NASCAR considering overhaul of points system

NASCAR considering overhaul of points system


NASCAR officials are considering changing the way NASCAR awards points in its three national series by possibly switching to a system that would award 43 points to the winner of a race and then one point fewer for each position, according to sources.
The idea is being discussed with teams during meetings with NASCAR officials, the sources said in confirming an Associated Press report Monday. Among the ideas also being discussed is a 12-driver Chase field with 10 drivers determined by the standings and the final spots going to the remaining two drivers with the most victories.
“No decisions yet,” NASCAR senior vice president Steve O’Donnell said on Twitter. “Still meeting with teams—many topics but topics have come from fan input.”
NASCAR implemented the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2004 with the top 10 drivers after 26 races being reseeded in five-point increments for the final 10 races. NASCAR changed the format in 2007 to include the top 12 drivers, who are seeded with the same base number of points (5,000) plus 10 bonus points for every regular-season win heading into the final 10 races.
The current points system awards 185 points for a win plus five bonus points for leading a lap and five bonus points for leading the most laps. The top two spots are separated by 10 points while second through sixth are separated by five points apiece, sixth through 11th by four points apiece and 11th through 43rd by three points apiece.
A structure for bonus points would need to be changed if NASCAR adopts the 43-to-1 format.
“NASCAR has been conducting its annual town hall meetings with drivers and team owners where we have discussed a number of ideas, but nothing has been finalized yet,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said.
NASCAR is expected to announce some competition changes Friday, but any changes to the points system are expected to come Jan. 26 as its executives will continue meeting with team owners, executives and drivers over the next eight days.