It ended at 424. That's right, 424 consecutive starts until this past weekend. Jarrett did not make the field for the race a Richmond and was out of Past Champion's Provisionals which would have guaranteed him a starting position.
Dale was 47th fastest in qualifying, so he even would have not made the show if there were no guaranteed starting spots for the top 35 in owner points, unlike what happened to Michael Waltrip the previous week who had run about 20th fastest and still didn't make the show due to the stupid rule.
DJ's son, Jason, wrote about this at his blog site and he offers up a good opinion as to why NASCAR instituted the rule change in the use of the Past Champion's Provisional from virtually unlimited races to a limit of just 6 races, without the option of not using it and sitting out in order to save it for latter in the year - if you are in a position to use it, you must use it.
"In my opinion this rule was put in place on a year that the person, the champion that was going to benefit from it happens to be a nice guy", Jason writes. "Yes, I think the rule was put in place on a year that the rule makers wouldn't get much resistance or opposition."
Jason could have a point here. I would also like to add to this point, if I may? Hey, this is my blog, so I will - heh. I agree with Jason, but I want to add to this another reason why NASCAR made this rule change this year - Toyota. Let me explain.
Since NASCAR knew it was Dale Jarret and he would not offer up a fight then this would be a good time to make the rule change, that way it would not appear like they are playing favourites with Toyota, because Toyota would have been guaranteed a start in every race with it. I mean that was the real reason why Mikey hired Jarrett in the first place, right? Think what you may, but rest assured if that was not the reason, it was at least part. Why did you think Ray Evernham hired Bill Elliott when he started his own team with Dodge? Same deal.
With this conspiracy theory presented -and let us assume that there is some validity to it - then answer this: would have NASCAR instituted the changes if DJ had stayed with RYR?
I know this is all conjecture, and it really sucks if you are a DJ fan, but what is your take?
by 4ever3 on May 7, 2007 11:16 PM EDT
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