A guide to provisionals

Of course, turning a quick lap in qualifying is important in NASCAR. However, if a driver struggles during his qualifying effort, all is not necessarily lost.

Of the 43 spots available for any NASCAR Nextel or Busch Series race, 38 are decided by lap time. The following four positions are known as "provisionals."

Drivers earn provisionals in several different ways. Car owners in the top 45 positions of the previous season's owner championship standings will receive four provisionals at the outset of the season and will receive an additional one after attempting to qualify for six events, for a season maximum of 10.

Those owners outside the top 45 in the previous season's owner points are ineligible for provisionals until after their entry makes an attempt to qualify at four events. After attempting to qualify for four events, the car owner will receive two provisionals and additional ones can be earned by attempting to qualify for six events, with a season maximum of eight.

Each provisional used by a car owner during the season –- regardless of standing -– counts against the owner's season allotment earned.

Provisional starting positions are assigned beginning with the highest ranking car owner who did not qualify on time. They are handed out in descending order until all provisional spots are filled.

Champion's provisional

If after 42 positions are assigned there is a car owner whose driver is a past series champion who participated in the previous season, that past champion will take the 43rd starting position.

If there is no such owner in the field, the 43rd starting spot will be given to the next available car owner in the provisional procedure described above.

Short fields

Also, in the event the number of entrants is equal to or less than the number of starting positions available for an event, provisionals assigned to fill starting positions 39 through 43 will not count toward the maximum season allotment.

Craftsman Truck Series provisionals

Of the 36 spots available in Craftsman Truck Series events, 32 are determined on speed with spots 33-35 determined by a similar provisional system. Through the completion of four events, the previous season's owner points are used to determine how provisionals spots are assigned. Starting with the fifth race, the current season's owner points are used.

A past champion's provisional, identical to the Cup and Busch Series champion's provisional, is available to fill the 36th spot. As with Busch and Cup, if such a situation does not exist, the 36th spot will be filled with the next entitled driver under the provisional rules.