NASCARÃÂÃÂs John Darby declared here that there was no contractual provision requiring Nextel Cup fields to sport a full 43-car allottment at each event, but the governing body is obviously mounting a major effort to get enough cars to each track to fulfill such a requirement. TheyÃÂÃÂre not providing any incentive to hang around, though. In fact, at Rockingham, they were discouraging it. Early in SundayÃÂÃÂs race, Joe RuttmanÃÂÃÂs #09-Dodge was black-flagged for ÃÂÃÂnot having a crew.ÃÂÃÂ YouÃÂÃÂd think NASCARÃÂÃÂs crack operatives might have known about that in advance. And the race wasnÃÂÃÂt 25 laps old when #72-Kirk ShelmerdineÃÂÃÂs Ford was black-flagged for not maintaining a competitive speed. Not just anyone can run a Cup race, however. Morgan Shepherd is 62, and he failed to make the field. He was here, though his car was not allowed to make a qualifying run because it had not managed to get out on the track for a practice lap. #80-Andy HillenburgÃÂÃÂs first pit stop took 36.5 seconds.(Shelby Star)(2-23-2004)
