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NASCAR Drivers unhappy with group qualifying

By Charles Rahrig V

Jun 1, 2014; Dover, DE, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Danica Patrick (10) leads NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Clint Bowyer (15) and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) during the FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Jun 1, 2014; Dover, DE, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Danica Patrick (10) leads NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Clint Bowyer (15) and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) during the FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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The drivers weren’t happy with the new group qualifying rules for next Sunday’s Daytona 500

When NASCAR went to group qualifying for restrictor-plate races, many were concerned about what could happen during qualifying and the negative effect it could have on the sport. After the wrecks and madness during Sunday’s group qualifying for the Daytona 500, drivers were not happy with the new rules.

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Jeff Gordon won the pole during the group qualifying for what will be his final Daytona 500.

His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson snagged the other spot up front next to him.

As for everyone else, they have to compete in the Budweiser Duel Thursday night, to grab one of the spots between 3-32.

The drivers were visibly upset after the new format of qualifying, especially considering that their was a wreck on the track and was far different from the single-driver qualifying that they’re used to.

At one point Clint Bowyer and Reed Sorenson ending up getting involved in a wreck and Bowyer was very upset after in a post-qualifying interview.

“There’s no reason to be out here. These guys have spent six months working on these cars, busting their butts on these cars. … It’s NASCAR’s fault for putting us out in the middle of this crap for nothing. We used to come down here and worry about who would set on the front pole in the biggest race of the year. Now all we do is come down here and worry about how a start‑and‑park like this out of desperation is going to knock us out of the Daytona 500.”

It’s easy to understand Bowyer’s frustration, especially when guys aren’t used to having wrecks during their qualifying runs.

Teams put lots of effort into building the cars during the offseason for the Daytona 500 and to have the car totaled before they can even get it out on the track has to be infuriating to the driver and the entire crew.

Other drivers believe change has to be made to the rules. Kurt Busch, a NASCAR veteran, after the race didn’t feel that new rules were necessarily right.

“We’re a lot of smart people here. There’s drivers, owners, NASCAR.  We got to find a better system. Too much hard work goes into these cars, then you have this roulette wheel for qualifying. It doesn’t seem the proper system.”

While it’s a day to celebrate a moment for Jeff Gordon and what he has accomplished in his career, it’s also a day to reflect on whether the new changes instituted are right for NASCAR.

[H/T: NASCARTalk]

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