Nascar Rules

[the H team]

Although due to Harvick's engine blowing up in practice, he will have to start from the back.



Kevin Harvick loses his engine in the final practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He will have to start in the back of the field in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

[the H team]

Atlanta Motor Speedway gives Jeff Gordon's kids Ella and Leo Gordon a new car in honor of Jeff's career.

[the H team]

The start of the race has been delayed due to the drying of the track from rain earlier this morning. There will be a competition yellow to check on tires on lap 25.

[the H team]

POSSIBLE CHASE SCENARIOS FOR BUSCH, RAGAN, SMITH

Ordinarily, drivers who compete for the Sprint Cup championship in the 10-race Chase must start all 26 races during the regular season. An exception was granted last season to Denny Hamlin, who missed a regular-season event in March because of an eye injury but won a race two months later at Talladega Superspeedway. Tony Stewart, who missed three races after his involvement in a fatal sprint car incident, would have been granted an exception into the Chase had he met the criteria of winning a regular-season race or maintaining a higher position in the standings.

A glance at what each driver involved in the roster changes would potentially need, if all other criteria are met, to qualify for the 2015 Chase


-- Kyle Busch: Last weekend's heavy crash in the NASCAR XFINITY Series opener leaves the perennial Chase competitor on the shelf for what's likely a lengthy recovery period with multiple leg injuries. If Busch were somehow healthy enough to return to the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 by midseason, how many races could he miss while retaining Chase eligibility? NASCAR competition officials don't have a fixed number of absences required to rule drivers out; each affected driver is handled on case-by-case basis.

-- Kurt Busch: Since the elder brother is subject to the terms of an indefinite suspension from NASCAR, it would seem unlikely that the sanctioning body would waive any missed races to grant the former series champion an exception into the Chase upon his reinstatement. The findings of a family court in Delaware prompted NASCAR to discipline Busch, whose legal troubles -- stemming from an alleged domestic altercation last September -- remain unresolved. Any potential eligibility for Busch would likely fall under the NASCAR Rule Book's "EIRI" clause -- "except in rare instances" -- contained in Section 1.6.c.

-- David Ragan: The journeyman's seat-hopping escapade, bolting his Front Row Motorsports home in an effort to showcase his talent in the JGR No. 18 in place of Kyle Busch, won't alter his Chase eligibility. As long as he can fulfill the Chase criteria of winning a regular-season race, attempting to start every event and maintaining a spot in the top 30 in Sprint Cup points, then Ragan would make the playoffs. With his win and points, Ragan would make the Chase in whichever car -- the No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing, the No. 34 for Front Row Motorsports or another car -- he is driving at the start of the postseason.

-- Regan Smith: Regardless of how many races he enters as a substitute for Kurt Busch in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41, Smith has already made the declaration that he would compete for championship points in the NASCAR XFINITY Series for his regular ride, the JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet team. If Smith were to notch a regular-season win as an interim driver, he would not become eligible for the Chase as long as he continues to earn points in the XFINITY Series.

-- Brian Vickers: After undergoing heart surgery in mid-December, Vickers will miss the first two races of the season with Michael Waltrip filling in at the Daytona 500 and Brett Moffitt driving the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing car at Atlanta. NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell announced on Jan. 21 that Vickers would maintain his Chase eligibility, provided he meets all other necessary requirements.

[the H team]

The race is scheduled for 325 laps or 500.5 miles. Tires are expected to fall off early, so drivers at the back will need to go early to get to the front.

[the H team]

Drivers have the call to start their engines & they will be rolling off pit road soon to do their warm up laps.

[the H team]

Also to the back, Tony, for missing driver introductions & car 32 for a driver change.

[rockit]

Hello H

[the H team]

15 drivers had to go to the back due to not passing some inspections & then missing to qualify a lap.

[rockit]

Lights are off on the pace car...

[the H team]

Hey Rockit

got the beer & popcorn.

[the H team]

A light breeze out of the northeast is bringing in a light rain & fog, so they are still doing pace laps.

[rockit]

Lights back on the pace car...still some wet spots on track

[rockit]

Hey Rockit

got the beer & popcorn.

thnx!!!

[the H team]

They brought the field down thru pit road to try & bring some heat to help the track.