The qualifying quandary at Atlanta

This afternoon’s qualifying session at Atlanta Motor Speedway has me quite intrigued, thanks to a few new rules that could make it more unpredictable than usual.

It might turn out to be a whole bunch of nothing, but then again…it could be chaotic.

Here are the two reasons why:

1. Inspection

Oh, this is delicious. As a stickler for rules, I love it when the teams push the limits and then blame NASCAR for why they failed inspection. That happened two years ago, when 13 cars couldn’t get through inspection in time for qualifying and never got to make a lap.

At the time, it looked bad for NASCAR; all the drivers pointed fingers at officials, who were like, “No, YOU!” But if you examine at the situation today, any problems are going to be the teams’ fault.

Since this is the first “real” race with the new aero package, teams are going to push the limits. And if they go too far, it’s going to potentially cause them to miss qualifying.

Starting this year, teams can’t just fail an inspection station, pull out of line for a quick fix and try again. Now they have to take the car back to the garage, make a fix and start the entire inspection process from the beginning. That’s going to cost them a lot of time — potentially enough to never get on track for a qualifying spot, especially if other cars are doing the same thing.

But — and here’s the big twist for today — missing qualifying might not be the worst thing in the world because…

2. Tire strategy

As you know, the tires wear out quickly at Atlanta. Combine that with the new rule which requires teams to start the race on the tires they used for qualifying, and there’s a big opportunity for strategy there.

Think about it: If a car makes it to the final round, it will likely have at least two more laps on the tires than a car that doesn’t get past round one. So it might be an advantage to sandbag in qualifying, then zoom past cars on older tires at the start of the race.

Add in a rule — revised this week after discussion with the teams — that allows a team which doesn’t make a qualifying lap to start the race on sticker tires, and you could see some cars at the rear do the whole Kyle-Busch-in-Xfinity thing and go from back to front in no time.

Anyway, those things might not take place — since just when you expect something to go down in NASCAR, the opposite usually happens. But if you see it, then consider this a heads up.

6 Replies to “The qualifying quandary at Atlanta”

  1. Don’t see that happening. I think I would rather start at or near the front with 3 lap (cooled off) tires than at the back on the old and really worn out track of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

    Oh, don’t they have practice tomorrow? Does NASCAR impound these tires and then give them back on race day? How actually does this work Jeff?

  2. Oh, this is delicious? Who are you and what have you done with Jeff? Is this the same guy that did the rant on the five minute clock? I want that Jeff back.

  3. You’re gonna use up your stuff in Cup coming from the back because the cars are closer. I don’t see anyone intentionally doing that. Now not pushing 100% but still aiming to start 10-15th ish? Maybe.

  4. i hate the new face of nascar the rules are a stupid change giving advantages youve taken the sport and screwed up a good thing its know wonder edwards left maybe somebody will start a new racing club for us true nascar fans that you will have lost

  5. The inspection process i’ve been lucky enough to go through the inspection process for many years in the top 3 series truck, Xfinity & Cup.

    Why should fan go to the track on friday for free practice & qualifying if our driver fail the inspection process they will start at the back anyway if there a charter team?

    The only reason were going on friday for the K&N ,ARCA,Modified,Sportsman race.

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