Since 1998 Nascar has worked to refine to the qualifying process for its premiers series. Following the 50th anniversary season, the sanctioning body restricted the use of the past champions provisional; it light of what many felt was the potential for the rules exploitation.

After the 1999 season, NASCAR announced that second day qualifying would be eliminated, and teams would make the field on the one qualifying attempt.

Previous to this change, only the fastest twenty-five cars were locked into the event, leaving the remaining competitors left to determine whether they wanted to attempt for a faster speed on different track conditions, or loose valuable time preparing the car for race set up.

Completing the progressive changes, starting with the Subway 400 at Rockingham, teams are requires to practice, qualify and race using the same engine. Legendary engine builder and car owner Robert Yates reflects on the challenges of the new rule. "Whenever there's a challenge like that there's an opportunity for somebody to capitalize and, hopefully, we'll be in a position to do that. What it really forces you to do is more bench testing or testing of the components at the shop. Whoever has the equipment to do that - to test the valve train and endurance test the engine - can actually figure the limits of the engine a little closer and then put that piece out on the track."

NASCAR formulated the new rule in an effort to keep cost down, and also level the playing field between the large multicar shops, and teams with smaller budgets.

Series champion, Jeff Gordon, who is also part owner of the Lowes team, driven by Jimmie Johnson sees the financial advantages as something that will not have an immediate impact. "It might save some dollars in the long run. It's going to cost a lot of money up front because there are a lot of parts and pieces that have already been bought and placed in inventory that the teams are going to basically eat now. Is it going to change the competition as to which teams are at the top? Is it going to help the guys in the back move to think it's going to change at all. It takes money to have a strong engine that can run all weekend long. The team that does a better job of research and development is the team that's going to come out on top."

The new rule means that most teams will be putting hundreds miles on an engine during the race weekend, with that type of wear and tear. Many teams arrived at Rockingham, concerned about engine reliability. General motors point man on engine development, Jim Covey felt that teams had enough notice of the rule change, " It's not the continuous operation of running a race from start to finish that will be of concern to the engine builders. It will be the all the starting and stopping during the race weekend. Before, qualifying engines gave them the opportunity to push the limit and they used them as development engines. Now, they won't have that luxury."

During qualifying practice, teams cool the engine by running ice water through the motor system, something teams continue to do, but will be more careful not to abuse the motor package, "You'll try not to heat the engine up or try not to send it through a bunch of heat cycles. We're just going to have to be real careful not to get the engine hot." notes Kyle petty, driver and CEO of Petty enterprises.

The new rule came into effect after the Daytona 500 because of the unique way in which teams qualify for that event. Some of the forty-three teams competing in Rockingham did have engine trouble, but the attrition rate was no higher than previous events when the rule was not in effect. NASCAR has indicated that during the season restrictor plate tracks, and the Coca-Cola 600 may be exempt from the new rule, but are waiting to see how the competitors adapt the changes.

Adaptation to the new rule will be a key point to success during the 2002 season. As the season progresses, the top ten in points will not just be the teams that adapt to the rules change, but master them.