2007 NEXTEL CUP PAST CHAMPION's PROVISIONAL (PCP) RULES and STATUS
Updated 11-18-2007
Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Cup: NASCAR announced an update to the past champion’s provisional rule in the Nextel Cup Series for 2007. Beginning this season, a past champion’s provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the season. In addition, a team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. Previously, there was no limit on usage of the past champion’s provisional over the course of the 36-race season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. "As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.”(NASCAR PR)
This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional. The provisional is not used in the event Qualifying is cancelled and not charged.(1-31-2007)
Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series [NNCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NNCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NNCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.(12-31-2004)
CHAMPION PROVISIONAL STATUS
Past Champ Rank
Driver
Team
Year of Last Championship
Present Owners Points Pos
Champ Prov Used
Champ Prov Left
1
Jimmie Johnson
48
2007
1
0
6
2
Tony Stewart
20
2005
6
0
6
3
Kurt Busch
2
2004
7
0
6
4
Matt Kenseth
17
2003
4
0
6
5
Jeff Gordon
24
2001
2
0
6
6
Bobby Labonte
43
2000
19
0
6
7
Dale Jarrett
44
1999
40
6
0
8
Terry Labonte
?
1996
?
0
6
9
Bill Elliott
21
1988
36
4
2
Only Jarrett, Elliott and Terry Labonte were eligible to use of the Past Champions Provisional
since the first six past champs are securely in the Top-35. Jarrett used all 6 in the first 9 races and is out until 2008.
Elliott joined the #21 Wood Brothers team starting in the Coke 600 at LMS and has used 2 past champ provisionals with 4 races to go, he is guaranteed to make the rest of the races
Terry Labonte ran the #55 Toyota at Sonoma, Indy and Watkins Glen and was eligible to get the past champ provisional over Elliott since Labonte won the championship in 1996 and Elliott in 1988
the other Past Champs are in the Top-35 in owners points.
