Run whatcha brung is truly here in '05. Thanx NA$CAR.>Kirk Shelmerdine made 18 of 36 races in '04 & so far>he hasn't been fast enuf to qualify for any of the '05 races.>Which system is better?

Ricky Rudd has started 757 consecutive races since 1/81, #1A-T.>Now that he & the Wood Bros are 38th in Owner Points,>there are no 'guarantees' that he will make 758 inarow.>

The #21 team was penalized 25 points for pre-Duel 150 race>for an unapproved spoiler adjustment (Fatback $25K, CrewMem suspended)>The #21 would still be out of the Top35 if no 'cheating' occurred.>

Most likely if the '04 Provisional Rules were still in effect for '05,>the #21 would not have been charged a Provisional for at least 7 races>and therefore would not have to qualify to get into '05 6.Mvl.>

IMO, the #21 should not automatically be in a '05 race just because>Rudd stayed in the Top 25 for most of the '04 season & just because>Rudd was voted one of NA$CAR's Greatest 50 Drivers in 1998, & just>because Wood Bros Racin began in 1953.>

IMO, NA$CAR'05 corrected one of many injustices in today's racin.>The #17 was smart enuf to understand the system by blowing off>qualifying since their Championship of 2003 & qualifying in RACE-trim.>

Can the #21 afford to qualify in race trim at Martinsville?>If they try that, they may not make the race, then they may find>themselves really scrambling to make the rest of the '05 races.>Catch 22--If they start the race in Q'g-trim, how many laps down>will they be when they can configure their car to race-trim?>

If Bobby Labonte & Matt Kenseth don't stay in the T35, they too>may struggle to make a race, except they have a PCP to fall back on.>

Run whatcha brung is truly here in '05. Thanx NA$CAR.>Kirk Shelmerdine made 18 of 36 races in '04 & so far>he hasn't been fast enuf to qualify for any of the '05 races.>Which system is better?

But it makes it interesting to see another viewpoint from a stats> point of view. I'm just sitting here being pi$$ed off seeing the #1 AT> stat that doesn't have the King's name after it.... ;-(> And you know as well as I do, he OWNS that stat or durn well should. > Just my opinion....

If Bobby Labonte & Matt Kenseth don't stay in the T35, they too> may struggle to make a race, except they have a PCP to fall back on.> Crusader

"Dr. Gelakeiwicz" >> But it makes it interesting to see another viewpoint from a stats>> point of view. I'm just sitting here being pi$$ed off seeing the #1 AT>> stat that doesn't have the King's name after it.... ;-(>> And you know as well as I do, he OWNS that stat or durn well should. >> Just my opinion.... >

Seems to me Richard hasn't had the most consecutive starts record>for some little while now. Didn't Terry Labonte break that record,>back around 1997 or so?>

I'm not even sure Petty ranks in the top 5 for that stat.>