Wednesday, October 22, 2014

NASCAR Reduces Size of 2015 Truck Fields

NASCAR has announced three key enhancements in the NASCAR XFINITY (currently Nationwide) Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the 2015 season.  

Beginning next season, the maximum starting field for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races will 32 trucks, as opposed to a 36-truck field in previous years. Sprint Cup Series starting fields will continue to be 43 cars, while the NASCAR XFINITY Series will remain at 40. 

In addition, changes will be made to the qualifying procedures for the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series, to closely resemble that of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  

In the NASCAR XFINITY Series, cars starting in positions 1-33 will be determined by their fastest single lap during qualifying. The Camping World Truck Series will follow the same procedure for positions 1-27. 

In the XFINITY Series, the next six positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking cars in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a seventh car will make the field based upon owner points. 

In the Camping World Truck Series, the next four positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking trucks in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a fifth truck will make the field based upon owner points. 

Currently, the top 30 cars and top 25 trucks in owner points in each series were guaranteed a starting spot in each event. Starting next year, a maximum of seven cars and five trucks will be locked into each race.  

If a qualifying session is cancelled because of inclement weather, each series’ field will be set per the rule book with starting lineups determined by practice speeds. 

Drivers’ last names will also be featured on the back window of each series’ cars and trucks next season, helping fans to better identify the drivers. Rear-window placement allows for XFINITY and Camping World to continue to maintain placement on the front windshield.

“Our mission of providing the best on-track product possible is always among our top objectives,” said Robin Pemberton, senior vice president of competition and racing development. “We’re confident in the direction these changes will take these series.”

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:02 PM

    So what does reducing the Truck field accomplish? Why did they make the change?

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  2. Wayne5:21 PM

    I do not think they reduced it. That's all that's showing up to begin with. After 20 laps the field is down about 10 of those.

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    Replies
    1. Rocky6:18 PM

      In 11 of the 18 races so far, there have been 32 or less entries.

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  3. Anonymous5:07 PM

    they are trying every way they can to screw every thing up like all the changes in sprint cup

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  4. No matter what the reason given, it's never good when fields are reduced because inevitably competitive depth is reduced. Perhaps NASCAR needs to do a better job with spending issues these fields are facing.

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  5. Anonymous10:11 PM

    I think its a great idea nascar making them put there last names on the back of there trucks , that way all 10 people in the grandstands can know who is winning and losing !

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  6. Anonymous11:35 PM

    I wish the trucks would go back to the way they ran in the 90's. Mostly short tracks with a halfway break to change tires and make adjustments.

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