Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR has elected to not host practice and qualifying sessions this season. However, this has had an adverse effect on some racing teams, to the point where one of them may have to bow out of the sport.
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As it turns out, the concerned outfit is the NASCAR Xfinity team, Shepherd Ventures Racing.
Ever since the sport returned, the Xfinity series only had one practice session at Indianapolis. Similarly, the sport held a qualifying session for one Cup Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Now, Shepherd Ventures will be disappointed to learn that there will be no more practice and qualifying sessions in 2020.
This is because the absence of these sessions could be detrimental for many smaller and more under-funded teams. The outfit already sat out of one race at the Darlington Raceway in May.
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Can the NASCAR Xfinity team return to racing?
Obviously, the team wants to return to the grind later during the remainder of the season. However, they are yet to specify a return date.
What’s worse for them is that practice and qualifying’s presence is critical for their survival, owing to their position in the championship.
NASCAR’s new starting lineup rules and the lucky draw system is hurting them.
Back in 2018, Landon Cassill made his debut for the team in the #89 Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Since then, he has gone on to compete in 10 more races for the team that year.
Cassill earned the team’s first finish since October 2013 with a 15th place finish at the same venue. Between finishes, team owner Morgan Shepherd drove for the team in 102 races.
Unfortunately, he failed to qualify for at least 39 others and also withdrew from one race. Cassill’s 15th place comes on the back of his 11th start behind the wheel of the #89 Chevrolet.
