A Pointless Change

I like to think of myself as a pretty smart fella. Whether that’s actually true or not remains open for debate. What I do know is this; the proposed overhaul of the NASCAR points system that has been bandied about – as was first reported by Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press – is not a positive change for the sport.

There are still a lot of undefined details, but this is what we know so far: Under the proposed plan, NASCAR would award the winner 43 points, with the runner-up receiving 42 points and so on, in one-point increments, all the way to the driver who finishes 43rd getting one point for their efforts.

There’s no word yet on whether a driver will be rewarded for leading a lap or the most laps in a race. Furthermore, no one has any idea how this will impact the Chase for the Sprint Cup and what points system will be in place for NASCAR’s version of the playoffs. Though it’s likely NASCAR would use the same points system for the Chase.

You won’t get a disagreement from many who feel that a change is necessary in the way NASCAR rewards points. The current system tends to reward drivers more for consistency rather than actual winning, which defeats the principle of what this sport is supposed to be all about.

Far too often, we’ll see a driver play it cautious late in a race rather than take a risk to gain an extra position on the track. I think we can all agree seeing a driver playing it safe in the closing stages of a 500-mile race is a bit of a letdown.

Fans, media, sponsors and just about everyone with a vested interest outside of the guys footing the bill want to see drivers fighting tooth and nail for every position, be it first or 30th.

If NASCAR is serious about making winning matter, forget racing for points, the time has come to offer a bigger incentive for winning.

As such, when he meets with reporters next Wednesday in Charlotte to announce NASCAR’s new points formula, Brian France should step up to the podium and say the following.

“From this day forth, if a driver is to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, they must win a race. We no longer will be taking the top-12 drivers in points. The only eligible drivers will be those who have won one of the 26 regular season races. The days of points racing has come and gone. This sport was founded on winning and as such NASCAR will re-embrace this concept going forward. If you want to win the Sprint Cup championship, you will now have to lay it on the line in the regular season.

“In closing, ‘Boys, have at it.' Again.”

You think this will get an eroding fanbase excited? Your damn right it will. Not only that, I guarantee that many of those who have given up on NASCAR will give the sport a second look and they will like what they see. As for the longtime fan who has felt marginalized over the last 10-15 years, he/she will fall in love again with a sport that looks a lot like the one they once loved so dearly.

But the likelihood of this happening is about as realistic as me finding a writing job where I earn a steady paycheck. Which means don’t expect it to happen anytime in the near future.

In the mean time, what would be best for NASCAR is to scrap this proposed 43-1 idea and come up with a compromise between winning and being consistent. In addition, let’s come up with a points formula that’s easy for fans to understand, makes drivers fight a little more for positions on the track but rewards them for running up front on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, because I’m not a math major, I’m not sure exactly what that system is. However, I will know it when I see. But as of now, I’m still looking.






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