Provisionals: Enough Is Enough

You'd almost have to be living under a rock to NOT notice all the provisionals sanctioning bodies are using now.  One recent race in particular, I noticed that five of the 27 starters took some sort of series/track/emergency provisional.  Seriously?! That means over 18% of your A-Main lineup didn't even race their way into the show.


Over 18%!!  Enough is enough.


Let me preface by saying this...  I know that, to an extent, provisionals are somewhat needed for a series to be successful anymore.  It's sad, really.  Over the last 15 years, drivers have convinced themselves they need the safety net of a provisional to fall back on should they have problems in a prelim.  And sanctioning bodies have convinced themselves that drivers won't follow their series unless they have the aforementioned safety net.


I've worked for a few sanctioning bodies during my time.  I get that.


But what I don't get is the unnecessary need for so many provisionals.  I mean, honestly, there is not a reason why a race with 27 starters needs to have nearly one-fifth of its field made of drivers who didn't actually qualify for a spot in the in the main event.  


You're robbing other, worthy drivers of a spot in the show.  


And what's up with the emergency provisional?  When did this become a necessity for drivers?  You've got a chance to turn a solid qualifying lap.  Then you've got a chance to make the show through your heat, which is lined straight up from qualifying.  If you don't race your way in through your heat, you've got a chance to make the show through the B-Main.  If that doesn't happen, you've got a provisional.  And then you've got the emergency provisional on top of that...??  What gives here?  Counting qualifying (and, yes, I do count qualifying), you've already had FOUR chances to make the show.


Enough is enough.


Not all provisionals are bad, though.  I'm all for giving the local drivers and weekend warriors an extra shot at making the big dance.  Provisionals for the top driver in a track's points standings help bring more of that local talent to a big race.  And I miss the days where there was a provisional for the "longest tow".  It added a little flavor and character to the event, didn't it?


But now, everybody and their brother starts the season off with, basically, more provisionals than he should/would ever have to use over the course of a season.  For me, as a fan, it take a lot of fun out of racing.


Enough is enough.


If nearly one-fifth of your A-Main starters are there because they took some sort of provisional, you REALLY need to reevaluate your program.  Let drivers race their way into your show.  That's what's fair and that's what people really want to see.


And if you think otherwise, the only person you're really kidding is yourself.