Buying Your Way Into the Daytona 500?

Originally Posted on January 23, 2006 on Foxsports.com

It was announced late last year, that in 2006, Michael Waltrip will be driving for Bill Davis Racing.  His sponsor, NAPA Autoparts, would stay with him, and his car number would become #55.  His problem?  Although Waltrip finished 25th in driver/owner points, those points remained with his old car owner, DEI.  His new ride would require that he qualify on speed for the first five races of the 2006 season, including Daytona 500.

Add to Waltrip's problem the fact that the Daytona 500 is a race that many teams attempt to make - even if they are not planning on running a full schedule.  The 500 generates a lot of media exposure for sponsors as it is a big race and kicks off the season - thus, there is incentive to be in the show.  Waltrip is a 2 time Daytona 500 winner, and he loves to run this race. 

How  big was Waltrip's qualification problem?  If he isn't in the top eight non-guaranteed spots, he won't run the 500.  In a nutshell: when Nascar announced its 35 car lock-in for qualifying, the plan was guarantee teams who were racing weekly a spot in the race.  This was a way to reward consistency in showing up and supporting the series and  a way to help those teams attract sponsors.  However, the practical effect has been to create a catagory of competitors who attempt to qualify for the races each week, mainly for the last 8 spots on the grid.  Many of them miss races due to poor qualifying and then are "stuck" outside the top 35 with no hope of ever being locked in. 

Last year, drivers who had qualified in on speed were paid to sit the race out while another took the spot (the qualified car was decaled to the "new" team and the "new" driver drove in place of the qualifier). 

This system of locked in positions also led to "guaranteed" cars taking the green flag, even when cars who were sent home were faster in qualifying.   In other words, slower cars started races whenfaster cars were sent home. 

As Waltrip worked on his new Dodge (he drove a Chevrolet last year), a new wrinkle developed in Nextel Cupland.  Penske-Jasper Racing announced that it would not be fielding its car, the #77 Kodak  Dodge.  The car finished the season 33rd in points, and was locked into the Daytona 500 and the first few races of the season.

Immediately, speculation was that the 36th place car would be the beneficiary of the "dropped" #77's automatic qualification spot.  Car owners scrambled for a way to "buy" the #77's points and thereby relieve the pressure of qualifying for the Daytona 500 and other races.

Speculation ended this week when Michael Waltrip announced he had teamed up with Doug Bawel, the President of Jasper to form Waltrip-Jasper Racing, which will field the #55 NAPA Dodge to be driven by Waltrip.  Bill Davis Racing will supply the cars, engines and other equipment, while Waltrip-Jasper Racing will supply the people to run the show.

The big upside for Waltrip?  The 2005 owner points came with Bawel to the deal.  Waltrip is now guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500.  In essence, Waltrip has bought his way into the Daytona 500. 

Should this be allowed? 

While I don't like the idea of buying your way into the race, in reality, all these competitors are doing it - by paying big bucks for technological advances, skilled drivers, savvy crew chiefs, or quick tire changers.  

Waltrip's deal - a guaranteed start for a beginning Nextel Cup team with a new car - a pretty astute business move.