New User Friendly NASCAR Shortens Weekend for Race Teams

November 15, 2004; Mike harris writing for thge AP reported that NASCAR will use a shortened weekend schedule for the Nextel Cup series at most of its events next season in an effort to save money for teams.

The sanctioning organization said Monday it will hold a two-hour Cup practice Friday, moving qualifying to Saturday. The traditional Saturday practice will be eliminated and the qualified cars will be impounded by NASCAR until the start of the race.

The teams will not be permitted to work on their cars after qualifying unless authorized by NASCAR in "special circumstances."

Some tracks, including Texas, Charlotte and Talladega, have not agreed to the change because they draw large crowds to Friday qualifying.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the new procedure will not start until after the season-opening Daytona 500, which has a unique qualifying system that includes time trials and two 125-mile qualifying races.

"We are still in the process of getting more tracks to commit to this procedure," said John Darby, the Nextel Cup director. "We appreciate the cooperation of our track operators to assist us in delivering cost-saving measures to the team owners."

Darby said the new schedule will give crews some needed time off since the schedule will be shortened and they no longer will be allowed to work on cars between qualifying and the race.

"Ultimately, all the teams will arrive at the track with a focus on one goal," Darby said. "That goal will be to have the best possible race set-up and, hopefully, that will enhance the overall competitive element throughout the field."

Don Miller, co-owner of Penske Racing South with Roger Penske and Rusty Wallace, doesn't see how the new schedule will save much money.

"You still have to bring your people in on Thursday so they can be at the track when the garage opens on Friday. The hotels are still going to have those three-day minimums and you still have people away from home for three or four days," Miller said.

Miller is glad NASCAR is at least trying to shorten the schedules.

"We have to try to make it better for our people," he said. "Look at the schedule we have now with 38 race weekends. It's brutal."

NASCAR announced another measure aimed to contain costs -- a combination preseason test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and California Speedway between Jan. 31 and Feb. 3. That will eliminate the costs of making two separate trips to the Western tracks.

Hunter said NASCAR is also working on a plan to guarantee the top 35 cars in the points a spot in the race fields next year.

Currently, the fastest 36 cars in qualifying make the lineup, along with seven provisional starters, based on team owner points. But each team has a limited number of provisionals and two Cup regulars, rookies Scott Wimmer and Scott Riggs, both failed to make the Atlanta lineup last month. Wimmer was 27th in the points and Riggs 29th.

Owner-driver Kyle Petty said such a move would give sponsors peace of mind knowing their drivers would be in the lineup and that they can plan for corporate outings and appearances.