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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
SPENCER: Topple the Top 35
In case you missed it, a couple of Sprint Cup Series car owners bought their way into the top 35 in NASCAR owner points...
Jimmy Spencer  |  Posted February 12, 2009   Daytona Beach, FL
Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)

In case you missed it, a couple of car owners bought their way into the top 35 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points with last-second “partnerships” and points exchanges right before we rolled into Daytona.

Bill Davis had shut down his Cup team but has resurfaced as a minority owner on Sam Hornish Jr.’s No. 77 Penske Racing Dodge, which has assumed the 31st position points from Davis’ No. 22 Dodge from last season. Bobby Ginn hasn’t been seen in the garage area in quite a while but he now has a minority ownership stake in Clint Bowyer’s No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, which now claims the No. 01’s 32nd place points from 2008. Remember that Ginn merged with DEI in 2007 and although he left shortly thereafter, he was still listed as owner of the No. 01.

Think these guys are getting back into the sport? Think again.

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Since starting positions in the top 35 in points in the first five races of the season are guaranteed based upon the previous season’s points, Bowyer and Hornish moved into the top 35 through these questionable deals in which their owners aligned with owners who finished 2008 in the top 35 but are not racing this season.

NASCAR needs to regain control of this mess and put some cohesion back into the system. The poor guys 36th, 37th and 38th in points deserve a clear understanding of whether or not they can get into the top 35. A.J. Allmendinger thought his No. 44 was guaranteed a starting spot at Daytona until a day or two before we got down here but was knocked out when Bowyer’s No. 33 was allowed entrance. That’s just not right. It’s confusing to the fans and owners because there are teams looking for loopholes in the rules so they can buy their way into someone else’s points. This year is the worst I’ve ever seen for this problem. It’s not fair and it’s not beneficial to our sport.

The wealthier teams are benefiting from these gray areas because they can afford to buy points, or align themselves with owners who have points they don’t need, which isn’t fair to teams like the Wood Brothers, Furniture Row Racing or even the 44 team.


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