Brian France addresses NASCAR's hot topics
NASCAR's CEO and Chairman offers explanations on Kyle Busch's eligibility and Sprint Cup rules package.
CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France tackled a variety of topics on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Thursday.
France defended NASCAR’s decision to waive the 26-race rule on Wednesday and allow Kyle Busch to be eligible for the Chase.
Although the sanctioning body granted the waiver, it doesn’t mean the Joe Gibbs racer will automatically qualify for the playoff. That’s where France says the challenge lies.
“The real beauty in the way the championship is now decided, you have a little bit of flexibility to crown your champion,” France said. “As opposed to the old days, when it was an accumulation of all the points. Now, you’re resetting it any way. You still have to get into the Chase with a win.
“Once you get there, that’s when the real work begins — those final 10 races and to survive that. I think the flexibility the format adds we’re still rewarding the best driver in a given year is helpful for us and allows us when things like Kyle Busch happens or something else that are out of a driver’s control we at least have a tool left in our tool kit so we can put them back in.”
Although France acknowledged that Busch’s absence for nearly one-third of the Sprint Cup season played into NASCAR’s decision-making process, with the new Chase format, the main emphasis is qualifying for and performing in the playoffs.
“What we determined in this case is you still have to finish strong in the remaining events leading up to the Chase, you have to win a race and you have to perform in the final 10 when it matters the most any way,” France added. “There is plenty of merit if Kyle, in this case, is able to accomplish all that, then he will be a fine champion.”
Rules changes
NASCAR introduced modifications to both the aero and engine packages prior to the start of the 2015 season. While many drivers believe a car design with less downforce would enhance the current on track product, France is content with the current package.
It’s our responsibility to factor everyone’s point of view in and put forward the package that gives us the tightest, most competitive package that we can where a team that makes a big effort with a driver that’s good enough has a fair shot on any given Sunday.
Brian France
“There will not be anything significant at all,” France said of changes in the near future. “Drivers have their own individual interests as they should. Some like a car loose, some like it different ways.
“It’s our responsibility to factor everyone’s point of view in and put forward the package that gives us the tightest, most competitive package that we can where a team that makes a big effort with a driver that’s good enough has a fair shot on any given Sunday. That’s always been our responsibility — and that remains.”
Three-time champion Tony Stewart, who is currently 30th in the point standings and has just one top-10 finish — sixth at Bristol where downforce doesn’t play as integral a part in the feel of the car — is one of the drivers that has struggled with the new package.
Although France says driver input “matters” when formulating the rules packages, there are other considerations involved.
“If you look at the testing that we do together, (the competitors) are very helpful,” France added. “We get good input — and then we filter it. We have to filter. We realize that a car that Tony Stewart likes isn’t necessarily going to give us the closest, tightest competition or maybe a cost factor could be prohibitive. Someone might want a certain setup.
“This is what we do. We’ve been doing this a long time and we’ve been able to balance everybody’s interest. What we do is very simple. We want a package that gives us much closer competition — more lead changes, more drivers that have an opportunity to get up and mix it up if they’re good enough and if their team is good enough and putting them in a position to achieve that and safety and cost are paramount as well.”
France said it would have been NASCAR’s preference to run the 2016 rules package in the All-Star race but it remains a work in progress.
Previous article
NASCAR notebook: All-Star race not a typical exhibition game
Next article
Kyle Busch doesn't miss a beat in practice
About this article
| Series | NASCAR Cup |
| Event | All-Star |
| Location | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Drivers | Tony Stewart , Kyle Busch |
| Author | Lee Spencer |
From the archive: Dale Earnhardt’s final Autosport interview
The death of Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500 shocked NASCAR to the core. At the Daytona 24 Hours, two weeks before his fatal accident, ‘The Intimidator’ shared his expectations of challenging for an eighth Cup title with JONATHAN INGRAM, in an article first published in the 15 February 2001 issue of Autosport magazine. Little did we know then what tragedy would unfold…
The lasting NASCAR legacy after Dale Earnhardt’s death
On February 18, 2001, seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt – the fearless ‘Intimidator’ – was in his element at Daytona International Speedway. While his own DEI team’s cars ran 1-2 towards the finish line, his famed #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo was playing rear gunner to block any late runs from the chasing pack. As the cars tore through Turns 3 and 4 on that fateful final lap, Earnhardt maintained the strongarm tactics that encapsulated his persona… but his actions in those moments sadly proved to be his last.
Inspired by Pitbull, the “revolution” sweeping through NASCAR
The NASCAR Cup Series is changing. Whether it be the gradual morphing out the seasoned drivers of yesterday as the next generation step up, a radical calendar shake-up featuring more road courses than ever before and the prospect of an all-new car on the horizon, stock car racing’s highest level is nearing the end of a huge facelift.
The NASCAR storylines to watch out for in 2021
This weekend's Daytona 500 kickstarts a NASCAR Cup season that promises plenty of intrigue courtesy of new owners and a refreshed calendar. Here's what you need to know ahead of the new season…
Why Kyle Larson can't blow his big shot at redemption
From a disgraced NASCAR exile, Kyle Larson has been given a chance of redemption by the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports squad. Effectively replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is no easy billing, but Larson has every intention of repaying the team's faith...
Why Roger Penske is an American motorsport icon
In this exclusive one-on-one interview, Roger Penske reveals the inner drive that has made him not only a hugely successful team owner and businessman but also the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar. He spoke to David Malsher-Lopez.
Why NASCAR's latest second-generation champion is just getting started
Chase Elliott's late charge to the 2020 NASCAR Cup title defied predictions that it would be a Kevin Harvick versus Denny Hamlin showdown. While the two veterans are showing no signs of slowing down, Elliott's triumph was a window into NASCAR's future…
Why Kyle Larson deserves his second chance in a cancel culture
“You can’t hear me? Hey n*****” Those fateful words uttered by Kyle Larson, spoken into his esports headset on April 12, were directed at his sim racing spotter – but instead they quickly became amplified around the world via social media, including his own Twitch stream.
