NASCAR to change point system

Firetiger(MN) · January 9, 2004

NASCAR is moving ahead with changes to its points system, establishing a playoff-like structure to crown its next champion.

``I think we've pretty well decided we're going to make a change,'' NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said Thursday. ``We're doing this to draw additional attention to our sport -- that's the bottom line.''

The details of the playoff format are still being worked out, but Hunter said one change that already has been agreed upon is rewarding more points to the winner of a race.

NASCAR has been toying with changing its points system, in effect for its top series since 1975. The sanctioning body has been leaning toward a playoff system that would freeze the field of competitors after the 26th race of the season.

The slate would then be wiped clean for the top 10 drivers, who would compete for the championship over the final 10 races.

One holdup to finalizing the plan, Hunter said, is how NASCAR will handle drivers outside the top 10 who are still mathematically eligible to win the championship. The sanctioning body is considering provisionals to allow those teams to compete for the title.

``We are still looking at ways for a driver to race his way into the top 10,'' Hunter said. ``We're looking at some ways not to automatically lock out someone who could race his way back into the top 10 at the end of the season.''

The playoff system would be for the Nextel Cup series only, although the Busch and Truck series also would adopt the change awarding additional points to race winners.

Debate over how to change the points system was spurred by Matt Kenseth's first title last year. His Roush Racing team was consistent all season, racking up a series-high 25 top-10 finishes while winning just once. Ryan Newman won a series-best eight races but finished sixth in the points.

Kenseth's lead in the standings was overwhelming by mid-July, eliminating any drama over the second half of the season.

``When people starting writing or talking about mathematical chances to win a championship it doesn't create much excitement,'' Hunter said.

Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who wound up third in the standings, don't like the changes.

``I'm not trying to boast or anything, but odds are I'd be in the top 10 if we had an average year, and I still don't like it,'' Dale Earnhardt Jr. said this week. ``I think the change is a little aggressive.

``There are a lot of things I'd love to change about the sport. The point system isn't at the top of the list.''

Kenseth said he doesn't like the system because the final 10 races don't include a wide range of tracks that would test each driver's skills.

The final 10 races are scheduled for New Hampshire, Dover, Talladega, Kansas, Charlotte, Martinsville, Atlanta, Phoenix, Darlington and Homestead.

``If you start it at zero with 10 races to go, I don't like that idea at all, because in the last 10 races there are no Daytonas, there are no Bristols, there are no Poconos and there are no road courses,'' Kenseth said. ``I don't think a champion should be rewarded off of how good they are at 1 1/2 -mile tracks. I think it should have to be rewarded on how good you are at all the tracks like it always has been.''

tmf6902 · January 9, 2004

BOOOOOOO......why don't they just let america vote on who the hell should win, that would be just as worthless

antig24 · January 9, 2004

I did not want to see this happen, o well, maybe it will grow on me....

Elwood · January 9, 2004

I wanted some change but not this much. All I thought they needed was to award some extra points for winning a race, and maybe some bonus points for winning the most races. Otherwise leave it the same. We'll see how this goes though.

The articles I've read said they're trying to draw more interest later in the season because interest dwindles in the last third of the season, this might work, but won't it cause some to not pay much attention until then?

Worktruck · January 9, 2004

I think this is a great idea. No one has ever come from outside the top ten with ten races left to win the championship. I think it will stop the so so races that are a product of people running for points. I think it's gonna improve racing.

PaulSter · January 9, 2004

I think it's a good thing. It was extremely bland to me the way Kenseth won the championship. I want to see someone win who actually wins races!

However, I probably would have voted to simply award more points for a win. Either way, I think it's okay to shake things up.

PaulS

TMF6902: Put a sock in it.

PaulSter · January 9, 2004

BOOOOOOO......why don't they just let america vote on who the hell should win, that would be just as worthless

Hey-- hijacked thead coming: Do you still have that K-5? Very nice. That's weird, I had the EXACT truck, same colors, same options. I had it when I lived in Tampa, then when I moved to Atlanta. I sold it to someone there in '99. It's very rare that you see old K-5s that are that clean. Mine was as flawless as yours is. I had a 3" suspension lift, new centerlines, and 35x12.50 GY ATs. I REALLY wish I had not sold that truck!

Back to the thread: Go #8!

PaulS

tmf6902 · January 9, 2004

BOOOOOOO......why don't they just let america vote on who the hell should win, that would be just as worthless

Hey-- hijacked thead coming: Do you still have that K-5? Very nice. That's weird, I had the EXACT truck, same colors, same options. I had it when I lived in Tampa, then when I moved to Atlanta. I sold it to someone there in '99. It's very rare that you see old K-5s that are that clean. Mine was as flawless as yours is. I had a 3" suspension lift, new centerlines, and 35x12.50 GY ATs. I REALLY wish I had not sold that truck!

Back to the thread: Go #8!

PaulS

LOL....your the first person that has ever said, that it's flawless. It actually is in pretty good shape as far as rust goes. This summer the resoration begin, she's getting a new 350, a new hood....the old one is paper thin and rusted, and the seats and carpet are going to be replaced. I am really not looking forward to lifting up that carpet, I'm afriad as to what I might find underneath. Hopefully the body isn't in to bad of shape, I would really like to work on it myself, but if it's really bad I am gonna have someone do it for me. Basically everthing mechanical has been replaced, minus the engine and the braking system....the engine is being replaced this summer, and the brakes work fine, so I'm gonna leave them alone. The last thing I'm gonna get done to it years from now I'm sure, Is it's gonna get a fresh coat of paint, in the original scheme, and I'll probably even throw all the original molding back on it(i've torn most of it off, becauase I couldn't stand it flapping in the wind)

PaulSter · January 9, 2004

BOOOOOOO......why don't they just let america vote on who the hell should win, that would be just as worthless

Hey-- hijacked thead coming: Do you still have that K-5? Very nice. That's weird, I had the EXACT truck, same colors, same options. I had it when I lived in Tampa, then when I moved to Atlanta. I sold it to someone there in '99. It's very rare that you see old K-5s that are that clean. Mine was as flawless as yours is. I had a 3" suspension lift, new centerlines, and 35x12.50 GY ATs. I REALLY wish I had not sold that truck!

Back to the thread: Go #8!

PaulS

LOL....your the first person that has ever said, that it's flawless. It actually is in pretty good shape as far as rust goes. This summer the resoration begin, she's getting a new 350, a new hood....the old one is paper thin and rusted, and the seats and carpet are going to be replaced. I am really not looking forward to lifting up that carpet, I'm afriad as to what I might find underneath. Hopefully the body isn't in to bad of shape, I would really like to work on it myself, but if it's really bad I am gonna have someone do it for me. Basically everthing mechanical has been replaced, minus the engine and the braking system....the engine is being replaced this summer, and the brakes work fine, so I'm gonna leave them alone. The last thing I'm gonna get done to it years from now I'm sure, Is it's gonna get a fresh coat of paint, in the original scheme, and I'll probably even throw all the original molding back on it(i've torn most of it off, becauase I couldn't stand it flapping in the wind)

Yea-- I guess I should have said "flawless"<------like that. That's how mine was. It had the typical rust bubbles around the wheel wells and down along the rockers. But it had a great shine and got a LOT of compliments. I took it to a NASCAR race in Atlanta and was tailgating in the infield. I must have gotten 20 compliments that weekend--along with a few offers to buy the truck! You just don't see too many old K-5s that aren't all rusted and torn up. My biggest complaint with mine? I had the very weak 305 in it. I know that a mild re-build could have really awakened that motor, but I never got around to it.

Good luck on your project.

Oh yea-- C'mon Nextel Daytona 500! Looks like Waltrip's been the fastest out there in testing. We all know how well Childress cars perform on the SSWs!

LarryE · January 12, 2004

They are ruining Nascar.. it's more of a business now than a sport you could enjoy.

I feel sorry for the poor guys that are number 11 when they lock the top 10

rervf23 · January 12, 2004

Stock racing is stock car racing, it is not baseball, football, etc. Just award more points for a win and let it be. Have they even asked the drivers and owners what they would like to see? Probably not.

LarryE · January 12, 2004

They haven't asked the drivers but the Nascar channel on XM sure have and everyone of them hate it so far.

Hecktorx · January 12, 2004

I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT (In my best 5 year old throwing a tantrum voice)

Kenny

Firetiger(MN) · January 12, 2004

Nascar said they did an informal poll of the teams and the majority (if not all) said they don't agree with the proposed point system. But, they did it anyway! Makes sense....