Martin Truex Jr. is not happy with one notable issue ahead of the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
Truex was critical of NASCAR’s new rule allowing “world-class drivers” who are not with NASCAR full-time to be granted provisional entry into a race, even if they fail to quality by the usual methods. Longtime IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves applied for and received the provisional ahead of the Daytona 500, and will thus be allowed to make his NASCAR debut at age 49.
Truex took issue with the fact that he and fellow driver Jimmie Johnson both had to go through the usual qualifying methods to earn a spot at Daytona, while Castroneves did not.
“I have to say yes. I really don’t understand it,” Truex said when asked if he found the situation to be unfair. “I don’t see why he should be in the race and Jimmie Johnson shouldn’t be. It’s a little weird to me, but I don’t make the rules. I just come here and race.”
Drivers who wish to be eligible for the provisional must apply for it at least 90 days before the event. Johnson and Truex never made the request, which is why they were forced to qualify in this instance. Castroneves also attempted to qualify through the Daytona Duels, but crashed out, which is why he ultimately received the waiver.
Both Johnson and Truex did manage to qualify for the field, thus preventing the situation from becoming even more controversial.
As a 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, few would dispute that Johnson qualifies as a “world-class driver.” Truex, a Cup Series champion himself, would probably be regarded the same way. One has to wonder if this rule might cause problems for NASCAR in the future if instances and complaints like this become more commonplace.
