Jayski's® Silly Season Site - The Chase 2004-2006 News

NASCAR Points System
Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship
2004-2006 rules

Go to the NEW 2007 Chase Announcement/News page

Jump below to the Original Points Change/Rules in 2004 announcement

NEWS and RUMORS of Change

Chase Drivers get separate point system? BUT: NASCAR may consider a separate point system for the 10 drivers in the Chase for the Championship. The sanctioning body wants to reduce the penalty for a bad finish to promote more racing by the leaders. In the first two years of the Chase, the winners have combined to win only one race during the playoffs.(Augusta Chronicle)
BUT NASCAR chairman Brian France said the Chase format is working and NASCAR doesn't plan any major changes in the off-season. "We will look at it when the season ends," France told Speed Channel on Sunday. "But my sense is anything we do would be a small adjustment." France didn't say what that adjustment might be, but he did clarify one point. The Chase won't change to a separate points system for the 10 drivers in the playoff, as some of the Chase contenders have suggested.(Dallas Morning News)(11-21-2005)

Changes to "The Chase" in 2006? There may well be a new rule on points for next year's championship chase, according to sources who say that NASCAR is considering a separate points system for the 10 leading drivers. Under that this season, Kurt Busch would not have lost as many points for his Loudon crash - Busch was credited with 41st-place points at Loudon, but under the proposed system he would have been credited with 10th place points, and would still be in the hunt. Of course, under such a new system, the worst finish a playoff driver would be credited with each weekend would be 10th - 134 points, losing at most 56 points to the tour leader. At Loudon, Busch finished 35th and got 58 points.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-26-2005)

So what happens if there is a tie for 10th place in The Chase? UPDATE: NASCAR's Jim Hunter was interviewed during TNT's Nextel Cup qualifying and was asked by Allen Bestwick what would happen if drivers are tied in the top-10 of drivers points? Hunter said, if two drivers are tied for 10th in drivers points after the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond, BOTH drivers would get in The Chase. It was later clarified that the only way the tie would allow an additional driver or driver to make The Chase would be if the tie was for 10th. If drivers are tied at 8th, the driver with the most wins [or 2nds, 3rds ,etc] get the spot, the other would be 9th, the 10th would be the final driver in.(9-9-2005)
UPDATE 8th is a tie: #99-Carl Edwards and #17-Matt Kenseth ended up tied for eighth in points, both with 3114. NASCAR ruled after the race that Edwards and Kenseth would start with the same number of points, 5015, when the playoff starts next week. Ninth-place points will not be awarded, NASCAR spokesman Herb Branham said, and 10th-place Newman will be paid for 10th place, starting the fall run with 5005.(Speed Channel), nascar.com has it as Edwards with 5015 and Kenseth with 5010.(9-12-2005)

A Chase Refresher: This is the second year of NASCAR's playoff-style system for determining its Nextel Cup champion. Here's how it works:
• Following the 26th race of the season, the top 10 drivers plus any within 400 points of the leader are broken out for a 10-race showdown called Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
• The leader's points are bumped up to 5,050 entering the 27th race. Each subsequent place among the Chase drivers also has its points reset, but in incremental five-point drops; so the second-place driver starts the Chase with 5045, the next with 5040, and so on.
• Drivers not involved in the Chase will continue to compete through the end of the season. While the resetting of points puts the championship out of their reach, they still have something to race for -- the driver who finishes the season in 11th place will win $250,000 and the right to attend the year-end banquet in New York.
• Under NASCAR's scoring rules, the maximum a driver can score at one race is 190 points, while the second-place driver can earn no more than 180.(ESPN.com RPM/AP)(9-11-2005)

12 in the 2006 Chase? A team Cap? There were rumors in the Nextel Cup garage at Richmond International Raceway that the field for the Chase for the Nextel Cup could grow from 10 to 12 next season. The argument is based on the fact that there have been at least 12 drivers in contention for a Chase berth up until the final laps of the final race of the "regular season." And it would be two more chances to get top drawing cards like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon into the run for the title if they struggled at some point during the season as they both have this year. NASCAR president Mike Helton said sanctioning body officials will review the Chase at the end of the season to see if adjustments to the format are warranted. "When it was all said and done last year and the dust had settled, we took a look at things and were pretty pleased," he said. "We'll do the same thing at the end of this year. But I can't see anything major coming along."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
AND NASCAR is looking at putting a cap on the number of Nextel Cup teams that can be owned by one organization, chairman Brian France said Saturday. France said the consideration was not prompted by the fact Roush Racing has five drivers inside the top 10 heading into Saturday night’s race at Richmond International Raceway. France said he is more concerned new owners won’t be able to break into the sport if they feel it’s impossible to compete without a minimum of three teams. France did not indicate what the cap number might be, but he said existing teams would not be penalized “for operating within the rules.” France doesn’t anticipate significant changes, if any at all, to the points system used to determine the championship chase. He said there are no plans to extend the 400-point cutoff. The only adjustment he could see would be awarding more points for the winner.(The State)(9-11-2005)

France talks about the Chase/NASCAR NEXTEL Teleconference:
Q. Just as a follow, I know you think Jeff Gordon is going to rally, but how detrimental will it be to the Chase if he, or Dale Earnhardt, also have a chance of missing it, don't make it?
BRIAN FRANCE: "Well, this is a performance based sport and you've got to perform. Obviously they have big fan bases and there will be some disappointment in that, but I like no matter what happens, I love the mix of drivers that's shaping up. Rusty Wallace is making his run. He may have a shot at the championship for the first time in a while for him down the stretch. Mark Martin is having another good year on his final year, so he may have a shot, he will have a shot more than likely, who knows. But in the end, you've got to perform. You've got to get in, you've got to earn your way in, and that's what we always said. The events before the Chase didn't mean less importance; it means more importance, and I think you're seeing that now."

Q. NBA and baseball have to deal with things like big market teams and small market teams. Going back to the Chase, obviously for you guy, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are big market teams. They are the big markets in the fans and they are the drivers that fans in the major markets, the Top 10 markets that you guys covet and like to have ratings from, they are the ones that are most recognizable in those markets. Do you feel if neither of those two drivers are in the Chase that it will have a debt mental effect on television ratings?
BRIAN FRANCE: "Obviously the more star power you have, the better you feel. It's no different than the Yankees have to earn their way into the playoffs. So do our drivers. We can't have a system that's based on popularity at the moment. We have a system based on who can perform the best in that given year, and no matter what happens, the mix of drivers that we're likely to have will be terrific. You can argue it would be better if this person were in or out, but we'll have a terrific group of veterans and young drivers, and I hope it comes down to the last lap of the last race just like it did last year."

Q. Your assessment of the Chase or your belief it's going to be a bigger field, is there any consideration to adding fan involvement, like a fan vote, especially this year with the possibility of Jeff and Dale not making the Chase, that the fans might vote one of them in to appease the networks and have that star power?
BRIAN FRANCE: Not at all, because we have to be, and we will be, a performance based series, and you have to perform. You know what, the drivers would not want that either. They don't want to limp in on a fan vote. They want to earn their way in or not earn their way in. I hope we all the drivers that everybody likes, but, you know, sometimes it's time to see drivers have a moment. Greg Biffle is having his moment right now showing people how talented he has been for a long time. The stars are lining up and he's got a lot of confidence. That's a great thing for us. We'd love to see more of Greg Biffles, too. It's not just one driver or another. It's about performance and letting people who are earning it keep going.

Q. Is there anything that would even make you consider changing anything with the points Chase the way it is now? I mean, certainly have asked you if there would be the Earnhardt factor or whatever, but, you know, looking at it as a whole, is there anything down the road that you guys might think of altering?
BRIAN FRANCE: "Well, for this year, the answer would be zero, because we're trying to get, certainly, out of any issues of changing things in midstream. We would never do that. Down the road when we make adjustments, I have always said we would be open to them. But gosh, we had four drivers come down or five, actually, mathematically last year, three with a real, real chance down to the last lap that changed around, I think, seven times. It's hard to say, you know, it's not a great system and the best part of it all is what the drivers how they turn it up, how they step up the level of driving and their talents are showcased differently and that's what I like most."(NASCAR Statistical Service/NASCAR NEXTEL Teleconference Transcript)(6-29-2005)

NASCAR's Points System will Remain Unchanged: NASCAR's points system will remain unchanged from last year, when the debut of a 10-race shootout format resulted in the closest championship finish in series history. "We feel like we have a pretty good system and we're set for '05," NASCAR chairman Brian France said Monday. "We did look hard at making any potential adjustments." In 2004, France began his first year as head of NASCAR by overhauling the decades-old points system and creating a playoff structure for 10 drivers over the final 10 events of the Nextel Cup season. In resisting the urge to tinker with the system, NASCAR will begin the season without any major changes for the first time in four years. So, by standing pat, France had nothing to announce when the Nextel Cup media tour made its annual stop at NASCAR's Research and Development Center. Instead, he used his time to give a State of the NASCAR address and denying rumors that he was looking to leave the family-run business to pursue bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles. France said there are no plans to stage a Nextel Cup race in Mexico or Canada anytime soon.(New York Newsday/AP)(1-25-2005)

'The Chase' Stays in 2005, no major changes: NASCAR chairman Brian France will keep the new points system in place for next year, satisfied that the closest championship race in history is proof that the 10-race playoff structure works better than expected. Five drivers head into Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway separated by 82 points, creating a one-race shootout to crown the Nextel Cup champion. "The new points system has been wonderful, it's created interest and a scenario that was unthinkable under the old system," France told The Associated Press. "Obviously, we were hoping to create drama all the way down to the last lap of the last race. That was our preference under the old system, and it just wasn't happening. So we like things the way they are. We always said we wanted to let the full year play out, but the balance we have now, we're real happy with. We may end up making some slight adjustments next season, but nothing very noticeable." The system has had opponents since it was announced, and critics are still finding faults. The biggest complaint was the theory that one bad finish would ruin a driver's title hopes. France said Jimmie Johnson has proved that wrong. After dropping to ninth in the standings with six races left, Johnson has used four victories to pull into second place, 18 points behind leader Kurt Busch. "Everybody thought Jimmie Johnson was out, he had three bad races and everybody said you couldn't have one," France said. "Well, nobody thought about the way to climb back into races. That is to win. That is exactly what we wanted."
So forget about a points system within a points system.
He said he is also not going to award extra points to a race winner.
France is particularly pleased with what the Chase has done for television ratings. Part of the reason he wanted the new system was to create drama that could match up with the NFL and baseball playoffs. Although NBC's ratings didn't move at first -- the first race was down 8 percent from last year, and the third race was down 2 percent -- it's been a steady climb since. The race in Atlanta three weeks ago was up 21 percent from last year, and NASCAR expects the Miami finale to post similar numbers now that there is a five-driver battle. It couldn't come at a better time for France, who is just starting to renegotiated NASCAR's television package. He said he was impressed with the $8 billion extension the NFL worked out last week with CBS and Fox, NASCAR has a $2.8 billion deal with NBC and Fox that they signed in 2001 and expires at the end of the 2006 season.(ESPN.com/AP)(11-16-2004)

2004 NEWS

Age of the Chase Drivers:
#24-Jeff Gordon, 33 years old [current]
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 29
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 29
#20-Tony Stewart, 33
#17-Matt Kenseth, 32
#38-Elliott Sadler, 29
#97-Kurt Busch, 26
#6-Mark Martin, 45
#19-Jeremy Mayfield, 35
#12-Ryan Newman, 26
The oldest Nextel Cup Champion? Bobby Allison at 45 years, 11 months, 28 days in 1983
The youngest Next Cup Champ? Bill Rexford at 23 years, 8 months, 17 days.
So both of these records are safe.(9-19-2004)

Jarrett talks to NASCAR about chase changes: #88-Dale Jarrett has been talking with NASCAR executives about possible changes to the championship points system for next season. "After the first race at Loudon, where Tony (Stewart) and Jeremy (Mayfield) had their problems, I would propose that you would take those 10 teams and, even though they're still racing against everybody, that their point structure would only be for those 10 cars," Jarrett said. "Say Jeff Gordon finished fifth and he was the first one of those 10 drivers; he would get the 180 points for being the highest finisher of those, and then the next guy might be Elliott, who might finish 10th, but he would be the second-highest and he would get 170. "The most anybody could lose would be somewhere between 50 and 55 points, so you're going to keep everybody closer for an extended period of time."(Winston Salem Journal)(10-10-2004)

Some 'Chase' Facts/Stats/Scenarios - And where do they start: #20-Toney Stewart and #17-Matt Kenseth clinched spots #4 and #5 in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but #38-Elliott Sadler claimed spot #6 in style with a strong win at California. Sadler only has to start at Richmond to be in the Chase. #97-Kurt Busch is #7 and needs to finish 40th or better to clinch. #12-Ryan Newman solidified himself with a fifth place, and #9-Kasey Kahne and #6-Mark Martin stormed into the Top 10. #42-Jamie McMurray's fourth place jumped him from 15th to 11th. Leader #24-Jeff Gordon's 37th place finish and #48-Jimmie Johnson's 14th place opened the door for the 400-point wild card possibility at Richmond. Johnson would probably have to finish around 18th or worse and Gordon 9th or worse for it to be seriously in play. Bad races by both and a less than dominating race by #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. could bring all eight contenders into The Chase, meaning a possible 15-car field for the 10-race showdown.

CONTENDER SCENARIOS:
15) #29-Kevin Harvick....has to gain 56 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 80 points, Jeff Gordon by 30 points, and lose 36 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot. STARTS: 27th

14) #19-Jeremy Mayfield....has to gain 55 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 79 points, Jeff Gordon by 29 points, and lose 35 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 7th

13) #88-Dale Jarrett....has to gain 43 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 67 points, Jeff Gordon by 17 points, and lose 49 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 25th

12) #Bobby Labonte....Has to gain 36 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 60 points, Jeff Gordon by 10 points, and lose 56 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 18th

11) #42-Jamie McMurray....Has to gain 25 points on tenth place OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 49 points, lose by one point or less to Jeff Gordon, and lose 67 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 36th

10) #6-Mark Martin....Has to lose 24 points or less to five contenders OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 24 points, lose 26 points or less to Jeff Gordon, and lose 92 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 2nd

9) #9-Kasey Kahne....Has to lose 33 points or less to five contenders OR has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 15 points, lose 35 points or less to Jeff Gordon, and 101 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 11th

8) #12-Ryan Newman....Has to lose 45 points or less to five contenders OR Has to beat Jimmy Johnson by 4 points, lose 46 points or less to Jeff Gordon, and 112 points or less to Earnhardt Jr. to win wild card spot.STARTS: 1st

If there are more than 10 drivers, the 11th-place driver will have his total reset to 5,000. If there are any other drivers who qualify, they also will be at 5,000 points.
AND see a good Q&A article at ThatsRacin.com: Chasing down some answers to some FAQs on the new format by David Poole.(9-9/10-2004)

One More Race to get in the 'Chase': With one race remaining, there is still time to secure a place in the final top-10 before the race for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup begins in earnest in two weeks at New Hampshire. As much as 156 points can change within one race, based on the difference of a first-place finish leading the most laps (190 points) as opposed to a 43rd-place finish (34 points). All of the top-15 points positions following California are separated by less than 156 points, meaning all of those positions conceivably can change hands at Richmond International Raceway.
As a result of their finishes in the Pop-Secret 500 at California Speedway, two more drivers have clinched a spot in the Chase for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, They join Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. who clinched at Bristol:
Drivers Locked in the Chase / Points ahead of 11th
Jimmie Johnson 449
Jeff Gordon 399
Dale Earnhardt Jr 333
Tony Stewart 271
Matt Kenseth 220
Elliott Sadler will be assured a spot in the final top-10 if he starts at Richmond because he is more than 156 points ahead of 11th-place Jamie McMurray. The rest of the top-10, Kurt Busch [needs to finish 42nd or better at RIR], Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, and Mark Martin, all could lose their top-10 ranking at Richmond.
The only drivers mathematically still eligible for a spot in the Chase for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup:
Pos Driver Ahead of 11th
7th Kurt Busch 153
8th Ryan Newman 45
9th Kasey Kahne 34
10th Mark Martin 25
Pos Driver Behind 10th
11th Jamie McMurray 25
12th Bobby Labonte 36
13th Dale Jarrett 43
14th Jeremy Mayfield 55
15th Kevin Harvick 56
Seven drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions at California Speedway.
A total of $970,103 will be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, an increase of more than $400,000 over one year ago. That includes a $250,000 bonus, which will be paid to the 11th-place finisher [at the end of the year]. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Banquet in New York in December.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(9-6/7-2004)

Points to be reset...if there are more then 10 then.....: After this week's race at Richmond, those eligible for the championship chase will have their points reset. The points leader after Richmond will have a point total of 5,050 with each position after dropping by five points so that 10th place has 5,005 points. If there are more than 10 drivers, the 11th-place driver will have his total reset to 5000. If there are any other drivers who qualify, they also will be at 5,000 points.(News and Record), what happens to the rest of the drivers? Their points are scored the same.(9-7-2004)

Down to 18 for 'the chase': The number of drivers within the 400-point window that would make them eligible for the Nextel Cup Series' "Chase for the Championship" at the end of the season took a hit Sunday. Prior to the race, 23 drivers were within 400 points of the leader - the cut-off to make the 10-race championship battle. After Sunday's race, only 18 remained that close to leader #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. with nine of the 26 races used to compute the total complete.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-26-2004)

New Points System / Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship:

NASCAR announced today a modification in how the champion of its premier series is determined, creating a NASCAR Nextel Cup "Chase for the Championship" covering the last 10 races of the 36-race NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season.

"The Chase for the Championship will provide a better opportunity for more drivers to win the championship, creating excitement and drama throughout the entire season," NASCAR President Mike Helton said. "In addition, the Chase for the Championship will showcase our drivers' talents, increasing the value for all teams and their sponsors."

After the first 26 races of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season, all drivers in the NASCAR Top 10 and any others within 400 points of the leader will earn a berth in the "Chase for the Championship."

No driver outside the top 10 with 10 races remaining has come back to win the championship of NASCAR's premier series, under the current point system.

All drivers in the "chase" will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver in the standings will begin the chase with 5,050 points; the second-place driver will start with 5,045, etc. Incremental five-point drops will continue through the list of title contenders.

In addition, NASCAR is making a change to the current point system for the first time since the system's 1975 inception, awarding 180 points to a race winner, compared to the previous award of 175 points. Five-point bonuses for leading a lap and leading the most laps still will be awarded.

The 180-point award will ensure that a race winner gets more points than a race runner-up. This change will be in effect starting this season for NASCAR's three national series -- NASCAR Nextel Cup, the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

At season's end, every driver who finishes in the NASCAR Top 10 will receive a point-fund payout of at least $1 million, with the champion receiving more than $5 million. In addition, the 11th-place driver in the final standings will receive a $250,000 bonus.

"This new approach to determining our champion has both the drivers and the fans in mind," Helton said. "The Chase for the Championship will be a continuation of our season, with heightened drama. It will increase the spotlight on all competitors and increase the value of being in the series for all teams. This will be exciting -- and fair. Since 1975, using the current point system, no driver has ever been outside the NASCAR Top 10 with 10 races remaining and come back to win the championship in our premier series. We added the 400-point cutoff to allow drivers outside the top 10 after 26 races to be included in the Chase for the Championship."

The last time the point system for NASCAR's premier series was altered was in 1975 when the current system, designed to reward consistency, was introduced. This marks the 11th time since 1949 that the point system has been changed. The system instituted in 1975 remains virtually intact for NASCAR's three national series -- aside from the five additional five points for race winners.

In a safety-related move designed to limit the number of damaged cars returning to races merely to accumulate points, NASCAR will increase minimum-speed requirements, in lieu of altering the points breakdown for lower-finishing cars.(NASCAR.com)(1-20-2004)

Some Notes from the Q&A on Speed: The Owners championship will take the same format as the 'new' drivers system, so also all Owners in the NASCAR Top 10 and any others within 400 points will use the same system as the drivers championsip. Mike Helton said, the only thing changing is the way the Championship is won and adding the extra 5 points for winning.(1-20-2004)

NASCAR'S Points Plan: 'Chase for the Championship' by David Poole of ThatsRacin.com/Charlotte Observer:

The structure of the new points plan for the Nextel Cup Series, announced Tuesday during the Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour:

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: There will a 10-race "Chase for the Championship" at the end of the season to determine the champion.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE: The top 10 drivers in the standings after the first 26 races, along with any other driver within 400 points of the leader at that juncture, qualifies for the 10-race "Chase for the Championship." Everyone in the top 10 at the end of the season will get at least $1 million from the points fund, with the champion getting at least $5 million.

A HEAD START: The driver in first place in the standings after the 26 races will begin the final 10-race "Chase for the Championship" with 5,050 points. The second-place driver will start with 5,045, third with 5,040 and so on in five-point increments for all drivers who qualify.

WINNING COUNTS A LITTLE MORE: Under the system in place last year, if the driver finishing second in a race led the most laps that day, both he and the winner would get 180 points for that event. This year, a victory will be worth 180 points, plus five for leading a lap. Second is still worth 170 points, and a runner-up who leads the most lap would still get 180 points - counting five-point bonuses for leading a lap and for leading the most laps. But the winner would get 185. A winner leading the most laps would get 190 points that day.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-20-2004)

FROM The AP via ThatsRacin.com:
NASCAR changed its scoring system Tuesday, setting up a showdown for the Nextel Cup over the season's last 10 races.

"I'm confident it is going to work and the drivers and teams are going to like it after they hear all the details," NASCAR chairman Brian France said.

NASCAR has been criticized in recent years for using a points system that rewarded consistency more than winning. Matt Kenseth won the 2003 championship despite finishing first in just one race. Ryan Newman was sixth in the standings despite winning a series-high eight races.

The new system will change after the first 26 races. The drivers in the top 10 and any other within 400 points of the leader will earn a berth in the "chase for the championship."

Those drivers will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver will begin the final 10 races with 5,050 points, the second driver 5,045 and so on, with incremental drops of five points.

The drivers not involved in the championship will keep the points they have earned to that point in the season.

NASCAR will award a race winner an additional five points, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(1-20-2004)

The Final 10 races of 2004:

September 19 - New Hampshire International Speedway, 1.058 miles

September 26 - Dover International Speedway, 1 mile

October 3 - Talladega Superspeedway, 2.66 miles

October 10 - Kansas Speedway, 1.5 miles

October 16 - Lowe's Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles

October 24 - Martinsville Speedway, .526 mile

October 31 - Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1.54 miles

November 7 - Phoenix International Raceway, 1 mile

November 14 - Darlington Raceway, 1.366 miles

November 21 - Homestead-Miami Speedway, 1.5 miles

New points system FAQ:
Q: Why is NASCAR making this modification?
A: NASCAR is changing the way its premier series champion is crowned to add excitement to every race and to provide a better balance between winning races and performing consistently. The new format will enhance competition – all season long.

Q: How do drivers get into the “Chase for the Championship?”
A: After 26 races in the 36-race NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, the top 10 drivers in points and any others within 400 points of the first-place driver will earn berths in a 10-race NASCAR NEXTEL Cup “Chase for the Championship”.

Q: Are there any changes to the point system?
A: One change – race winners will receive 180 points instead of the 175 they earned previously. This will ensure that a race runner-up cannot earn the same number of points as a race winner. Five-point bonuses for leading a lap and leading the most laps remain, for a maximum of 190 points for race winners.

Q: Why the 400-point cut-off to get into the championship chase?
A: While no one has ever come back from 400 points with 10 to go to win the championship, NASCAR recognizes the possibility of late-season comebacks that can land a driver in the final top 10. The 400-point cutoff was arrived at after extensive research and modeling.

Q: Are the TV partners the driving force?
A: Again, this idea was introduced by NASCAR. NASCAR discussed this format change thoroughly with its TV partners.

Q: Who devised this plan?
A: In making this modification, NASCAR used its full, company-wide resources to thoroughly research history, examine possible future point scenarios, and address various intangibles that could determine a championship. Bottom line: this was a true group effort.

Q: Did Matt Kenseth’s 2003 season cause this change?
A: Not at all. NASCAR always examines the point system annually and seeks to identify ways to improve the system. Matt Kenseth and his team won the championship under the same format that was in place when other great champions like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon won championships. Also, Matt Kenseth led the points for a modern-era record 33 consecutive weeks. There is no way you can detract from a great season like.

Q: Why won’t there be points awarded for winning poles?
A: Last year NASCAR created the one-engine rule, which mandated teams used the same engine for qualifying and the race. That was a cost-containment move, so teams would not be spending money on engines used solely for qualifying. Awarding points for poles could likely end up costing teams more money.

Q: Can this new format lead to over-aggressive driving and/or blocking on the race track?
A: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers are professionals, the best racers in the world. NASCAR is confident they’ll compete accordingly. NASCAR is prepared to maintain the integrity of the sport and enforce the rules.

Q: Will this result in schedule changes?
A: As outlined in the “Realignment 2004 and Beyond” concept, NASCAR will consider schedule changes if the various ownership groups involved are interested in switching some of their dates.

Q: Are tracks involved in the “chase” a representative mix of the series? And won’t those drivers who have excelled at the tracks involved in the “chase” have an advantage going into the last 10 races?
A: Actually, the last 10 do represent all types of tracks, except for road courses. It includes the series’ biggest track (2.66-mile Talladega), intermediate tracks (1.5-mile Kansas and Charlotte) and a short track (.526-mile Martinsville). The last 10 also includes one of NASCAR’s most historic, in Darlington. There are high banks and flat tracks, concrete and asphalt. … As for drivers having an advantage, as always, the driver able to perform best on a variety of tracks will create his advantage. In addition, the unpredictability of the sport each and every weekend will continue to play a key role.

Q: Is there concern about losing hardcore fans with this change?
A: NASCAR values all of its fans and their opinions. NASCAR believes trying to attract more fans can only benefit everyone involved in the sport. At this point, NASCAR’s fans have received limited information, but once the facts are understood, NASCAR is confident its fans will realize the changes enhance the competition, broaden the amount of championship contenders and add late-season drama.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(1-20-2004)

Chase for the Championship: For the first 26 races, point tallies will not change. It's racing as usual for the points championship:
RACE POINTS
First place........ 180 points
Second..............170
Third.............. 165
Fourth..............160
Fifth.............. 155
Sixth.............. 150
Seventh thru 11....................Four points fewer for each position
12th and below...................Three points fewer for each position
BONUS POINTS
> 5 points for leading a lap (limit one per race)
> 5 more points for leading the most laps in a race
MAXIMUM POINTS 190
For the final 10 races, the championship field will be reduced to the top 10 plus any driver within 400 points of the leader. That group will keep their ranking, but their totals will be adjusted:
The leader will start with 5,050 points.
Each subsequent driver will have five points fewer than the previous. Second place will start with 5,045, third 5,040 and so on ...
> The points system for the final 10 races will be the same.
> The non-championship contenders will race for points and money but are not eligible for the Nextel title.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(1-21-2004)

Didja Know? If the "Chase for the Championship" had been in place over the last five seasons, four Winston Cup champions would not have finished first. If we apply the new formula based purely on the drivers' performances over the final 10 races, we find that Jimmie Johnson would have won instead of Kenseth in 2003; Kurt Busch instead of Tony Stewart in 2002; Sterling Marlin instead of Jeff Gordon in 2001; and Bobby Labonte instead of Dale Jarrett in 1999. Only Labonte would have survived the change in retaining his crown in 2000.(Philadelphia Inquirer)(1-21-2004)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM NASCAR:
‘CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP’ CREATED FOR NASCAR NEXTEL CUP
NASCAR modifies how premier series champion is determined

NASCAR announced today a modification in how the champion of its premier series is determined, creating a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup “Chase for the Championship” covering the last 10 races of the 36-race NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season.

“The Chase for the Championship will provide a better opportunity for more drivers to win the championship, creating excitement and drama throughout the entire season,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said. “In addition, the Chase for the Championship will showcase our drivers’ talents, increasing the value for all teams and their sponsors.”

After the first 26 races of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, all drivers in the NASCAR Top 10 and any others within 400 points of the leader will earn a berth in the “Chase for the Championship.”

No driver outside the top 10 with 10 races remaining has come back to win the championship of NASCAR’s premier series, under the current point system.

All drivers in the “chase” will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver in the standings will begin the chase with 5,050 points; the second-place driver will start with 5,045, etc. Incremental five-point drops will continue through the list of title contenders. In addition, NASCAR is making a change to the current point system for the first time since the system’s 1975 inception, awarding 180 points to a race winner, compared to the previous award of 175 points. Five-point bonuses for leading a lap and leading the most laps still will be awarded.

The 180-point award will ensure that a race winner gets more points than a race runner-up. This change will be in effect starting this season for NASCAR’s three national series – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

At season’s end, every driver who finishes in the NASCAR Top 10 will receive a point-fund payout of at least $1 million, with the champion receiving more than $5 million. In addition, the 11th-place driver in the final standings will receive a $250,000 bonus. “This new approach to determining our champion has both the drivers and the fans in mind,” Helton said. “The Chase for the Championship will be a continuation of our season, with heightened drama. It will increase the spotlight on all competitors and increase the value of being in the series for all teams.

“This will be exciting – and fair. Since 1975, using the current point system, no driver has ever been outside the NASCAR Top 10 with 10 races remaining and come back to win the championship in our premier series. We added the 400-point cutoff to allow drivers outside the top 10 after 26 races to be included in the Chase for the Championship.”

The last time the point system for NASCAR’s premier series was altered was in 1975 when the current system, designed to reward consistency, was introduced. This marks the 11th time since 1949 that the point system has been changed. The system instituted in ’75 remains virtually intact for NASCAR’s three national series – aside from the five additional five points for race winners.

In a safety-related move designed to limit the number of damaged cars returning to races merely to accumulate points, NASCAR will increase minimum-speed requirements, in lieu of altering the points breakdown for lower-finishing cars.(NASCAR PR)(1-21-2004)

What Might Have Been in '03
from a Daytona Beach News Journal column:

After Matt Kenseth's run to the 2003 points championship put many fans to sleep, NASCAR went ahead and changed its points system Tuesday. We took the new points system and applied it to last year's snoozer. The result (in your dreams): Jimmie Johnson, left, and Jeff Gordon, right, made it a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports in the "Chase for the Championship."
```
POINTS CHAMPION

Jimmie Johnson

6,609 points

REAL FINISH: 2nd (4,932)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 4th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 7th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 1st

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,574

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Engine problems at Talladega led to his only DNF;
 overcame five-point deficit to Ryan Newman at Homestead.

------------------------

2ND PLACE

Jeff Gordon

6,549 points -- (60 behind)

REAL FINISH: 4th (4,785)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 6th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 8th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 1st

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,524

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Trailed Newman by 55 heading into Homestead and finished fifth,
 but Johnson erased his car owner's chances for a fifth title by finishing third.

------------------------

3RD PLACE

Ryan Newman

6,496 points -- (113 behind)

REAL FINISH: 6th (4,711)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 5th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 10th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 1st

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,466

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Eight-time winner in 2003 led by five points heading into Homestead,
 but a Lap 3 accident left him with a DNF.

------------------------

4TH PLACE

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6,419 points -- (190 behind)

REAL FINISH: 3rd (4,815)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 2nd

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 12th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 1st

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,374

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Thirty-seventh at Dover hurt, but Junior still had title shot
 (155-point deficit) at Homestead.
 Unscheduled pit stop on Lap 186 dashed hopes.

------------------------

5TH PLACE

Kevin Harvick

6,387 points -- (222 behind)

REAL FINISH: 5th (4,770)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 3rd

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 12th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 2nd

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,347

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Just two top-fives and no wins during "chase."
 Atlanta (20th) and Phoenix (34th, accident) eliminated Harvick.

------------------------

6TH PLACE

Matt Kenseth

6,208 points -- (401 behind)

REAL FINISH: 1st (5,022)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 1st

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 17th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 4th

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,158

"CHASE" SUMMARY: The problems that the real 2003 champ evaded
 in the first 26 races found him during the "chase."
 Had three worst finishes of season (33rd, 36th, 43rd).

------------------------

7TH PLACE

Bobby Labonte

6,194 points -- (415 behind)

REAL FINISH: 8th (4,377)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 7th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 17th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 1st

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,174

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Win at Homestead couldn't make up for DNF at Martinsville
 and troubles at Dover (31st) and Phoenix (36th).

------------------------

8TH PLACE

Terry Labonte

6,090 points -- (519 behind)

REAL FINISH: 10th (4,162)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 9th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 19th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 6th

"CHASE" POINTS: 1,080

"CHASE" SUMMARY: A resurgent season for the 47-year-old, 
but Labonte couldn't capture the lightning he had to win the 1996 points championship.

------------------------

9TH PLACE

Kurt Busch

5,960 points -- (649 behind)

REAL FINISH: 11th (4,150)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 8th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 24th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 4th

'CHASE POINTS: 945

"CHASE" SUMMARY: 2002 finishing kick was replaced by a big boot to the backside.
 Busch had five finishes of 36th or worse during the "chase."

------------------------

10TH PLACE

Michael Waltrip

5,865 points -- (744 behind)

REAL FINISH: 15th (3,934)

"CHASE" STARTING POSITION: 10th

AVERAGE "CHASE" FINISH: 27th

BEST "CHASE" FINISH: 1st

"CHASE" POINTS: 860

"CHASE" SUMMARY: Waltrip won at Talladega, but had only one other top 10 during the "chase."
```
FoxSports:

Q&A: France, Helton on Chase for the Championship by Lee Spencer; and

McReynolds answers your questions about the Chase for the Championship.(1-20-2004)
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT TUESDAY: Speed Channel will interrupt regularly scheduled programming at approximately 9:30am/et on Tuesday morning, Jan. 20 to present a LIVE press conference from NASCAR's Media Tour at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Coverage is expected to last thirty minutes, and Speed will join regularly scheduled programming in progress at the conclusion of the press conference. The program will be repeated at 6:30pm/et on Tuesday. evening. Speed Channel's Ralph Sheheen will be on-site at the press conference and John Roberts will be in the studio.(Speed PR)
AND On Tuesday, NASCAR chairman Brian France and NASCAR president Mike Helton will be in Concord, NC, at the NASCAR Research and Development Center to unveil the new NASCAR Nextel Cup Series points system. The announcement will be available via a free LIVE Webcast on NASCAR.com, beginning at 9:30am/et.(NASCAR.com)(1-16-2004)
UPDATE from ThatsRacin.com "Here's what we know so far":
NASCAR's points plan? Based on NASCAR officials' public comments and conversations with The Observer, here is the likely basic structure of the new points plan for the Nextel Cup Series that will be announced Tuesday in Charlotte during the Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour:

• Championship series. There will be a number of races at the end of the season, probably 10, in which the champion will be determined.

• Who's eligible? At least the top-10 drivers in the standings after that first group of races, along with any driver within a certain number of points of the leader at that juncture. Look for that number to be around 400. One NASCAR official said that under the new plan Kurt Busch would have won the 2002 title. Busch was 361 points back with 10 races left in 2002.

• A head start. The driver in first place in the standings after the "regular-season" races will have an advantage over the driver who was second, with second ahead of third and so on. But that lead won't be large - the leader's head start over the 10th-place driver will likely be less than 100 points, a source told The Observer.

• Winning counts a little more. Under the system in place last year, if the driver finishing second in a race led the most laps that day, both he and the winner would get 180 points for that event. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said that possibility will be eliminated. This year, it's likely a victory will be worth 180 points, plus five for leading a lap. If second is still worth 170 points, a runner-up who leads the most lap would still get 180 points - counting five-points bonuses for leading a lap and for leading the most laps. But the winner would get 185. A winner leading the most laps would get 190 points that day.

(see full columns at ThatsRacin.com: Here's what we know so far and Opposition won't torpedo plan to change the points system(1-18-2004)

AND NASCAR vice chairman Bill France Jr. flatly denies that television partners FOX Sports, NBC and TNT wielded any influence in the new points and playoff systems. "You don't let someone else drive your car, do you?" France says. But he warns the "doubting Thomases to beware" of passing judgment on the new systems too hastily. "Sometimes we're right, and sometimes we're wrong," he says. "And if it turns out that it's not the smart thing to do, then we'll fix it." France says the networks have persuaded NASCAR to start some races later and run more of them at night, but any changes in the points or playoff systems come from NASCAR.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)(1-19-2004)
NASCAR official confirms changes in points system UPDATE 2 Brian France comments:......while the exact format was NOT announced, some changes announced that are coming include: a "playoff formet", a possible wild card for the 'playoffs', more points for the race winners, no points for a pole sitter [boo], still drivers and owners points, for playoffs drivers will NOT go back to zero points, and higher minimum speeds to stay in the race. As an added incentive for the drivers not in the playoffs over the final 10 races -- if winning a race weren't enough -- NASCAR will create an award for the highest finishing driver out of the playoffs and will recognize him at the Awards Banquet in New York.(1-8-2004)
A tad of an UPDATE: hearing it will be something like this: a playoff of drivers within 400 points of the leader with a minimum of no less than 10 drivers from the first 26 races. If there are more, that’s fine…if there are five, then 10 will be in on the deal. As for the top seed (driver in 1st after 26) will be given more points [haven't heard what] than second with seeding done on a descending basis through the first 10, or more, of the drivers eligible.(1-12-2004)
Next Tuesday: NASCAR officials will lay out the details Tuesday of the new format for deciding the championship. The announcement will take place during the annual Lowe's Motor Speedway media tour of race team headquarters in North Carolina. (Tampa Tribune)(1-15-2004)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR Chairman Brian France said today that the new system for determining the first Nextel Cup champion "is not a playoff" and predicts the plan will have a better reception once drivers and fans learn details they haven't heard yet. "It's not a playoff," France told reporters during an informal session during the Preseason Thunder test at Daytona International Speedway. "A playoff implies a lot of things, notably best two-out-of-three, single elimination. We're not talking about something like that. We're talking about something that still has a big element of consistency, as much as two and a half months.... There will be some features to whatever we announce that have not been reported." France said he understood the fear of change from fans and drivers but predicted the final plan will alleviate those concerns: "When we lay out ultimately what we're going to do, everybody will go, 'You know what? That makes some sense.' We are largely confident that the plan that I know of that is on the table is going to work and is going to grow the sport, period.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter) and see the full Q&A at ThatsRacin.com: Q&A: Brian France and a column by Jim Utter: France: New plan is not a 'playoff'.(1-15-2004)
An Update on the proposed 'Playoff' points change UPDATE it is offcial: Drivers and teams have had a month to consider Brian France's proposed twist in NASCAR's championship point system, and there is no great enthusiasm for such a drastic change. But NASCAR is likely to announce the radical changes in the next two weeks, after tweaking a "wild-card" rule for the year's final five races. The top 10 drivers after 26 of the year's 36 races would have their points reset to zero and battle it out for the title - plus a still-to-be-decided "wild card." NASCAR executives want to give NBC more ammunition to use against the NFL this fall. Seven of the last 10 races are on NBC. Six of the sport's last 10 champions wouldn't have won under the proposed new rules. Jimmie Johnson would have won the 2003 title and Kenseth would have finished seventh.(Winston Salem Journal)(1-7-2004)

From the NASCAR Scene: NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series will conclude the 2004 season with a 10-race playoff, Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter confirmed this afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. While specifics of the playoff were not announced, it will include at least the top 10 drivers in points after the season's 26th event. A "wild card" plan might allow other drivers into the mix, but NASCAR is still running models of different scenarios before announcing the final plan. That announcement is expected to come during the Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour later this month. While reaction to the plan has been mixed, at best, Hunter said NASCAR would consider changing the way the champion is selected in 2005 if necessary. Hunter also announced that a race winner will receive more points than currently, though the amount of the "bonus" was not announced. Also, the driver winning the pole position will not receive any points. The playoff system applies only to the Nextel Cup Series.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

From ThatsRacin.com: NASCAR this season will significantly change the way it determines the champion of its Nextel Cup series, marking the first major change to its points system since 1975. Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president of corportate communications, confirmed Thursday several changes to the current system. Among them:
• Every race winner in each of the three national series - Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck - will receive a points bonus for a race win.
• The Cup series will adopt a version of a "playoff format" - first discussed at the end of last season - that will encompass the final 10 races of the season. That system will be used to determine the series champion.
• NASCAR will continue with its current policy of not awarding any points in any of its series for qualifying.
• In order to accommodate any potential injuries to drivers who may be fighting for a championship, NASCAR will continue to award both car owner and driver points, allowing for the possibility of split championships.
• NASCAR is considering increasing the minimum speed requirements to reduce the number of damaged vehicles that remain in races after accidents.
The final details remain to be decided, but the entire plan should be ready for a formal announcement within two weeks, likely during the Charlotte media tour, Hunter said.(ThatsRacing.com)

From NASCAR.com: NASCAR indeed is changing the way it crowns a champion in the Nextel Cup Series in 2004, switching to a season-point points race to a 10-race "playoff," vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter confirmed to NASCAR.com Thursday afternoon. While Hunter didn't disclose the exact nature of the playoffs -- because NASCAR hasn't nailed down the details -- a system will be used in the final 10 races to determine the champion.

"Yes, we are committed to changing the format to use to determine the champion," Hunter said in an exclusive interview with NASCAR.com. "We're looking at 26, 10. We're looking at a number to make sure we don't exclude anybody in the 10 who would have a chance to win the championship."

The numbers of drivers eligible for the championship could be more than 10, and any driver in the playoffs will be seeded. NASCAR will not reset the points back to zero, but instead start each driver with a certain number, with the driver leading the standings getting the most points with 10 races to go. "A small lead, but it's a brand-new chase to the championship," Hunter said. "Nobody will go back to zero." Any driver within a certain number of points of the leader will be eligible for the playoffs. Hunter said NASCAR is trying to determine that number based on models from the previous 28 years of using the current system, but that number is between 300 and 600. For example, if a driver is in 14th place but 300 points behind the leader, he would still be eligible for the playoffs - and the championship.

"We'll start them off with x number of points, and the leader will have more than second, third, fourth, fifth, on down the line," Hunter said. "Then we still use our same points system the rest of the year for them." That's to make sure drivers out of the playoffs won't end up with more points with drivers in the playoffs. That starting-point number for playoff drivers has been established, but Hunter wasn't ready to announce them Hunter said NASCAR will award more points to the winner of each race, but it won't be a large number.

"Somebody said, '25,' and I said, 'Not that big,'" Hunter said. "We don't know what the number is yet. But the winner will receive more points than second place, no matter what."

NASCAR will not alter the points for lower finishers of a race as previously speculated, but the minimum speed at each track will be raised, reducing the number of slower cars allowed on the track (like cars returning from a crash). Qualifying will continue to pay no points.

As an added incentive for the drivers not in the playoffs over the final 10 races -- if winning a race weren't enough -- NASCAR will create an award for the highest finishing driver out of the playoffs and will recognize him at the Awards Banquet in New York. "You're racing to win races," Hunter said. "That's what you're supposed to be here for -- not running for points. We're toying with the idea of putting special point fund money to that position."

As for why NASCAR has decided to change the points system, Hunter said it was simple: After Labor Day, when college and pro football are beginning and competing for fans and television viewers, things go flat for NASCAR. NASCAR wants to add drama to the fall schedule, for TV and the fans. Some races late in the year are not selling out, Hunter said. "There's just so much more for NASCAR to compete with in that last third of the season that we don't have the rest of the year," Hunter said. "We're doing this to draw additional attention to our sport. That's the bottom line." Hunter also pointed out that the championship should not be based solely on consistency. Matt Kenseth, for example, won only won race in 2003 but ran away with the championship. Meanwhile, Ryan Newman won eight races but finished sixth in the points. "The balance of winning and consistency has sort of gotten out of whack," Hunter said. "It seems that the consistency factor plays more of a role than winning races. We need to change the format. "It's a new day, so we want to try this. We think it'll work. In the end, if it doesn't work, we'll change it back." Drivers have generally reacted negatively to the proposal, and fans have been against it from the start. In a NASCAR.com poll in December, fans were overwhelmingly against the playoff system. But Hunter said it was up to NASCAR to educate the fans as to the positives of the plan. "Fans that I talked to, when I explained to them why we're doing this and what we hope to accomplish, they may not swing all the way over, but they say, 'Oh, OK, I get that,'" Hunter said. One argument against the playoff system was the inability to break into the top 10 for drivers out of the playoffs. Figuring out the cutoff -- x number of points behind the leader -- was the "last piece of the puzzle," Hunter said. "On the average, that happens about one out of three years," Hunter said about drivers moving into the top 10 in the final 10 races. As for the other argument that drivers not in the playoffs have "nothing to race for," Hunter said there will be plenty. For one, the 10 races mean a lot to a winner. Besides, if a driver is outside the top 10 after 26 races, his season hasn't been as good as drivers inside the top 10. "People don't know that, and we've got to educate them," Hunter said. "People say, 'It sounds to me like you know what's going on, why don't you go ahead an announce it?' "When we announce it, we want to be able to, No. 1, present it in a simple fashion where the fans can understand it. No. 2, we're running models to make sure the numbers are right."(NASCAR.com)(1-8-2004)
Nextel to meet with NASCAR about points system UPDATE and final POLL results: Nextel Communications, which takes over as sponsor for NASCAR's Cup series in 2004, is meeting with NASCAR this week to seek information about a proposed addition of a playoff format to its top series, officials with the sponsor confirmed Tuesday. Nextel, which signed a 10-year deal in June to sponsor the Cup series, was not informed of NASCAR's desire to change the current points system before its deal with NASCAR was completed, sources confirmed. NASCAR officials maintain they are seriously considering a plan that would create a 26-race "regular season" and 10-race playoff format. Only the top-10 drivers in points after 26 races would be eligible to race for the championship over the final 10 races. A decision is expected next month. Since the plan first became widely circulated during the annual Cup awards banquet weekend in New York, Nextel has received an "overwhelming" response regarding the proposal from fans, sources said. Fans have flooded Internet message boards and radio talk shows discussing the playoff system. Some have mistakenly credited Nextel with pushing for the change. The plan, however, has been promoted heavily by new NASCAR chairman Brian France. In two recent Internet polls - one which is still underway - race fans have overwhelmingly expressed their disapproval with the playoff format.
A poll on ThatsRacin.com last week asked fans if NASCAR should adopt the "26-10" playoff-style points system in 2004. Of the nearly 4,600 responses, over 85-percent said 'no.'
Another poll on jayski.com asking if the NASCAR points system should be changed has elicited nearly 20,000 votes, with 55-percent saying 'no.' Of the seven choices given to change the system, the playoff format currently under consideration had 924 votes, or 4.69-percent as of Tuesday.
Cup drivers Kevin Harvick and 2002 champion Tony Stewart have recently expressed support of the current points system, with Harvick preferring a small points addition for winning a race. Ford Racing officials reached Tuesday said they would reserve comment on the playoff format until they received more specifics of the proposal from NASCAR.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-17-2003)
UPDATE: On Wednesday, Tom Kelly, chief operating officer of Nextel Communications, met with NASCAR personnel in Reston, VA as the two organizations continue to plan the rollout of Nextel's first-year sponsorship agenda, details of which are scheduled to be unveiled in January. Since the announcement of the sponsorship in June, Nextel has been very quiet, preferring to give Winston a wide berth for its final months in the spotlight. That will change in a big way next month as Nextel begins the process of boosting its name recognition among NASCAR fans.(in part from the Greenville News)(12-19-2003)
and The JAYSKI Poll looks like Votations.com shut down my Points Poll [won't use them again]
so I guess the final results are as follows:
29452 votes thru 11:00am/et on Dec 18th with 53.9% answering NO 46.1% answering YES in some fashion and only 4.64% voted for the "playoff" system that is being proposed.(12-19-2003)
THE INITIAL RUMOR Points Change? UPDATE 2: not sure if this was a joke or what, seemed off the wall, but on Speed Channel's Inside Winston Cup, Jimmy Spencer [and he sounded serious) said while at Homestead he was talking to NASCAR's Brian France, and was told that NASCAR 'may' change the Cup drivers points system where after the race at Richmond in Sept 2004 with 10 races left, the slate would be 'cleaned' and the top 10 would be locked in and they would run for the title. NOTE: have heard NOTHING on a change like this, no idea how it would work or what happens to the points with the drivers 11th and back, if this is serious or just a tongue in cheek to saying how crazy it is to change the points system when two out of three national series had such close points battles. Not looking for comments, debates or new system ideas, just reporting what was on the show.
UPDATE: Been told this is seriously being discussed.(11-18-2003)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR is considering a dramatic change in how it determines the champion of its top series, studying a plan to make only the drivers in the top 10 after 26 races eligible to run for the title over the season's final 10 events. Sources told The [Charlotte] Observer that, while no decision has been made and that NASCAR could still keep intact the system it has used since 1975, it is weighing a major overhaul. When applied to the past eight seasons, the most sweeping plan under study would have produced a different champion than the old system five times, including this season. That plan would advance the top 10 drivers following the Sept. 11 race at Richmond into a 10-race "postseason." Points earned in the first 26 races would be erased or evened up in some manner so points earned in the final 10 races would determine the champion. If this year's top 10 went back to zero after the September race at Richmond, Matt Kenseth would have seen a 418-point lead erased. Michael Waltrip, 785 points back in 10th at that juncture, would have gone to the first "playoff" race at New Hampshire on equal footing with Kenseth and the eight other drivers in the top 10. And Jimmie Johnson, who wound up second behind Kenseth in the final standings, would have won the title with 1,569 points over the final 10 races. Johnson would have been the guest of honor at Friday night's awards ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. Kenseth would have finished seventh.
Earlier this year NASCAR chief executive officer Bill France Jr. indicated changes to the championship were likely after the 2003 season. France later stepped aside and turned the CEO job over to his son, Brian France, who said Thursday NASCAR is comfortable with its system despite criticism for its emphasis on season-long consistency. Kenseth won only one race in the 2003 but finished 90 points ahead of Johnson, who won three races. Ryan Newman, who led the circuit with eight victories, finished sixth in the final standings because he also had seven races where his No. 12 Dodge was not running at the finish. Top NASCAR officials are scheduled to meet in New York City Saturday to look at possible changes in the system. France said Thursday a final decision on changes to the points system could be announced as late as mid-January.
The first reports that such a system might be considered came from driver Jimmy Spencer on a television show that aired the day after the season's final race at Homestead Miami Speedway. Because the change seemed so radical, however, Spencer's comments drew marginal attention [except on Jayski]. Now it is clear the plan has advocates at the sport's top levels.

After 26 races a year ago, Kurt Busch was 12th in the standings. Over the final 10 races, however, Busch had 1,563 points -- more than anyone who would have qualified to race for the title over the final 10 races. Eventual 2002 champion Tony Stewart, who was fifth after 26 races, had 1,479 over the final 10 races. Brian France said Thursday any system NASCAR adopts would have to choose a "credible" champion. But if Busch scored more points in the final 10 races than Stewart, would that have damaged the credibility of Stewart's title? Because of that situation, officials are looking at possible ways to allow for a "wild card" contender to earn his way into the title chase.
Of the Winston Cup champions crowned since 1996, only Gordon in 1998, Bobby Labonte in 2000 and Stewart last year would have would have also won titles under the 10-race postseason system. Sterling Marlin would have won the 2001 title instead of Gordon. Labonte would have won in 1999 instead of Dale Jarrett. Jarrett would have won in 1997 instead of Gordon and Gordon would have won in 1996 instead of Terry Labonte.(full article on ThatsRacin.com and see another column at FoxSports/Sporitng News: Turning a marathon into a sprint)
AND Bill France Jr., retired chairman of NASCAR but still a power in the stock car sport, isn't convinced the points system needs to be changed.(See full story at NASCAR.com)(12-5-2003)
Points System to Stay: NASCAR officials are content with the points distribution system currently in place in the Winston Cup Series and say they have no plans to overhaul the formula. That, despite the fact that there have been occasions when the points race has been decided well before the end of the season, and other occasions when a driver with the most wins in a season has come out on the short end of the overall battle. But Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications, says it's highly unlikely any changes will be made anytime soon to the current points structure.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(11-15-2001)

The Chase 2007+ News
Past NASCAR News
Jayski's Silly Season Site Nextel Cup News Page
Jayski's Silly Season Site Main Page

the Jayski site is owned and served by:

Born on Date: January 20, 2004

This page designed by Jayski LLC, 1996-2008© All Rights Reserved.
Jayski's® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.

NASCAR Points System Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship 2004-2006 rules

NEWS and RUMORS of Change

2004 NEWS

What Might Have Been in '03

NASCAR Points System
Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship
2004-2006 rules