As per NASCAR rules, following Sunday's fifth round of the Sprint Cup, the current owner standing will dictate which drivers are automatically on the grid for the following race regardless of their qualifying speed.
Those in the top 35 will automatically make the field, while a few remaining spots will be available for the fastest qualifiers at every event from the sixth round of the year onwards.
One driver that could lose his guaranteed spot is Ryan Newman driving the No 39 car for the new team of Tony Stewart.
Young rookie Joey Logano, who had a difficult time so far, is not in a comfortable position either, being currently 33rd in the car owner standings.
Even worst is the position of veteran Mark Martin, whose No 5 car ranks 35th in the standings following two consecutive retirements.
Other drivers that are in a similar situation are Aric Almirola (No 8 car of Chip Ganassi) in 36th place and Scott Speed (No 82 car of Red Bull) in 37th.
photo:Getty Images
Those in the top 35 will automatically make the field, while a few remaining spots will be available for the fastest qualifiers at every event from the sixth round of the year onwards.
One driver that could lose his guaranteed spot is Ryan Newman driving the No 39 car for the new team of Tony Stewart.
Young rookie Joey Logano, who had a difficult time so far, is not in a comfortable position either, being currently 33rd in the car owner standings.
Even worst is the position of veteran Mark Martin, whose No 5 car ranks 35th in the standings following two consecutive retirements.
Other drivers that are in a similar situation are Aric Almirola (No 8 car of Chip Ganassi) in 36th place and Scott Speed (No 82 car of Red Bull) in 37th.
photo:Getty Images