Why 43 cars?

[maineman]

Can someone explain to me why NASCAR starts 43 cars? Why not 44? (or 42?) Why have this back "row" with only one car in it?

I have never seen an explanation for this.

Although I can imagine Big Bill France saying, "Heck, let's start ten more than at Indy." (???) This is my only theory.

[call_me_andrew]

I don't usually yield to Yahoo Answers, but this explains it well.

43 drivers? - Yahoo! Answers (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvQ6PEe.oRWkk.lJmiR2.C7sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid =20080729110545AA7qozW&show=7#profile-info-yrkwIepkaa)

[inimitablestoo]

It might be entirely coincidental of course, but the field went up to 43 at about the same time that Richard Petty - all-time NASCAR legend and famously driver of the #43 car - was retiring.

[slorydn1]

The Yahoo answer that Andrew posted is pretty much what my understanding of it all has been.