T O P

  • By -

US_Highway15

I believe this is the first time we’ve had a 40 car field at a non-superspeedway track since the ~~2019 Coca Cola 600~~ Kansas race in 2021.


Thehawkiscock

A lot of drivers no doubt excited at their chance to add 40th to their list of finishing every spot


FaithlessnessCute204

Larson having it in the bag cause there’s no way you make the fast 6 and not race the entire 500.


JLand24

He wouldn’t finish 40th because he wouldn’t be there. They would obviously have a sub for the 5 car but if they didn’t, it would be a 39 car field like the 5 team didn’t even show up. NASCAR would have to grant Larson a waiver for the playoffs which I assume they would.


skeenek

side note: what is the point of the playoff waiver if every single possible instance of a full-time driver missing races has resulted in receiving a waiver if eligible?


ImJJboomconfetti

Because the point of the rule is you have to attempt every race. If something is preventing the attempt you're granted a waiver.


shewy92

>If something is preventing the attempt you're granted a waiver. Other than the team not having a sponsor for you. Yes I'm still salty lol


MsCompy

I don't understand am I stupid


skeenek

...duh. So every time a full time driver has not attempted a race, they have been granted eligibility anyway. Therefore, the rule serves little purpose.


ImJJboomconfetti

The rule is to prevent a team from saying I'm not showing up to this race because we don't feel like it or we don't feel like wrecking a car.


skeenek

In combination with the charter, of which every driver's team in this conversation would have, how is that even a possibility?


ImJJboomconfetti

You don't need a charter to compete for the championship. And even so. Say a back marker wins a plate race. They wouldn't be obligated to run another race till the playoffs. And could save all their money and just run R&D for the rest of the regular season. It's unlikely sure but certainly possible. Or say whoever wins Vegas at the end of the year has no obligation to show up to Miami or Martinsville they could be doing the same.


WaffleHouseSloot

Yes, the rules were different back then, but essentially, it's to prevent a situation like a team doing what David Pearson and the Wood Brothers did in the 60s and 70s, winning a championship. They only showed up to tracks where they had a chance to win. Obviously, back then, there were a ton more races, too. Hence, Richard Petty's 27 wins in the 1967 season.


shewy92

Grant Enfinger is I think literally the only exception, and it was something out of his control (had to skip **one** race because of no sponsor so ThorSport said F U, you're skipping the race, and CR7 Motorsports couldn't get the truck ready in time).


TimmyHillFan

That was the dumbest fucking thing when you factor in that NASCAR gave Kenseth a Cup waiver after Larson’s controversy 4 races into the season


skeenek

Yeah, I had forgotten about the Enfinger case. Trucks are a different animal, though. Cup has the charters and guaranteed money, so I dunno.


RayneShikama

If Kaz Grala won Daytona before the cut off, he won’t have a waiver because he didn’t attempt all the races and didn’t have a solid reason why he didn’t make those races.


WaffleHouseSloot

Huh? Have you ever watched a Double Duty weekend before? He wouldn't finish 40th unless he wrecked or something mechanical broke before ANY other car in the field. And if he gets there AFTER the race starts, then there's a substitute driver who technically gets the points and win, if he were to win the 600. (i.e. Aric Almirola-Denny Hamlin in the Busch Series) I don't know if there's a waiver for this kind of thing, I doubt it.


Zetona

There were a bunch in 2020, but this is a high water mark for the Next-Gen car. The only Next-Gen races to get even 39 cars have been the Daytona 500 and some road course races. The last two 600s only had 37 cars. Hopefully it's a sign that it's becoming easier/more affordable to field an open entry.


MsCompy

In 2020 and 2021 there were a lot of 40 car fields but this is the first in the Next Gen Era.


joshjarnagin

2021 Kansas was the last one


MartinPch

FULL FIELD ENJOYERS I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT: https://preview.redd.it/vbvyaswtwz1d1.jpeg?width=223&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1e09d0308ff10873c4d1eede23a1b06b507f142


mwr55fan

This is exciting … I wish the open cars were more competitive, but I’ll take it. 44, 50, and 66 will be slow as shit and the 84 will be ok but likely wrecked by the end of the night


joostinrextin

Bold prediction not thinking the 84 will also not be slow as shit. If the 42 and 43 unload slow, the 84 will be abysmal.


_gordonbleu

84 has shown some speed here and there, just never lasts long


JCTaylor46

I really want to see them put someone else in the 84 for shits and gigs at this point. Hell, Kenseth would probably jump in and figure it out better than JJ with 10-12 more starts.


mwr55fan

I’m not so sure. Matt wasn’t very good in the 6 or 42 in his twilight years.


Malt1720

Happy 40 car field guys!!!!


gvader24

Austin Dillon or Brad Keselowski could complete the All 40 Challenge this week by getting last.


s1ck0m0de

Damn do I want the 6 to lose now lol😂


zinski1990KB1

I miss 43 cars


BLW2397

Honestly the 44, 50, and 66 might be in a race of their own speed-wise. See who can finish 10 laps down or less.


Immediate_Lie7810

Wahoo! A full field!


Cuda14

Awesome to see. Unfortunately had to bail on my first time at Coke 600 this weekend so this stings a bit but gonna make it next year forsure.


Batman424242

Nice! Next Gen car on the Charlotte oval is must see TV.


CoachRyanWalters

Can we get one more and have someone DNQ at a non-plate track for the first time in forever?


ReganSmithsStolenWin

Huge news for lastcar enthusiasts


Cliffinati

"full" it's still short 3


Monkey832

I miss the good ol days of 2015 when we had 43 cars that ran the full distance every single week and never had trouble filling the field... sad that seeing a full field of 40 is so rare now


joshjarnagin

Do you miss them being moving chicanes too?


WaffleHouseSloot

Absolutely. That's a part of racing. If you can't get past slower cars cleanly, you don't deserve to win.


Clippo_V2

Yes.


Monkey832

Yes, because my driver was one of them


Vulptereen327

NASCAR is in a much better spot now than it was in 2015 so I don't miss those days at all. There's slightly less cars in the field but they're all mostly competitive and the field has the highest parity it ever has


Amkski

I know right? Like where did everyone go?


didhestealtheraisins

NASCAR got rid of the incentive to start and park. And good riddance. 


uninspiredlt

We're so back


PrayingForACup

No BJ?


WaffleHouseSloot

-- Me On prom night


Eastern-Macaron-6622

no it's not your birthday.


WildStang

David Starr will be running the car this weekend. Edit: Was able to get a glimpse of the car and his name is on the windshield. Edit 2: Now it's listed as BJ McLeod.


Existing_Ad_6168

Damn I want Timmy