NASCAR cuts truck field from 36 to 32, makes qualifying changes
The series has had 36 trucks show up for just five of its 18 races this year. At Eldora Speedway, where NASCAR started 30 trucks, 34 drivers attempted to qualify.
In the 10 races where the maximum field was 36, there were 32 or fewer trucks taking the green flag, including five races of 30 or fewer.
NASCAR also announced changes to the qualifying format for both its truck and Xfinity (currently Nationwide) series for next season, getting rid of guaranteed spots for those high in owner points.
The Nationwide Series, which has a maximum field of 40, has had the top 30 in owner points automatically locked in for each event with nine spots based on speed and one spot for a past champion (or another based on speed if no past champion). Under the new format, the top 33 speeds in qualifying will make the race, with six provisionals based on owner points and one provisional for a past champion (or another on owner points if no past champion).
In trucks, which has locked in the top 25 in owner points then 10 spots on speed and one past champion or another on speed, it will be the top 27 on speed, plus four provisionals based on owner points and one provisional for a past champion (or another on owner points if no past champion).
The Sprint Cup Series has been using a similar method for the last two years, where the top 36 in qualifying speed get in plus seven provisionals.
NASCAR also announced that the driver names will be stripped at the top of the rear windows in both the Xfinity and trucks series. The series sponsors will remain stripped across the top of the front windshield. Sporting News