So, Tuesday afternoon I’m just minding my business, getting through another day at work. Nothing real earth shattering in NASCAR, and then I get this press release, with the headline: “Front Row Motorsports Announces Partnership With Doug Yates.” OK…What????
Isn’t this the same Yates who merged his team with Richard Petty Motorsports? Isn’t this the same Front Row Motorsports that has made a head spinning array of off-season moves already? I THOUGHT Yates was just going to focus on building engines. What about his old team, you know the one that merged with Richard Petty?
Oh, wait a minute. I get it….this is about the owner’s points. Understandably, Bob Jenkins wants to get a “leg up” by comin’ and gittin’ him some top 35 points from Doug’s old #96 and #98 teams. After all, the “96” is gone, and now Paul Menard gets points from the now defunct “44” team. The #37 and #38 rides won’t have to go through that ulcer-inducing process we affectionately know as “go, or go home.” Can’t blame them for that.
It’s bad enough you have to try to get in a race and your cars are among roughly 10-12 trying to fit into 8 slots. Then, if you get in, you’ve got to try to keep up with the well-funded mega teams like Hendrick, Gibbs, Childress and Roush.
I can also understand Doug Yates wanting to scratch the ownership itch. Or perhaps of greater importance, I can understand Yates wanting to get paid. To the victor belongs the spoils, right?
It’s just weird, when in the announcement, Yates talks about Roush/ Yates like their somehow disconnected. I suppose, in one sense, they are. But still, hang with me here- Yates “merged” with Petty, with his team that had absorbed Hall of Fame Racing. Yates is partnered with Jack Roush on the technical side of things. NOW Yates is in the sack with Front Row. Now, that my friends, is diversification!
Seriously, like Yates, I give props to Bob Jenkins making the most out of his hand. It’s like bluffing your way into a big poker pot with a pair of threes. Now, Front Row has changed drivers, manufacturers and they’ve bought themselves the points to “lock in,” at least for a little bit.
On the other hand, this is a sign of how “Silly Season” has become more like “Insane Season.” Jayski’s “Team Chart” is now an even more important as a resource. After all of this, Jenkins and Yates should hope to shout “ride by committee” crew of Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, Kevin Conway, Robert Richardson, Jr. and John Andretti get it done on the track. Otherwise, it’s a lot of aggravation and pencil pushin’ for little in return.
I do think this occasion provides opportunity to talk about, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “a more excellent way.” Or as Ford used to say it, “A Better Idea.” How about we can this “Top 35” rule?
Do you really think the big boys are going to miss a bunch of races if we went to the “fastest 43 get in” approach? I’ll give you a hint. No. Any instance of a Jimmie Johnson, a Dale, Jr., a Tony Stewart NOT getting in because their car’s too slow, is going to be as rare as an Eskimo in the Sahara Desert. If it happens, well, welcome to how the other half lives! I’d bet they wouldn’t do it twice.
This is just nuts, and there’s no legitimately good reason for it. If someone out there can wrap their heads around the idea that this is just one more way that it makes NASCAR look like it’s “all bout the money,” then maybe there’s hope.
Otherwise, all I can do is chuckle. To me, its just a shame that these- and other teams, have to resort to these shenanigans to remain viable.
{ 8 comments }
Tell the truth, now…..
You’re not really surprised, are you?
Things that are NASCAR remain continuously convoluted.
Getting rid of the top 35 rule would actually make speedweeks leading up to the Daytona 500 interesting again. In the past, everyone had to either make it in on time, or race there way in. That was it, none one was “locked” into the field until after the first round of qualifying.
I agree. Dump the top 35 rule. In fact, dump all the provisionals. Would certainly make qualifying worth watching again. Besides, does NA$CAR really, truly believe that fewer fans would buy tickets or watch the races on TV if Kyle Bush or Tony Stewart should happen to not make it in?
To answer your question DMan, yes I think if certain drivers were to miss a race it would certainly hurt TV ratings. (Dale Jr. Anyone?) I realize that Jim is not “hating on” Front Row or Yates, but only questioning the system. It does have some oddities for sure. As a Ford racing fan, I am very happy to have more cars to root for. As the saying goes “don’t hate the player, hate the game”. But as of now I am actually liking the game for a change.
I know WHY NASCAR instituted the top 35 rule after the 2004 season. This was a reaction to 57 teams showing up for 43 spots for the fall Atlanta race and the fully funded 10 car(Valvoline–Benson?) and fully funded 45 car(Kyle Petty) not qualifying and having some underfunded teams make the show. This was due to the 10 and 45 being out of provisionals and out of speed for that matter as well. I mean, the 10 and 45 only needed to be in the top 38 of the 57 cars in speed and they were in the show no matter what. But they were in that bottom 19 cars and missed the race. NASCAR wanted to essentially create a system where franchising was involved and top sponsors were protected. I DO get it, but I don’t like it. 50 cars show up for my Cali race the week after Daytona 500 and top 43 make it in on speed and my driver Tony Stewart crashes in quals., I am still going to be there. I want Tony in every race, but if he doesn’t qualify, I’d still watch the RACE. As I am a RACE FAN 1st and foremost.
As I recall the top 35 rule was put in for the sponsors and the fans. Fans who have planned their vacation to see Dale, Jr. at Talledega would be really PO’d – as they have told me – if Dale Jr. blew up in qualifying and missed the race. The top 35 rule probably needs some revising, but the fastest 43 get in is not the answer as parasites like MSRP have shown in the Nationwide series.
I would like it if they cut the number back, say top 20 or 25. How far back does the points championship pay. The Number 25 rings a bell to me.
The top 35 also insures that everyone shows up to race.
Racing is expensive, and a lot of underfunded teams would rather run a limited schedule. With the top 35 rule, they always know they can park it early to save the car while insuring that they’ll gain points to guarantee a start at Daytona or Charlotte.
I think you’d find that Fontana or the road courses would be down on starters without this rule. The downside is that the lack of same was what allowed local guys to get a chance to run against the big boys. That increased local interest and gave smaller sponsors a chance to get their name out there.
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