Home » Sports » NASCAR » Winston Cup Qualifying

Winston Cup Qualifying

© Thomas M. Sampson

In the past three seasons alone, statistics show that qualifying is a major key to success in Winston Cup. Lets look at some of the reasons. First of all, it makes good sense to start as close to the front as you can, so you won't have to wear your car out trying to fight your way up there. By the time you reach the front, you're on worn tires, and who knows how much you've taxed your engine trying to get there, then you've got to deal with the leaders?

If a team has a top ten qualifying setup, then they will learn from that for their race setup, although they are usually different, but just slightly. Usually engines and shocks are changed and more air is allowed through the air dam vents for racing. I think it's just a matter of attitude, along with the financial end of it. Some drivers and teams just don't have good attitudes about the qualifying process, and don't invest enough time and financial resources into it.

The strange thing about the middle of the pack drivers that end up with the pole position, is that they usually seem to drift back through the field to where they normally end up running to begin with. It kind of makes you wonder if some of these drivers really want to win the race, or just try to place good and finish, collect their check, and get ready for the next race. The fact is, there are only a handful of drivers out there that are really trying to win. They're the ones that are always charging toward the front, we all know who they are by now, it's certainly no big secret.

Practice laps are a big key in the qualifying process, along with good bookkeeping. If you have records of what you used last year, and start your practice sessions with that, then you'll be continuing the advancing process. Some teams have great bookkeeping practices, and some don't. It's evident the way some of the cars act when they are rolled off the trucks, that they came to the track ready to compete. Then, you hear some drivers say during interviews, "The car hasn't been right since it came off the truck." Well come on, where were these guys last year at this time? If they don't know what to do to the car for the track by now, who does? Some of these drivers that complain about their setups are veterans at these tracks, along with their crew chiefs. Haven't they ever heard of "been there, done that?" It really kind of makes you wonder.

The copyright of the article Winston Cup Qualifying in NASCAR is owned by . Permission to republish Winston Cup Qualifying in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.