NASCAR changes qualifying rules

Michael Waltrip suggested last season that drivers outside the top 35 in owners' points should be allowed to qualify together so nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

NASCAR officials must have listened.

The governing body kicked off its annual media tour by announcing that those outside the top 35 in all three series — Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series — will qualify at the end of their respective session.

It also was announced that teams will be provided tires for testing at non-sanctioned NASCAR tests. Sprint Cup teams will be given 200 tires, Nationwide teams 160 and Craftsman Truck Series teams 120.