Line Up for the Duels?

[ModelCarMan]

I know this is NASCAR, but I got a question I can't answer.

I'm very confused how they are lining up for the duels this year. Every year I thought the odd qualifiers in Sundays qualifying start the first duel and the even qualifiers in Sundays qualifying is in the second duel.

But this year some guys that qualified in an odd position are started in the second one, and some of the guys that qualified in an even position are starting in the first one.

So why are they not doing that this year?

[Jimmy McKinley]

Because someone's not standing on their head, spinning around three times, facing north-northwest, and counting to 1,238,987.

I just don't get it.

This "top 35" thing *bites*. If you ain't quick enough, you load up, go home, and come back next week. If you FAIL TECH (i.e., the 48 team yet *again* at SpeedWeeks; see 2006), you load up, lose your points, pay the fine, get suspended (*especially* after a second infraction - if not more for that frickin' team) for *a MINIMUM* of six weeks. What? Didn't they learn their lesson the first time??

Flipping through channels last night, came across NHRA at Firebird. Watching TF/FC, and THREE of their top five in points last year FAILED TO QUALIFY. What'd they do? They loaded up, went home, and they'll be back next week. None of this crap of "protecting your precious superstars so they 'don't' miss a race and won't be seen on TV...".

As for the Duels...

Used to be, the front row was set with time trials. Then, the next fourteen cars (other than the front two) that finished the Twins started inside/outside for positions 3-30. Then, the next 6 fell back on their qualifying speed if they missed it in the Twins; and the next six (positions 37-42) were from a "consolation" race on Friday (anyone remember Natz Peters' wild ride in '84?). And 43rd was the "champion's provisional" if he wasn't already in the show.

Now, no matter where you start, or really, for that matter, *finish* in the Duels, if you were in the top 35 in owners' points last year, you're in the field. Which only leaves what, like 3 positions to be filled by the "go-or-go-homers"? They only take like two other cars (besides the "top 35") from each Duel. *Then*, those next few starting spots in the 500 fall back on speed - and that's it. There is no more *real* racing in the Twins, because those "top 35" cars *know* they're already in the field regardless of where they finish.

NOW - the thing that really bothers me, is this "point swapping" amongst car owners to get their driver in the field. Michael Waltrip put Mark Martin in the 55, so that Mark had a guaranteed starting spot in the 500 on Sunday. Michael then "bought" one of the Red Bull teams, changed the number to "40", and now "owns" the points from that car, even though 1) he didn't own it last year, and 2) changed the number on the car. I read on Jayski somewheres a while back that somewhere along the way, there was a three-way points swap! How the hell does *that* work? My opinion is, there shouldn't be *any* of this type of stuff happening. Car owners "earned" those points; they shouldn't just be able to "sell" them to someone else just because driver B can't make the field in sub-par equipment.

I don't even know how the field for the ShootOut is set any more. It used to be *just* the previous year's pole winners. 20 laps, 50 miles, all out, 200 mph-plus, for a little bit o' the green stuff. Then, they added the "BGN Champion" in a no-chance-in-hell rent-a-ride (David Green, anybody?). Then, Coors took over, so Budweiser, I assume, changed the format to get in to the ShootOut. I know for at least a coupla years there, it was the top four in points for each manufacturer, plus a past Daytona 500 winner, plus a Truck race winner, plus a past champion, plus a turkey, goat, and a deer. :\

[davem]

The whole thing is quite simple. Problem is "I am and you must be a genius" we can't go down to that level or our brains would soak in vinegar and they would just disqualify us for the wrong color of paint.

LOL

[chip]

why do you people worry so much about nascar?? Get into your locale tracks and racers better.."NASCAR= something to do when they turn off the soapboppers"

[fascar27]

swapping cars

Back in my 80`s I used to raced Street Stock on dirt in New York, and after a few week left of racing I won a race and 2 weeks left and engine blew at 2 laps left. than there`s only 1 race left but I have no motor for 1 more night, what I did was, I rented a ride to get my points in from another car #70, and my car is #95, I go out and drive #70 car, and then I finish the race, the points will add to my car # 95. I was in 8th points in standing. This way I don`t lose my points at the end of season for a award for a top 10. It`s look more like point/car swapping here, I done it. Did it happen to you guys before. I don`t know the rules here in Florida, I was recently from New York.

DJ

[Bobby Diehl]

Can't Wait!!!

Heading out NOW!!!!!