FoxSports Larry McReynolds reports that when a car is held on pit road, the team, the fans and the media all want to know why immediately. There was just no clear-cut way of doing it though. For four or five of the major rule infractions, NASCAR will come up with hand signals, just like a referee in football. It’s neat because the crew chief, the fans who can see that pit box and the media will know right away. AND NASCAR is looking at changing the provisional system, and while these changes aren’t completely set in stone, it is safe to say there won’t be seven provisional positions for next year’s races. It has reached a point where provisionals need to be scaled back so there probably will be three to five provisionals per race. You’ve got to protect the top guys in points because with one round of qualifying, you do stand the chance of someone losing an engine or wrecking. Next year, the fastest 38 or 40 cars will get in the field with three to five on provisionals. In the past, if you were in the top 25 in points, you weren’t charged a provisional. Now if you use it, you lose it — no matter where you are. People who are usually up in the points can run out of provisionals.(See full story at FoxSports and see current provisonal rules on my ProvisionalLand Page and another story with nascar quotes from the Sports Network: NASCAR studies points and provisional changes )(12-10-2003)
