CUP QUALIFYING RULES
The Rules and Notes
- Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Nextel Cup Series [NNCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NNCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NNCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Nextel Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Nextel Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
Through the first five races of the season for the Nextel Cup, the top 35 in the NNCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]
- What happens if qualifying gets rained out?
If it is the first five races of the season, the previous season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - Previous season Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
#2) - Race winners from the previous and current season not already in the field
#3) - ALL Past Cup Champions not in by 1 or 2
#4) - Current season Owner Points [Top 35][not in by rules 1-3]
#5) - Current season race attempts ties broken by current owners points standings [not in by rules 1-4]
After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
#2) - Last Years Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - ALL Past Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
#6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker
#7) - Qualifying Order Position
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)
- Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Cup: NASCAR announced an update to the past champion’s provisional rule in the Nextel Cup Series for 2007. Beginning this season, a past champion’s provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the season. In addition, a team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. Previously, there was no limit on usage of the past champion’s provisional over the course of the 36-race season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. "As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.”(NASCAR PR)
This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional.(1-31-2007)
- How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
- How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings (not drivers).
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DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING RULES
- Qualifying Procedure for the Gatorade Duels/Daytona 500:
Budweiser Pole Day: This “locks in” the first two positions – the front
row – for the Daytona 500. It also establishes the starting orders for the
Gatorade Duel at Daytona, which are two 150-mile qualifying races for the
Daytona 500.
The fastest car earns the pole for the Daytona 500 AND the pole for the first
Gatorade Duel race.
The second-fastest car earns the outside pole for the Daytona 500 AND the pole
for the second Gatorade Duel race.
The Gatorade Duel at Daytona: These two 150-mile qualifying races set positions
3-39 for the Daytona 500.
A combined total of 66 cars will be allowed into the two Gatorade Duel races.
Cars must compete in one of the Gatorade Duel races, in order to race in the
Daytona 500.
Odd-number finishers in the final car owner point standings from last
season(1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) are in the first Gatorade Duel race.
Even-number finishers in the final car owner point standings from lasts season
(2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) are in the second Gatorade Duel race.
Additional qualified cars that weren’t in the final top 35 at the send of last
season are alternated between the two Gatorade Duel fields using an odd-even
format.
Setting the Daytona 500 field:
Cars that finished in the top 35 in the car owner point standings at the end of
last season automatically make the Daytona 500 field.
The top two starting positions are determined by Budweiser Pole Day qualifying
speeds.
Positions 3-39 are determined by finishing orders in the Gatorade Duel races.
The final four spots in the 43-car field will be based on Budweiser Pole Day
qualifying speeds of cars that have not already earned a starting position.
However, if there is an eligible Nextel Cup Series past champion entered who has
not already qualified, that past champion will receive the 43rd and final
position. If there is more than one past champion eligible for this berth, it
goes to the most recent champion.
another way to look at it:
The following cars will be assigned to the first of the two qualifying races:
The odd-number positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35
finishers in the final previous NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car owner points
standings.
The pole winner from Bud Pole Qualifying scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 11. Should
the pole winner be among the highest-ranked 35 in the the previous season owner
points, the pole winner will start in the first race regardless of his odd or
even position in those standings. The following cars will be assigned to the
second of the two qualifying races:
The even-number positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35
finishers in the final previous season NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car owner points
standings.
The second-fastest qualifier from Bud Pole Qualifying. Should this car be among
the highest-ranked 35 in the previous season owner points, it will start in the
second race regardless of its odd or even position in those standings.
Additional cars that were not among the highest-ranked 35 in the final previous
season car owner points will be alternated between the first and second 150-mile
qualifying events using an odd-even format. The odd-number positions will be
assigned to the first qualifier while the even-number positions will be assigned
to the second qualifier.
The odd-even positions are not determined by where the car qualified in the
overall field, but their specific qualifying order among those cars not part of
the highest-ranked 35 group. For example, a car qualifies eighth overall in Bud
Pole qualifying, but ranks third-fastest among those cars not part of the
highest-ranked 35. That car would be an odd-number position and start in the
first race as a result of its qualifying standing of those cars not in the
highest-ranked 35.
The lineup for each qualifying race will be set based upon the qualifying speeds
in the time trials for all cars, including those who are among the
highest-ranked 35 in the final previous season car owner point standings. The
highest-ranked 35 designation does not determine the car’s starting position,
only the assignment of its 150-mile qualifying event.
A maximum of 66 cars will be permitted to compete between the two qualifying
races, and all cars must compete in one of these events to be eligible for the
Daytona 500.
Starting positions for the Daytona 500 will be designated for the highest-ranked
35 positions from the final previous season car owner point standings from each
qualifier, the two-highest finishing cars in each qualifier not among that
highest-ranked 35 group and the two front-row qualifiers.
The balance of the 43-car field will be filled by the fastest remaining
qualifiers who have not earned a starting position, with the exception of the
43rd position which will be assigned to an eligible former or current NASCAR Cup
Series champion. Should there not be an eligible champion, the position will be
assigned to the next fastest qualifier not in the field.
- The simple version: how the Daytona 500 lineup is set:
Pos 1 and 2: Pole sitter and outside pole sitter from Bud Pole qualifying
[no need to be top 35 in previous season car Owners Points]
Pos 3 thru 39: top 35 in previous season car owners points and two
highest finishing teams in each Gatorade Duel races race NOT in the top 35 set
by their finishing position in the Gatorade Duel races.
Pos 40-42: fastest qualifiers not in by above
Pos 43: past champion provisional, otherwise the spot goes to the next
fastest qualifier.
- The Gatorade Duel races: The Daytona 500 pole-sitter will start on
the pole of the first Gatorade Duel at Daytona. The outside pole winner will
start on the pole of the second qualifying race.
Cars that finished in odd positions (first, third, fifth, etc.) in owner's
points last season will fill the first qualifying race, and those with
even-number finishes will compete in the second race. The lineup for each
qualifying race will be set based on the qualifying speeds. Owner's points do
not determine the car's starting position, only which of the two Duel races
in which it will race.
Cars that were not among the highest-ranked 35 in the previous season will be
alternately entered into the two 150-mile qualifying events based on qualifying
speeds. The non-top 35 car with the fastest qualifying time is entered into the
first (odd) Duel race, the next-fastest in the second (even) race and so on.