How many times can a past champion like Dale Jarrett use the past champions provision to make races. He can't seem to qualify on time.
Surely there's a limit on using it. I had heard it was 6 times.
2007-03-20 05:40:18 · 9 answers · asked by Big Rick 6 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
Yes, they changed it this year. It used to be unlimited, the most recent past champion was given the provisional if they didn't qualify on time. With Toyota coming in this year and DJ going to MWR they (NASCAR) didn't want them to make every race and made the new 6 provisionals limit for past champions. Personally I don't think anyone should get more than a couple of mulligans a year.
Go or go home!
2007-03-20 06:02:25 · answer #1 · answered by Tregosteevo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Correct.. The rule changed this year to a limit of SIX per DRIVER.
Heres what it says on JAYSKI...
Past Champ Provisional rules to stay the same UPDATE 2 limited at 6? NASCAR sources indicated that the sanctioning body would not alter its past championship provisional rule for the Nextel Cup Series in 2007. For two decades, NASCAR has allotted a spot in the race -- if needed -- for Cup champions that otherwise failed to qualify for the field. NASCAR's decision to leave the rule alone is significant for Dale Jarrett, who is the only full-time former champion without a guaranteed starting spot in 2007. Jarrett is driving for Michael Waltrip Racing's brand-new #44 Toyota, which enters the season without any owner points. NASCAR awards guaranteed starting spots to the top-35 teams in the owner standings from 2006. Because every former champion from 2000 to 2006 finished in the top 35, the past championship provisional will be available to Jarrett, who won the Cup title in 1999. There is a good possibility Jarrett will not need to use his past championship provisional in many races. Because he is essentially guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races, his chances of remaining in the top 35 in 2007 owner standings are high. If Jarrett is in the top 35 in owner points after the season's fifth race, the past championship provisional is available to Bill Elliott [he could also use the provisional spot if Jarrett qualifies for the races in the first 5], who won the title in 1988. Elliott is the only active former champion -- besides Jarrett -- without a guaranteed starting spot. Beginning with the sixth race of the season, NASCAR awards guaranteed starting spots to the teams in the top 35 in points. NASCAR considered altering the rule for 2007 but opted to leave it alone. The past championship provisional rule is different in the Busch Series -- a past championship provisional can only be used once every eight races.(NASCAR.com)(1-22-2007)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials say the past champion's provisional will be altered in 2007. That's news to past champion #44-Dale Jarrett, who on Monday night said he had not been told of any changes to the program. Jarrett could end up needing a past champion's provisional because his new #44 team lacks owner points. Since he moved to the new Michael Waltrip Racing team to start this season, Jarrett has no points for the first five races. He must qualify for each of those based on speed - or by using the past champion's provisional. The driver, who won the 1999 Cup championship, would be locked into the final position in the field if he failed to post a fast enough time to make the race. Jarrett said that he understood the concerns surrounding possible abuse of the provisional system, but that those weren't applicable in his case. NASCAR officials said Tuesday that the change would not be in the rule book, but would appear on entry blanks sent out prior to each race. Vice President Steve O'Donnell said that limiting use of the provision to six races per year was what the sanctioning body had been looking into. "That is still being talked about. I think what we're looking at is six for the driver and owner," he said during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Media Tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway. "The one change [from the Busch Series] is maybe that you can use six concurrently. ... [T]hat's what it looks like it's going to be."(SceneDaily.com)(1-23-2007)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR plans to announce before next month's Daytona 500 a cap on the number of provisionals a former champion can use in a season, vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said on Tuesday. That number likely will fall around six, sources said.(David Newton/ESPN.com)(1-24-2007)
2007-03-20 13:39:54 · answer #2 · answered by Will-I-Am Hendrick Supporter 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes... it is SIX. I think NASCAR changed this not long after Toyota hired DJ for lots of money, hoping to get their car in the races without worrying about qualifying all season.
He only has a couple left.
2007-03-20 13:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by T from Texas 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are correct but this was the first time that put the limit on it for 6, used to be unlimited.
2007-03-20 13:03:06 · answer #4 · answered by Ezz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is 6 times a season. by using them he has a chance to move up in owner points to the top 35 and be assured a starting spot based on points.
2007-03-20 16:18:29 · answer #5 · answered by Jim S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This year is 6 times. You're about to see a lot of Bill Elliott, I think.
2007-03-20 13:55:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
6, and hes used almost all of them already. he wont be qualifying for races soon, that 44 is so slow.
2007-03-20 16:29:21 · answer #7 · answered by afc_wimbledon333 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct. It is SIX.
2007-03-20 12:46:22 · answer #8 · answered by Frankie Coletta 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
seis
2007-03-20 15:28:26 · answer #9 · answered by m!rI@m♥'s#48 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋