NASCAR In Trouble In 2013?

Number of drivers/cars entered in the 2012 Daytona 500, the biggest NASCAR Sprint race of the year: 49
Number of drivers/cars entered in the 2013 Daytona 500: 45
Only 2 cars will go home from qualifying on Thursday.
What will happen in the middle of the season when Sprint can only get about 35-40 cars into the Sprint race, and many of those teams will be start and parkers?
Will they finally admit NASCAR is in serious trouble?