Hey All,
Panther so your saying whoever you pick for last in a NASCAR race has to make the race AND finish last? If he does not make the race he cannot be last. If this were the rule I could probably live with that. Basically picks would need to be in on thursday as NASCAR qualifying is typically friday although this week it is saturday as it is for F1 so Friday is fine. that said I can see Wiens point about going to the back. It matters in F1 and it matters in many NASCAR races - admittedly Talledega is one in which it really doesn't matter because of the nature of the race. With respect to this point - your really simply adding more luck to the equation and less skill/knowledge but I've not got a big problem with this myself. Lets hear what others think.
That said I think there is usually an entry list at Jayski for the NASCAR race ahead of qualifying. Here it is for Talledega. Note the entries are in NO particular order other than car number. Ignore the red as it wouldn't matter anyway under Panther's rule. As you can see there are 46 entrants for 43 places so 3 cars are goin home. They could not be last.
<table width="800" border="0"><tbody><tr valign="top" align="center"><th>
</th><th>
[SIZE=-1]Car# [/SIZE]</th><th>
[SIZE=-1]Driver [/SIZE]</th><th>
[SIZE=-1]Manu [/SIZE]</th><th>
[SIZE=-1]Sponsor [/SIZE]</th><th>
[SIZE=-1]Owner [/SIZE]</th></tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]1[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]00[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]David Reutimann[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Aaron's Dream Machine [/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Michael Waltrip[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]2[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]1[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Martin Truex Jr.[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Bass Pro Shops[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Teresa Earnhardt[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]3[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]2[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Kurt Busch[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Miller Lite [/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Walter Czarnecki[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]4[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]4[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Eric McClure[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Hefty[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Larry McClure[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]5[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]5[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Mark Martin[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Carquest/Kelloggs[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Mary Hendrick[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]6[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]6[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]David Ragan[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]UPS[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Mike Dee[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]7[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]7[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Robby Gordon[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jim Beam[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Robby Gordon[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]8[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]07[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Casey Mears[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jack Daniel's[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Richard Childress[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]9[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]09[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Brad Keselowski[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Miccosukee Resort & Gaming[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]James Finch[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]10[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]9[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Kasey Kahne[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Budweiser[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]George Gillett, Jr[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]11[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]11[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Denny Hamlin[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]FedEx Freight[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]J D Gibbs[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]12[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]12[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]David Stremme[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Penske Racing[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Roger Penske[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]13[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]13[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Max Papis[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]GEICO[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Bob Germain[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]14[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]14[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Tony Stewart[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Old Spice/Office Depot[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Margaret Haas[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]15[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]16[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Greg Biffle[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]3M[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jack Roush[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]16[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]17[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Matt Kenseth[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]DeWalt[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]John Henry[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]17[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]18[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Kyle Busch[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Pedigree[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Joe Gibbs[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]18[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]19[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Elliott Sadler[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Best Buy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]George Gillett, Jr[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]19[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]20[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Joe Logano[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Home Depot[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Joe Gibbs[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]20[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]24[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jeff Gordon[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Pepsi/DuPont[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Rick Hendrick[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]21[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]26[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jamie McMurray[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Crown Royal[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Geoff Smith[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]22[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]29[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Kevin Harvick[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Pennzoil / Shell[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Richard Childress[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]23[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]31[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jeff Burton[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Caterpillar[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Richard Childress[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]24[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]33[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Clint Bowyer[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]BB&T[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Bobby Ginn[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]25[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]34[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]John Andretti[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Taco Bell[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Teresa Earnhardt[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]26[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]36[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Scott Riggs[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]TBA[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Tommy Baldwin[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]27[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]39[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ryan Newman[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Haas Automation[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Tony Stewart[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]28[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]41[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jeremy Mayfield[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]All Sport[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jeremy Mayfield[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]29[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]42[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Juan PabloMontoya[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Tums[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Teresa Earnhardt[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]30[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]43[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Reed Sorenson[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]U.S. Air Force[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Richard Petty[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]31[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]44[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]A.J. Allmendinger[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Hunt Brothers Pizza[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]George Gillett, Jr[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]32[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]47[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Marcos Ambrose[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Little Debbies[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Robert Kauffman[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]33[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]48[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jimmie Johnson[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Lowe's[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jeff Gordon[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]34[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]55[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Michael Waltrip[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]NAPA Auto Parts[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Michael Waltrip[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]35[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]64[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Geoff Bodine[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]TBA[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Larry Gunselman[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]36[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]66[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Michael McDowell
in for Dave Blaney[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]TBA[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Phil Parsons[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]37[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]71[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]David Gilliland[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]American Monster[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Kevin Buckler[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]38[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]77[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Sam Hornish Jr.[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dodge[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]AAA/Penske Truck Rental[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Bill Davis[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]39[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]78[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Regan Smith[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Furniture Row[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Barney Visser[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]40[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]82[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Scott Speed[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Red Bull [/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dietrich Mateschitz[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]41[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]83[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Brian Vickers[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Red Bull [/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dietrich Mateschitz[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]42[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]87[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Joe Nemechek[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Toyota[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]TBA[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Andrea Nemechek[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]43[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]88[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Dale Earnhardt Jr.[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Chevy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]National Guard/AMP Energy[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Rick Hendrick[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]44[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]96[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Bobby Labonte[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ask.com[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jeff Moorad[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]45[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]98[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Paul Menard[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Menards/Turtle Wax[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Max Jones[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <td>
[SIZE=-2]46[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]99[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Carl Edwards[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Ford[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Claritan[/SIZE]</td> <td>
[SIZE=-2]Jack Roush[/SIZE]</td> </tr> <!-- <TR ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top"> <TH COLSPAN="5"><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE=-1 COLOR=#FF0000>Could to be added</TH> </TR> --> <!-- <TR ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top"> <TH COLSPAN="5"><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE=-1 COLOR=#FF0000>added after the initial entry list</TH> </TR> --> <!-- <TR ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top"> <TH COLSPAN="5"><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE=-1 COLOR=#FF0000>removed from the entry list/withdrew</TH> </TR> --> <tr valign="top" align="center"> <th colspan="5">[SIZE=-2]
[/SIZE]</th></tr></tbody></table>Express what you think.
-Ed-
A PS This wiki below shows the schedule for NASCAR and the top 10 for each race so far this season. This way you can see who the frontrunners tend to be. As for last NASCAR.com should have full results. At wiki you can also "deduce" the kind of track the race has been or is gonna be run on by looking at the number of laps and distance. NASCAR races tend to be short track (<1.34 miles in length), medium (about 1.5 miles in length) and superspeedway (>1.75 miles in length) and a few road courses - lots of variety.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NASCAR_Sprint_Cup_Series