Mike Griffith: Every driver should be a 'go or go homer'
| Thursday, Sep 04 2008 02:02 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 06:03 PM
It's mentioned repeatedly during every NASCAR race, hashed out on ESPN's "NASCAR Now" show and thoroughly vetted on a multitude of NASCAR-related shows on Speed TV.
No. It's not the Race for the Chase, which is set to come to a conclusion Saturday night in Richmond, Va. (although Tropical Storm Hanna may have something to say as to when the race actually takes place).
It's the race to be 35th or better in points.
While the majority of television discussion does center on the Chase, a good deal of time is spent talking about drivers at the other end of the spectrum — those just above and below NASCAR's line of demarcation — No. 35 in points.
Forty-three drivers constitute a full field at NASCAR Sprint Cup races but you don't have to be the fastest to get into the party.
Nope. Just be in the top 35 in owner points and you have a free pass to race.
Never mind that your qualifying speed may be the slowest of 44 or 48 cars. You're good to go.
A crash in qualifying? Just roll out the backup and start at the rear of the field. You're in.
The top 35 at the end of the season are guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races of the next season. That's a huge perk. From the sixth race on its the current top 35 that are in no matter what. Another huge plus.
Those outside the top 35, now called "go or go homers" by television commentators, battle for the remaining eight slots, unless there is a past champion who does not qualify in the top 35 who can make the race on a past champion provisional.
It will never come to pass, but I would like to see the quickest 43 drivers in qualifying start the race. No top 35 guarantee. No past champion provisional.
Every driver showing up would be a "go or go homer."
NASCAR likes to talk about an even playing field and has developed cookie cutter cars to help level that field.
But there is nothing level about the top 35 rule.
It's a throwback that needs to be tossed aside.
If you're not fast enough, you're not fast enough. After all, it's called racing.
QUICK SHIFTS
USAC Midgets, Ford Focus Midgets, Mini Stocks and Junior Focus divisions will be in action Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway. Nick Faas, who has finished sixth and third in the two previous races at Bakersfield, holds a commanding 137-point lead over Scott Pierovich in the champ in the Western State Midget championship race. Racing starts at 6.
Some of the quickest Fuel Altereds in the nation will be at Auto Club Famoso Raceway Saturday for the Chuy's Fuel Altered Classic. Both nitro- and alcohol-burning cars will be in action with exhibition runs slated for 7 and 9 p.m. Also competing will be drivers in the Summit ET Series.
Buddy Shepherd took a first and second last weekend at Plaza Raceway Park in Visalia and holds the Junior Sprint point lead with one race remaining.
