Gone is the risk that a small NASCAR team could steal its way into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, only to not qualify for one of its 10 races.
NASCAR officials have altered the provisional starting guidelines for races during the Chase, effective immediately. The rules would lock a non-chartered team that qualified for the Chase into the field each week instead of forcing them to make the race through qualifying, as is the case now.
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Ryan Blaney, who drives for the non-charter Wood Brothers Racing team, is currently one spot of out the top 16 in the standings, though Tony Stewart in 32nd has a win and will move into the Chase field if he is in the top 30 in the standings after the 26th race.