Nascar to change Point System?

From jayski:http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#20110117f

NASCAR is considering scrapping the points system it has used since 1975 in favor of a simpler method that awards points per finishing position. The overhauling of the system is one of a handful of changes NASCAR is considering implementing before the season begins next month. Series officials have been detailing their ideas in individual meetings with teams. The sanctioning body wants to go to a scoring system that would award 43 points to the race winner, and one point less for each ensuing position down to one point for the 43rd-place finisher. NASCAR is also shying away from wholesale changes to its Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format. Teams have been told NASCAR is leaning toward keeping it a 12-driver field, with one caveat: The top 10 drivers following the 26th race of the season would qualify for the Chase, while the remaining two spots would go to the drivers with the most wins who are not already eligible for the Chase. Preseason testing begins Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, and NASCAR president Mike Helton and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton are scheduled to discuss some of the changes planned for 2011. But the major announcements aren't scheduled until next week when France makes a presentation during Charlotte Motor Speedway's annual media tour. NASCAR is still debating how to award bonuses under a straight points system, and ideas being considered are for anywhere from one to three points being given to lap leaders and race winners.

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Permalink Reply by Bricoop on January 17, 2011 at 11:37pm

"The top 10 drivers following the 26th race of the season would qualify for the Chase, while the remaining two spots would go to the drivers with the most wins who are not already eligible for the Chase.'

Also, A road course sweep could get you into the chase!!

Think about that! A team could put all efforts and testing to 5-10 tracks, win a few of them and they would make the chase(well, at least based on last year).

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on January 17, 2011 at 11:50pm

I figured the first 5 races based on the new points (43 for 1st -1 for 43rd, +1 point for leading a lap, +1 point for leading the most laps and +3 points for a win)...huge change from the actual:

Regular Top 5 in 2010 After Race 5 (Bristol)

1. Harvick

2. Kenseth

3 Johnson

4. Biffle

5. Stewart

New Points Top 5 AFter Race 5 (Bristol)

1. Kenseth

2. Harvick

3. Biffle

4. Johnson

5. Stewart

Top 35 Battle Old System (After Race 5 Bristol)

30) #12-Keselowski/Penske
31) #38-Gilliland/Front Row

32) #47-Ambrose/JTG
33) #77-Hornish/Penske
34) #34-Kvapil/Front Row
35) #37-Conway/Front Row

36) #7 Robby Gordon

New Point System

31) FRM 38

32) Ambrose 47

33) Hornish 77

34) FRM 34

35) FRM 37

36) Gordon 7

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Permalink Reply by Ben Cartwright on January 17, 2011 at 11:54pm

they might as well change it, NASCAR has already screwed up so much.

this idea is almost as bad as the chase

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Permalink Reply by Blues on January 18, 2011 at 12:11am

If
"The top 10 drivers following the 26th race of the season would qualify for the Chase, while the remaining two spots would go to the drivers with the most wins who are not already eligible for the Chase."

Then maybe two road course wins would do it, part time or not?

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Permalink Reply by joseph on January 18, 2011 at 6:27am

ill bet you have to qualify for all the races in order to be in the chase

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Permalink Reply by Bricoop on January 18, 2011 at 12:20am

I really like it. More like F1. Fight for the wins instead of settling for second.

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Permalink Reply by Saint Yukon on January 18, 2011 at 2:10am

It sounds better than what they have now.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fisher on January 18, 2011 at 3:53am

Ehhh It's time for a change, in the first 30 years of the sport the system changed about 10 times and it's been basically the same (points payout wise) for far to long. Although I think they should do only the top 22 finishers get points & no bonus points what-so-ever.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Martinez on January 18, 2011 at 8:36am

Yea fight for the win ...."Come on Tony really give it hell there is one point at stake"........If anything it would see a few guys maybe have something to race for with 4-5 races before the chase starts but in the end NAZICAR is adding yet more sawdust to an already noisy gearbox. Last year this would have saw Jammie Mac make the chase and nothing else. As a fan I see nothing can be done by blowing wind at it so as always just take what comes our way and hope that there is good/better racing coming this year. Gas On and I hope this ride starts smoothing out no matter the system we have to live with.

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on January 18, 2011 at 9:38am

The biggest difference would be the amount of positions a driver could earn with one solid finish. You take several S&P teams who would earn 1-6 points a race, and then along comes a team like the #09 or this year the #7 and they have a Top 20 finish...they would jump into the Top 35 in a single race. I think most look at the Top (Top 15) when this points change is being discussed, and it would have somewhat of an effect, but it would really put any team 30th or below in points at risk of falling out in a single race. Typically the Top 35 is pretty set for most of the season after the first 8-10 races, with 1-3 teams being in danger of falling out week to week. This change would put any car outside the Top 30 or even the Top 25 in danger every week. Say Robby finishes in the Top 5 at both road courses and does decent at the other tracks...he could have enough points to stay inside the Top 35 (even racing 15 races). Teams like teh 87 and 66 would be barely getting any points weekly. This would actually be huge in Robby's favor if they change the points system... I like it!