Rear view mirror-Talledega

[paulfan]

While I was reading the Kurt Busch thread I remembered something about the Talledega race.

David Gililand had the pole and obviously the first pit choice, but I remember that the first pit stall was the 48 JJ Lowes car.  JJ didn't qualify that great but he had the choicest pit.  Are pit selections up for sale like starting positions?

[flamehothead]

Another one of Nascar's great idea's. The champion from the previous year get's any Pit stall he choose's. I don't know who made a really dumb decision like this, But this is the kinda stuff we all have to look forward to.

[FS_Amy]

Actually, they mentioned this on TV.  Gilliland's team DID get first choice, and they chose the first stall getting onto pit road.  The polesitter's team gets first choice of pits, not necessarily that first pit.

[flamehothead]

Thank's for the clear up Fs_Amy.

[paulfan]

I didn't realize that Johnson qualified 3rd.  Went back and checked, which I should have done before I let my fingers get crazy, and David Gilliland had the pole and Dale Jarrett was second.  Usually the first and last pit stalls are the first selected so expected them gone before JJ got his pick.

I'm not sure about the past champions perks but think he gets the first garage stall and the hauler is the first one parked.  Anyone confirm this?

[AfterShock]

 

I'm not sure about the past champions perks but think he gets the first garage stall and the hauler is the first one parked.  Anyone confirm this?

.........................

Yup.
Last I heard, you're correct.
I never pulled NASCAR though.

Worked like that in Motorcycle racing too.
Except when the first garage stall goes to the current
points leader.
Sometimes that's better 'cause the driver doesn't have
to be the first to park all season. Although, there's also
 the hope that he does have to park first all season. He just doesn't get to sleep in
doncha know.

Imagine driving a transporter for the first one parked and can't back to save your life. And job?

Park crooked and every truck will do the same.  They ALL line up on the first one parked.

No pressure.
I always sweat bullets like that.

I hit the Sheriff,
But I did not hit the
Dep-pew-dee.

I need your:

License, medical card, log book, registration, proof of insurance, and * B.O.L.
Sit right here, I'll be right back.

Hello, dispatch?
Give me the Safety Department.

Hello?
Is this Bubba's Bail Bonds?


*B.O.L. ain't about luck. It's about Lading. And Bills. 

[Busch Babe 899]

Every race I've been to this season has them lined up according to points...at least, most of them. Brickyard, Lowes (although I think Lowes gave the first garage stall to the current Champ, Tony Stewart)...I wasn't in the pits or garage for Dover, but Richmond, I believe JJ had the first stall...current points leader. Pocono, I'm not sure, although I expect they were lined up by points because all the top 10 teams were on the side aimed AWAY from the fan viewing area...we had an EXCELLENT view of the backrunners.

Thinking back, I believe Lowes always has the current Champ in the first stall...because the year after Kurt Busch won, his was the first one.

I wonder if it's up to the track??

[Racergiant]

I'm not sure about the past champions perks but think he gets the first garage stall and the hauler is the first one parked.  Anyone confirm this?

Actually....  Here's the way it works,....

For the first so many number of races of the year (I think it's 10 races) the haulers are lined up according to the previous years points. 

After that set number of races - the points have built up enough to line the haulers up according to the current years points.

[Chris]

I think they did away with this a couple years ago RG:

I'm not sure about the past champions perks but think he gets the first garage stall and the hauler is the first one parked.  Anyone confirm this?

If I'm not mistaken it goes strickly by points now... and that changes every week. (except for the first 5 weeks that carry over at the start of a new season)
Highest in points hauler goes in first, and on down the line.... then they park, basically they park you, and you get the garage spot in order of points also. (since haulers all park in order of points, and are all in line)

NOW,.. the teams usually (well I won't say usually,.. it depends on the schedule, and the division) But MANY times, the haulers have to "stage" outside the track,.. pretty close to their points order.  Then the Nascar official in charge gets on the CB radio (they tell you the channel in advance) and they start calling in haulers by points standings.
IF a hauler driver misses his turn, (lets say he staged in the afternoon, and they have to be back at 3:00 a.m. to start pulling in) if he misses his turn, and gets there late,.. then he FORFEITS his spot.  Lets say his team is 12th in points, and he gets there late, and they are up to calling number 26 in points,.. then he has to fall in line #27.  Nothing is "saved". 
I know when we raced at Daytona on the CTS race a hauler driver missed his spot, and ended up going al REAL close to last.

NOW<.. NO TEAM is allowed to open up their hauler, etc until EVERYONE is parked,... so no one gets a jump that way. But you are all READY to go if you are one of the first ones parked.  Car unstrapped, some interior stuff organized, etc etc.  Can get you in the tech line faster, and that equates into more time on the track.

NOW qualifying is set up by points also.
A time is set on the schedule, and someone from the team has to be at an appointed place for the "qualifying draw".  They draw numbers out of a 'bingo ball" by order of the points standings.  Team leading the points draws first, second next, on down the line.
SO if the first team draws a 22, that means they are the 22nd car to go out and qualify... and so on until all the teams have drawn a pill (ball).  Thats how the qualifying line up is set.

THEN after qualifying,.. the pole winner gets to pick FIRST for his pit stall,... second fastest picks next, and so on down the line.  They did away with the past champion always picking first here also.  It just gave the past champion too much of an advantage for "nothing", and with the top 35 locked in.. the past champion could always get the first pit stall.  This way makes them decide if they want to try and qualify for a good pit stall,.. or work more on race set up.  The old "you have to give up something to get something" theory.
NOW<.. just for clarification.. If a driver crashes AFTER qualifying and has to go to a backup car and start in the rear,.. he still gets to keep his pit stall (Say if he qualifies 3rd, he still gets to pick 3rd)
BUT like last week if someones time is DISALLOWED in qualifying,.. their time is throw out all together, and it's like they never made an attempt at all, and they pick LAST.
Last week Busch qualifies 3rd,.. time was disallowed, so he had to pick his pit stall LAST.
SINCE he was in the top 35 in points he got to race.  IF he would of been outside the top 35 in points and got his time disallowed,.. he would of missed the field.

Sorry so long,.. just never seemed like a good spot to stop.  Each item works with the other.

[FS_Amy]

I don't think they did do away with past champion parking first, at least not in Cup...as I recall, at every race I've been to this year, the No. 20 had first garage stall and the hauler was first in the row...and they haven't led points all year. 

[Chris]

hhuumm
I don't know... When we were racing,.. and we ran companion events with CUP I often spotted of Jeff Gordons Hauler. (say like at Martinsville).
You could be right.. I remember that year he was on the end,.. because I spotted off of his hauler and he was the very end one,.. he DID win the CUP championship in 2001, and was 6th in points going into Martinville that year.
SO maybe the CUP series does do the past years champion in first.
I pretty positive everything else I was correct on..
Thanks for making me double check that... I don't like to give out incorrect information.

[AfterShock]

 I don't like to give out incorrect information.

And, that's what we L I K E about YOU, Chris.
Yes we do!

[Busch Babe 899]

I think both sides are right. I think the Champ gets the first stall, then the rest line up in order after that. Or that they can pick their stalls in order of points after that, kind of like they pick pit stalls after qualifying...I have seen times where several Roush teams have garages beside each other who are not together points-wise, so I wonder if it isn't the latter.