According to garage-area gossip, NASCAR is considering widespread changes in the qualifying system and allocation of provisional starting spots. One change that would make time trials more interesting for fans would be an end to the process in which drivers are allowed to “stand” on first-round speeds. One possible change would be to strike out first-round speeds entirely for those who do not secure one of the 25 spots available in the first round. Such a move would force every driver to requalify in the final round. Driver Dave Marcis has been calling for such a change for years, pointing out the unfairness of having to qualify in the second round under weather conditions that sometime make improvement virtually impossible(Gaston Gazette)(3-15-2000)
