IMO it looks bad when sunday eliminations have a bye. it does not reflect well on anything.
if the choice was one race with 14, the next race with 16, and the third race with 18 ...... or all three races with exactly 16, i'd want 16 cars at every event.
this is just my opinion. i'm not trying to win any argument here, just stating that there are rarely, if ever 16 tour regulars, and i think it's a good idea to have at least 16 cars
in the two nitro fields at as many races as possible....... do you just hope it happens? or are there ways to increase the odds it will happen? nothing more, nothing less.