NASCAR Racing: Nascar rules, nascar rules, hi bob

Question
I've got two questions.  One - when multiple driver's want to use the the single past champion's provisional to make a race, which one gets it?  Two - why 43 cars? With the money involved in trying to make a race, why not just fill the back row with one more car? What possible difference could it make concerning track conditions to have 22 rows of 2 cars starting the race as apposed to 21 1/2?
  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Bob,

First, if multiple past champions want to use the provisional to make the race, it goes to the most recent past champion.  This seems fair, as that one might still be the better driver of the two or three that want to use it.

Second, it is just mere tradition that makes it 43 cars each race day.  If they added one more car, it would cost the team and NASCAR several millions of dollars just on gas and Goodyear eagles alone.  Plus, it devalues the worth of each starting position for the race.  If they don't try hard, then the fans lose interest.  If the fans, lose interest, then they quit investing in souvenirs and driver propaganda.  If that happens, the whole think goes in the sink.

Hope i somewhat helped.
Coy Jordan