This is the Statt Mann, Baby. It’s time to Scatt a Little Bit…

The new qualifying format for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series is a wonderful step into modern motor racing.

All the cars are on the track. You have to earn the right to move on to the later session where the pole sitter is determined.

On shorter tracks like this week at Phoenix… tracks that are a mile-and-a-quarter or less… there will be two sessions. The first is thirty minutes then the fastest twelve move on to a ten minute session where the pole sitter is determined.

At longer tracks like next week at Las Vegas there will be three sessions. The first is 25 minutes. Then there’s a ten minute session for the fastest 24. Then a final five minute session for the fastest 12.

It’s much like Formula One qualifying. Traditionalists may not like it but they’ll buy in when the drivers are fighting for every tenth every lap. There’s nothing like drama to improve the breed.

And no more one lap wonders getting in the way.

Now, if we could only get a right turn into the post season playoffs.

Peace.