it is: these rules stink!. NASCAR seems to have long forgotten about the roots from which it has grown out off.
Not only that, but these races are almost a complete chirade. They are nothing more than another way to market sports drinks, and an opportunity for guys to tear up great race cars. And on the subject of tearing up race cars, this year race could be a doozy. The race announcers on FOX, specifically Darrell Waltrip, kept emphasizing how much they see drivers bump-drafting in the corners this year. Kevin Harvick seems to give it a try this afternoon, and it left a bunch of people scrambling to set up their backup cars for practice tomorrow.
Between the Race-For-The-Chase and these new “guaranteed Daytona” spots, I am disappointed in the new rules packages NASCAR is unveiling. In fact, the 35/8 rule kind of reminds me of the IRL 25/8 rule in 1996. It sure didn’t work well for the IRL, and I don’t know why in the world NASCAR wants to follow in the same path. Of course, the IRL isn’t the 1000 pound gorilla that NASCAR is, so the comparison is probably moot. I just know that America loves to root for the underdog, and I hope NASCAR doesn’t totally eliminate the possiblity of the existence of the underdog. I guess we shall see.
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The bigest loser in this new qualifying format is anyone who starts a new team. Robbie Gordon will probably be screwed all year long, depending on how many cars show up to qualify every race.
The series is becoming an exclusive club for the “haves”. If you’re a “have not”, you need not even try to join, you are not welcome here!
Yeah, I think today was a watershed moment for NASCAR. I think that new big money sponsors are going to be a little less inclined to take on a small team thanks to today’s results.
It is too bad for Robbie, because he has to face the music with his sponsors, and it really isn’t his fault.
I tend to agree. Any time you are watching a “race” and they must show a spilt-screen view, one on the race and one on Kerry Earnhardt, in an effort to depict who will qualify something is wrong.
I’m not a fan of Robbie or Kerry, but at least Robbie was on the track attempting to make the race. Kerry and admittedly by virture of a poor race 1 finish, sitting in the trailer waiting to see if he would run on Sunday didn’t sit too well with me.
Why is it a shame that Kerry Earnhardt didn’t make the field. It’s not like he is an independent owner driver trying to make the field. HE’S DRIVE an RCR CAR! Dale’s Dead…Get over it!
The shame is the fact that in years past, he would have qualified to start in the race by the fact that he finished in the top 15 of one of the dual qualifying races. However, NASCAR changed the rules to guarantee 35 spots to the “regulars” and there were only 8 spots to fill after that. I think it’s a shame that both Robby and Kerry didn’t make the race, because they both raced and qualified well enough to be there. Their just aren’t part of the NASCAR monopoly, so they don’t get a fair shake.