Yes, folks, there is actually a criteria in NASCAR that allows Kevin Conway to race in the 2011 season's first event while leaving out the likes of Brian Vickers, David Reutimann, AJ Allmendinger, Brad Keselowski and Elliott Sadler, among others.
You remember Conway, the winner of the one-man Cup rookie of the year competition who registered one whopping top 20 finish this season?
Because of a change in the eligibility rules for the Budweiser Shootout NASCAR announced on Friday, Conway - the 2010 rookie of the year "winner" - is eligible to race in the kickoff to this year's Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.
The rule change allows all former rookies for the previous 10 years eligible which coincidentally makes Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano and Juan Pablo Montoya eligible.
I'm sorry, but the eligibility rules of the Shootout have now been tricked up more than the Chase, leaving it about a dozen drivers short of being just another Cup race.
So, why not just make it one?
Surely, holding a non-points, full-field Cup race at Daytona has got to be better than any event which somehow places Conway in a higher regard in NASCAR competition than the likes of Vickers, Keselowski and Sadler - all of whom who have won actual Cup series races.
Wow Jim, way to attack someone that went out there and made the most out of equipment that wasn't worth crap. Not his fault only one other driver tried to make it as ROY this season.
ReplyDeleteWasn't worth crap? He also got a shot in Robby Gordon's equipment, which is top notch.
ReplyDeleteHow did Robby do in that "top notch" equipment? Not good, back of the pack too. I like Robby, but his car was just as bad. Look at where he finished. Proof is in the results.
ReplyDeleteHe only had his rides because he had a sponsor, who wouldn't pay the teams. See lawsuits filed by FRM and RGM.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against Conway, but the point of the article is that he has done nothing on the track to merit being in what is supposed to be a race for the elite in NASCAR.
ReplyDeleteThis wasn't an attack. It was simply pointing out that Conway is in the Shootout because of rules manipulation rather than anything he earned.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we all know Conway is a nobody who would not have a ride if he did not bring the sponsor money with him, no news there. But what I think y'all are missing here is the $ in Na$car. This was just a backdoor way to get more big $ sponsors in the door for this formerly significant race. Home Depot, Target and Red Bull would not have had a car in the race without the rookie rule. Gotta keep the sponsors happy. Dale Jr. was already in the race as a former shootout winner (a traditional qualifier) so they did not have to cook up a starting spot for him like they did in last year's all star race, so why not cook up a few more starting spots for important sponsors? And you are absolutely correct, way too many irrelevant drivers in the field, and way too many drivers in the field period. This used to be an elite race for the past seasons race winners, and former shootout winners, period. That was back before BZF and his need to try to rig everything to fit his warped idea of what us fans want. Let's get back to traditional racing, it worked just fine for the 50 or so years before BZF.
ReplyDeleteDave in Ohio
The reigning rookie of the year was eligible last year. Joey Logano was in the 2010 field for winning the 2009 rookie of the year.
ReplyDeleteConway was going to stink no matter what equipment he had...He had the same equipment Gilliland and Kvapil had and even tho they were very good either they were stile miles(literally) ahead of him.
ReplyDeleteConway is nothing more than the Milka Duno of NASCAR.
Just another Joke for Nascar, and they wander why people arent watching..Its because things like this make the hardcore fans frustrated..oh yea that and all the "debris" cautions
ReplyDeleteBecause of the 'cooking up' as you say, to get all these drivers in this race, it is now totally insignificant to me. I may watch it, if I have nothing else to do. I won't Tivo it, as I can see all the highlights on TV/internet in about 10 min after the race.
ReplyDeleteCongrats big Brian, you've turned me off to yet another event. I no longer watch NW due to all the cup drivers. I don't watch trucks when Cup drivers run. I don't care about the Shootout. The all star race is quickly losing me. You've really accomplished something there Brian!!!
The Shootout has the saving grace of being a plate race, so the battle up front is going to be a real race. But it typifies the gimmickization of modern NASCAR. I'm not against a 30-car field for this race, but to get it through qualification gimmicks - some of which, as has been noted throughout this thread, were cooked up to justify getting drivers into the field that otherwise would not be entered - simply proves the irrelevance of the concept, a criticism that also applies to the All-Star Race.
ReplyDeleteCome on Derrick Cope!!!
ReplyDeleteWho the heck is going to give Conway a car? He never pays the bill.
ReplyDeleteThere's a F'kin wreck waitin to happen.
ReplyDelete