Why do Nascar races have 43 cars rather than another number?
953825
NASCAR wanted to standardize the size of the fields and after some trial and error, settled on a field consisting of 36 qualifiers with six provisionals that could be used by the regular drivers. That's a total of 42 cars. \nThe story about the odd car, the 43rd starter, began about twelve years ago when Darrell Waltrip was having trouble making the starting lineup. NASCAR created a Champions Provisional to help get Waltrip into the field. In fact it could be used to help any present or ex-champion but recently was used for other drivers, if a Champions Provisional wasn't used. It goes to the car owner with the highest points that didn't qualify on speed.
883539
Nascar cars run on a multimillion dollar budget. yes the sponsors have to put up a lot of money millions. A lot of drivers have to prove themselves and work they way toward better sponsor's. I guess it helps to know people too.
23513
I think they used to have 40 cars qualify for each race with 3 additional provisional slots for points leaders, former champions, drivers who had won a race, etc just in case one of their stars didn't make the field. This past season the rules changed and now after the 6th race of the season, the top 35 in points are assured of a spot, with the nest eight slots being available for the provisionals and the remaining fastest qualifiers. Why they decided on 43, I don't know. It's too many at some of the smaller tracks.
113080
Well this year they celebrated the 50th year of NASCAR so back in 1996 that was 40 years....so that might be it. Other than that, i don't know.
111157
to many controls put on the drivers takes away from the ability to race. and can make for dangerous situations. like restricter plate races.  where bumpdrafting is needed to pass puts the drivers in a very dangerous position. and the wrecks can take out severval cars at one time.
846143
hey skip,\nin fact they do!!!\nThere are 2 road courses in Nascar\nInfineon in CA   and Watkins Glen in NY\nthey are road courses, run in the opposite direction to what the drivers are used to, so, in theory these tracks are run with more right turns than left.\n\nHope this helps, check the links\n\nHave a good one, dude
245592
NASCAR started working with the size of the field a number of years ago. At one point, the size of the field was determined by the number of pit stalls. Later, NASCAR decided to standardize the number for all race tracks. They settled on 36 qualifiers and 6 provisionals making a field of 42 cars.\n\nThe 43rd position was included when Richard Petty was having trouble making the starting lineup. NASCAR created a "Champions' Provisional" to get Petty into the field. Today this provisional is used to help any present or past champion make the 43-car field. If a past champion doesn't use the provisional, it goes to the car owner with the highest points that didn't qualify on speed.\n\nNASCAR has had a 43-car field ever since and I doubt it will ever change.
368286
Back in the old days of NASCAR, there were some tracks where there were no limits, such as Darlington (as many as 75) and Daytona (in the 50's many times). Over the years the size sort of evolved. It was 40 for the large tracks and 32 for the small tracks in the late 70's and early 80's. Then if was 42 for large and 36 for the small/short tracks. The the champion's provisional took it to 43 and NASCAR made 43 universal at all tracks including thee small/short tracks, like Bristol.
823348
I think it goes to The Kind Richard Petty who back in the day I guess won 10 consecutive races in a row but thats probably because not all the drivers could make it to every race like Petty did and compete and have the tools and the cars to do that week after week and they probably had more then one race a week.
849168
Ok I am a huge NASCAR fan and the point system is kind of confusing. But I am sure you can understand.The winner of each Nextel Cup race receives 180 points. The runner-up scores 170. From there, the point total declines in five-point increments for Nos. 2-6; points drop four points per driver for Nos. 7-11; and three-point increments separate drivers' points for finishers 12th place and lower.\n\nIn addition to the points allocated, any driver who leads a lap receives five bonus points. The driver who leads the most laps receives an additional five bonus points.\nIn Nextel Cup racing, following the 26th race of the season, all drivers in the top 10 -- and any others within 400 points of the leader -- earn a berth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.\n\nAll drivers in the Chase will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver in the standings begins the Chase with 5,050 points; the second-place driver will start with 5,045, etc. Incremental five-point drops will continue through 10th place (5,005 points).\n\nIf more than 10 drivers qualify for the Chase, the additional drivers will have their points reset at 5,005.\n\n• Owners are rewarded in the points race in much the same fashion but, unlike drivers, they earn points for merely attempting to make a race. If an owner shows up with two drivers and one fails to qualify, the owner still receives points for the non-qualifying effort.\n\nThrough the first five races of the season, the top 35 in owners' points from the previous season are guaranteed a starting spot in the race. Beginning with the sixth race, the top 35 in current owners' points are guaranteed a spot.\n\nThe fastest non-qualifier on race day earns 31 points for his owner, three down from the 43rd-place points. The scale continues downward for all non-qualifiers, with the lowest possible point awarded being one.\n\n• Manufacturers have a points race of their own. The car maker who has a driver take first place in a race earns nine points for that race. Second-best performance by a manufacturer gets six points, third place earns four points and fourth place, three points\nRace Points System \nFinish Points   Finish Points
1065189
B/c they thought 43 was enough. I think 43 is a good number 4 the bigger tracks, but way too many 4 the smaller tracks..............\nThey r always crashing on the small tracks or half the field is a lap down. 4 the small tracks, like martinsville & bristol, they should have like 22 instead.
1074719
THere have been close to the same amount of night races in Nascar for a few years. I think they've only added one in the recent years. The difference?? They have been scheduling them back to back in the past years....so people have noticed more. \n\nPersonally, yeah, it sucks for the short hometown dirt tracks..and noon in Nascar wants to harm that, b/c well, that's where most of hte driver's have started off, and it's where tomorrow's drivers are coming from. It just happens. I don't think it's damaging the business as much as some people are making it out to be. I personally love hitting the small tracks on Friday, and Saturday nights, but having Nascar Saturday night does make some things, like attending a race easier. But, to me, there will always be something about Sunday's that hold Nascar in a special place.
53396
That's up to Roger Penske, though I'm not particularly fond of Kurt Busch. Besides, if they retired the numbers of every well-known driver who retired or expired, the car numbers would be four digits by now.
1070855
There is no real difference in cart and indy.  Nascar is just stock car racing.  Iroc all the cars are exactly the same so it comes down to the driver.  LeMans is mostly Daytona Prototypes, GT1,GT2,and GT3 cars they all run at the same time.  The race is 24 hrs long.  So it comes to what team completed the most laps in the 24 hour time period.  Now F1 cars are almost like indy and cart cars the only thing different is the amount of horsepower.  Well thats all I know. I hope it helps.
187276
Yes, and thats also why NASCAR banned the HEMI cars for racing. Neither Ford or GM can claim that.  Also Ford and GM were babys about it to complaining to NASCAR.
322447
The speed limit down pit road (not totally just put the commit line back farther) my poor boy Robby G. keeps gettin screwed by that rule!!!!!  I would also change it to limit the number of cars per team, those Roush buttheads win just cause they have more time on the track and can pool their findings, totally not fair for single or two car teams!!!!!
812568
I think that more points should be awarded for a win, but not too many more because consistancy is very important in my opinion.  \n\nThis is kind of off topic, but I agree with Kenny Wallace that the Chase drivers should have their own point system...