McClure Says NASCAR’s Qualifying Rules Hurt Smaller Teams

Morgan-McClure Motorsports Owner Larry McClure said that NASCAR's rule that the top 35 cars in owner points automatically qualify for each weekend’s race is “crippling him as well as others,” according to David Poole of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.  McClure:  “You’re going to wind up with five or six car owners controlling the whole field.  I don’t think it’s good for the sport long term."  He added, “It doesn’t let us compete for sponsors or for people. ... Let the current champion and the teams in the top 10 or 12 have guaranteed spots.  That would be your stars, and give these other people a chance to become stars" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/15).

Crew Chiefs Chad Knaus (l) And Steve Letarte Address Media Following Failed Inspections

DRUG TESTING: In Charlotte, Jim Utter wrote NASCAR believes its substance-abuse policy “works well and encourages the sport’s drivers to take an active role in its application.”  NASCAR VP/Corporate Communications Jim Hunter: “Our policy is based on reasonable suspicion, and in the agreement … it lays out a lot of things to look for that are out of the ordinary.  Anytime (drivers) suspect that someone is abusing, they can come up to one of our officials, to me, to [NASCAR Nextel Cup Dir John] Darby, to [NASCAR President] Mike Helton and we’ll investigate” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/14).  But driver Kevin Harvick "questioned NASCAR's drug testing policy after Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was arrested and charged with possession of drugs" recently.  Harvick: "Every driver and every national series should be drug tested a couple of times a year randomly. ... We owe it to the sponsors and the fans to 100[%] know this is a clean environment” (ESPN.com, 7/13).

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