Double file restarts Shootout style? How about qualifying Knockout Style

This year NASCAR introduced a new double file restart procedure to add more excitement to races. This procedure was first tested at this years NASCAR All-Star race in Charlotte primarily due to the fact that since the race is non-points paying event, if the procedure failed no ones championship hopes would be affected.

Of course before NASCAR does just about anything it’s studied in detail prior to actually being tried live.

Maybe it’s time to study something else prior to trying it out in next years All-Star event; Knockout style qualifying.

This is a subject I’ve written about before, especially since I’ve started covering Formula One. Prior to covering the Formula One World Drivers Championship, I was like a lot of NASCAR fans; F1 drivers are sissies and their high-brow fans care more about standing around drinking wine then they do about watching racing.

Once I really became immersed in this world though, I found that the drivers are the exact opposite and the fans are very much like their NASCAR counterparts. In fact there’s a lot about F1 that’s just like NASCAR. Sure there are fewer drivers, but the action can be just as intense and the fans are just as passionate about their drivers as anyone in the Junior Nation.

There is one big difference between Formula One and NASCAR however; how they qualify for a race. F1 uses what is known as ‘knockout’ style qualifying where the cars are sent out for a certain time, then the slower ones become eliminated until the field is set. It’s actually a bit more complicated then that, but the point is in Formula One qualifying draws almost as much attention, and fans, as the race itself.  

Qualifying in NASCAR is about as exciting as watching paint dry. One car, one or two laps, wake me when it’s over. For the All-Star Event the qualifying format is changed somewhat, remembering that no points are involved. Since crews are highlighted during All-Star week, and rightly so, qualifying has a pit stop thrown in. Which ends up making All-Star qualifying about as exciting as watching paint dry, with a pit stop thrown in.

Even with this one little change, adding a pit stop, qualifying for the All-Star event draws more attention, and fans, simply because there is another variable introduced, something different then one driver trying to lap the track as fast as possible.

But what if all the drivers were racing their way into their starting positions?  That’s what Knockout Style qualifying would introduce.

Discussions on how it would actually be carried out could go on for weeks, but my basic idea would go something like this…

Qualifying would be separated into 3 timed sessions with breaks in between. For a normal race, even if, say, 45 teams show up. Doesn’t matter where, or how many teams show up, the procedure would be the same at every track.

Q3 would be 30 minutes long. Remember there would be no green or checkered flag, only a clock. Time starts and all 45 cars hit the track, yes at once. Sorry but having to deal with everyone on the track at once is part of the deal. Also keep in mind that one of the strategies for a team might be to wait until there are fewer cars on the track. There’s two ways already to add some tension. Cars can take laps and come back in and teams can make whatever changes they want (but only in the garage) and go back out…but when the clock gets to 30, that’s it…if you’ve already crossed the line you can finish your lap, but if not, you’re done. At the end of Q3 only the fastest 20 cars will advance. Those who don’t will be positioned in 21st to 43rd. At this point by the way, you would already know who is in and who is out of the race, because this system would have no provisionals, none, nada, zip. If you aren’t fast enough to even be in the top 30 you don’t need to be racing that week

Then there would be a 15-minute break during which any changes can be made.

Q2. Fastest 20 cars. 15 minute time limit. Again changes can be made but at the end of the time, only the fastest ten cars will advance to the final round and a shot at the pole.

Another15-minute break, again during which any changes can be made.

Q3. Top ten. 10 minute time limit. Again when the time ends, if a driver has already passed the start-finish line they can complete the lap. At the end of the final session the top speed would naturally get the pole.

 But here’s the rub; all the cars in the top ten are impounded; how ever the teams setup the cars to qualify will be the way they start the race. Whatever the fuel load, whatever tires they are on. This would allow a bit of strategy for teams. Will you put in a lighter fuel load and ‘sticker’ tires on in an attempt to go for the pole and hope for an early caution come raceday? Or will you go with a race setup and a full fuel load? Maybe take a top ten start in hopes that those in front of you have lighter fuel loads and have to pit earlier. Would NASCAR later publish what fuel loads the top ten have so the rest of the field can plan accordingly?

Ok so here are a few of the variables.

If during a session you blow an engine or suffer a mechanical failure you better have your backup car ready. Not tucked away in the hauler, but ready to go at a moments notice. No Mulligans here. 

Some scenarios and some solutions:

So what prevents one driver from blocking another on the track during the session and slowing him down?

If in NASCAR’s judgment one car is impeding the progress of another then the offender would be black-flagged.

What would prevent team cars from ‘hooking up’ at the Superspeedways to draft and get better lap times?

Absolutely nothing, which is why deals among cars not belonging to a team would be going on in the garage prior to qualifying. Oh the intrigue.

Suppose a driver crashes?

Since yellow flag periods would stop the clock, that driver would be given time to get to their backup car. During a yellow flag, when the clock is stopped, those not involved in the accident could not work on their cars, just like a red flag.

And if the crash involving driver X sweeps up another car, the second car being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Let me introduce you to lady luck. That element of luck would still be there. That’s why it would be crucial for teams to have their backups ready. However if NASCAR determines that driver X intentionally caused the crash, then game over, thanks for playing see you next time.

Drama, scheming, intrigue, suspense, are all elements that could be introduced during a Knockout Style qualifying session and be carried over through the weekend.  

The positives for this style of qualifying are many. This would be a ‘race within a race’, a reason to actually watch qualifying. For track operators it could mean additional revenue since they could sell tickets for qualifying and no doubt fans would buy them. Especially fans that may not be able to attend the ‘big’ race.

Why not try this at next year’s All-Star event? With no points on the line and a smaller field it could be a great way to see if this could actually work. The crews will still have their moment in the sun with the Pit Crew Challenge like they do now, plus the strategy they use to get their driver into the race through Knockout Qualifying would give them exposure.

So c’mon NASAR, you have several months to study it, and try it out next May. Shootout Style restarts worked, why not Knockout Style Qualifying.
 

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