This week the new NASCAR Cup Series qualifying format was used for the first time. The fans were confused and upset. It seems like NASCAR is always trying to reinvent the wheel.
NASCAR qualifying was already more complicated than it needed to be. However, it was relatively simple. Two groups, the five fastest of each, advance to the final round. Previously, those ten drivers would compete for pole, the one with the fastest time would win and everyone else would follow the time order.
Now, NASCAR’s standings are a complex mess that requires multiple explanations and a new graph to understand.
The five fastest drivers from each group go through to the final round. Then things get weird. The fastest driver overall will win pole, that doesn’t change. However, if the pole winner is from Group A, then the outside pole will go to the fastest car from Group B, and vice versa.
As for the other drivers, positions 2 to 10 will be determined as follows: the drivers from Group B will make up the inner row, and those from Group A will form the outer row. Take a few minutes to read it carefully if you need to, it’s not easy to picture it in your head.
That’s why Christopher Bell was faster than Josh Berry in qualifying at Nashville, but will start one spot behind Berry in the race.
This was a strong reaction to the new procedure, but perhaps valid.
Stupid qualifying format. The guys who made a slower lap time started in front of the guys who made a faster time. What kind of shit is this…?
— ElitePrecision29 (@lmm2996) June 29, 2024
NASCAR already does things differently than other motorsports. Why make things even more complicated for drivers, teams and fans, both new and old?
This @nascar Cup qualification is nonsense. Why does everything have to be confusing and a gimmick? #nascar
— Lucas Hansen (@LucasHansen26) June 29, 2024
When you see the qualifying times set up and they’re not in order from fastest to slowest, it makes your brain a little bit crazy.
Idc who you are: this classification format #NASCAR has where one group determines the inner rows and the other group determines the outer rows is silly, because then we get a rating order like this: pic.twitter.com/SRjwvEJZVn
-Kevin Cao (@K24Cao939) June 29, 2024
Denny Hamlin wins pole in shaky NASCAR qualifying session
The only driver who doesn’t have to worry about the strange new format is Denny Hamlin. Hamlin went out on track and set the fastest time of the afternoon just to make sure he was the one out front. He won’t be lining up behind a slower car, that’s for sure.
The last few weeks have been difficult for Hamlin and this team. They have had an average finish of P29 in the last three races. That was after Hamlin posted five straight top-five finishes, including a win at Dover.
I think Denny will talk about this ranking format. When he gets on the podcast mic, it’s hard to avoid him sharing an opinion. With all the hype surrounding this, he’ll have to talk at least a little about it.
NASCAR has changed the qualifying procedure for the Cup Series only. Surely there are better ways to make qualifying a special event without ruining the entire process and cheapening the results.
Keynote USA
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