Drivers have mixed feelings about Saturday qualifying

Drivers have mixed feelings about Saturday qualifying

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(April 1, 2011)

MARTINSVILLE, Va.—Sprint Cup drivers not also competing in the Camping World Truck Series have a light schedule on Saturday—two laps.
That’s right, two laps, which for most drivers will take a little more than 40 seconds to complete during qualifying for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Talk about bankers’ hours.
Martinsville’s move from Friday to Saturday qualifying may give fans more reason to come to the .526-mile short track on Saturday, but it left several drivers questioning the practicality of the weekend schedule.
Five-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said it might be tough to find his rhythm with no practice time before qualifying on Saturday. Instead, the schedule called for Cup drivers to practice in two 90-minute sessions on Friday.
“Yeah, it’s wild to only run two laps (Saturday),” Johnson said Friday. “I don’t know why we’re experimenting with this type of schedule, because the (crew) guys are still here. … I guess the fans are first and foremost. But the next ones in line I would say would be the mechanics and crews working on these cars.
“And they have a bear of a day on Fridays with this type of schedule and then an OK day (Saturday), a pretty light day, for just two laps. So it’s just weird. You’d rather spread that workload out over the two days and take care of your crew guys. I don’t know why or how, but if it does help on that side (with fans), then we’ll take it.”
Kurt Busch said he understands how the change might appeal to fans.
“I think it’s great to have the race atmosphere,” Busch said. “You come in to watch a truck race (which follows the 12:10 p.m. ET Cup qualifying session), and you get Cup qualifying as well. And then you get the full action on Sunday with the full 500 laps (of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500).
“Whatever we can do to make it better for our fans, I think NASCAR has adjusted to it, as well as the racetracks.”