Drivers take to Twitter to discuss the group roll for the pole in the Daytona 500
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The Daytona 500 has had several formats for determining the field. On Sunday, group qualifying made its debut, and the debate began on the FOX broadcast and social media.
Tony Stewart, who seeks to win his first Great American Race in his 17th start, was vocal in his criticism of the format at restrictor plate races, but made clear group qualifying works for the other 32 races on the schedule.
See how his back and forth played out on social media with Kenny Wallace, who is 14th all time with 901 NASCAR national series starts.
Today use to be about showcasing the hard work from the teams over the winter. Now it a complete embarrassment for our series. #NASCAR
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 15, 2015
@Kenny_Wallace that’s not a show, it’s a joke and you know it
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 15, 2015
@BobMargolis @KevinHarvick @Kenny_Wallace absolutely not. It’s a great format for everywhere but Daytona and Talladega
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 15, 2015
Wallace, an analyst on the FOX broadcast, followed Jeff Gordon’s Coors Light Pole Award-winning interview with a leading question to the four-time champion who earned his second top starting spot in the season-opening race.
Hello @JeffGordonWeb fans, DO YOU LIKE THIS @DISupdates QUALIFYING? ����������
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) February 15, 2015
Steve O’Donnell, head of NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, said that Stewart and others won’t be fined for their reactions to Sunday’s qualifying.
“I think what (NASCAR Chairman) Brian (France) has said is that you can take us on. We’re NASCAR, that’s part of our job,” O’Donnell said. “When I look at the comments that Clint made or Tony made, those are based on wanting to see the best racing out there. Certainly tough to hear but those are things we have got to have conversations with them and work with those guys to figure out if there is a better way to do it. We will do that. It’s not something we are going to fine the drivers for.”