Boris Said keeps trying to make assorted NASCAR Nextel cup races and NASCAR's ridiculous top 35 rule, along with Mother Nature, bites him where it hurts the most--in his pocketbook.
Said again had one of the fastest cars in practice at Watkins Glen when the skies opened up minutes before qualifying could start and once again, Boris has to load up his equipment and go home without getting a chance to make the field. Said was on the pole for the Pepsi 400 earlier this year; when with only a handful of car remaining to qualify, it began to rain and NASCAR canceled the rest of the session. That moved Boris from the pole to the Interstate.
Much has been written this year about the Top 35 rule and its inherent unfairness, so I don't need to reiterate it here. The impact of Said not being able to qualify is that it may spell the death Nell of his race team. For a team that only tries to qualify for four races--race he believes he has a legitimate chance to win--not being able to get onto the track for qualifying could well put the team into mothballs.
Said said as much during a post non-qualifying interview on ESPN after rain washed out qualifying at Watkins Glen on Friday. SoBe No Fear Racing is a small, small company. He and Frankie Stoddard do most of the car prep and pay many of the bills along with co-owner Mark Simo.
I tuned into SPEED on Friday night expecting to see a Rolex Grand-Am race being run in a heavy downpour. I was disappointed as the track was completely dry. How long would have NASCAR had to wait to get a dry track for qualifying? Why couldn't they have moved it to Saturday? Much is made about NASCAR's willingness to change the rules in mid-stream to better the product. But, when it comes to qualifying, they seem to be stuck in 1952.
NASCAR if you intend to keep the top 35 rule, or some variation of it, then PLEASE rethink how you affect the Go or Go Home Group and be willing to adjust on the fly to give these guys a legitimate chance at your holy grail.
The alternative is seeing one of your fan favorites; did you see all the "Said Heads", having to not just fold up the door of the hauler and go home, but lock up the door to the race shop and move on to something else. That would be a huge shame.
photo: msnbc.msn.com
Well said! Not to be funny.
I have also commented on the top 35 rule.
Not sure how true this is, but I think by 3 p.m. (qualifying time) or shortly after the rain had stopped and the sky was letting the sun through.
And narrowed minded me did not even think of think of Saturday qualifying. WHY COULDN'T they do that.
Maybe NASCAR is as narrow minded as myself :) TUNNEL VISION!
On another note...something really cool happened.
Kodak got ahold of me. A REP form Kodak found my blog and contacted me about giving away 10 FREE tickets to Fontana on Sept 2nd. I was thrilled. Totally excited that I got contacted about this.
So I am doing it. Giving away 5 pairs of tickets in a little contest. If want to read about it..just look at the ...
STOP AND READ at the top of my page.
More excited about being contacted than actually giving tickets away :)
Posted by: Mike | August 11, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Amen on the qualifying and the top35 fiasco...Everyone has been beating this drum for awhile but it seems to fall on deaf ears..just setting the non top 35ers aside and letting them qualify together would help a little but they can't even do that....The death knell is sounding for the small teams and anyone new who wants to come into the sport..Daytona Beach is waffling because of pressure from the big established teams who don't want the status quo upset....this is cutting off the life blood of the sport new and fresh people ..without the Boris Saids of the sport it will stagnate..others like Morgan -Mclure will die on the vine...
Posted by: robert bourne | August 12, 2007 at 10:55 AM