Don’t count car owner Jack Roush [#’s 6,16,17,97,99] among those who want a change in NASCAR’s point structure. There’s been criticism most of the year over the way points are distributed – mostly because Roush driver Matt Kenseth has built a nearly insurmountable lead through solid finishes instead of victories. Kenseth has just one win this year, while Ryan Newman, who sits fifth in points, has won eight races. “You aren’t suggesting just because I am finally on the verge of my first Winston Cup title that NASCAR should change the points?” Roush joked Friday at North Carolina Speedway. “I think the system is fine just the way it is.” Roush acknowledged that he has had suggestions in the past on how the system could be changed, ranging from allowing a driver to throw out his three worst finishes of the year to placing a premium on qualifying or winning the race. But he points to the championship races in the Busch Series and the Trucks Series – which will all be decided in next weekend’s season finales in Homestead, Fla. – as proof that there is nothing wrong with the system. “The same scenario is used in the other two series and they’ve got races going on there,” he said. “The only reason there hasn’t really been one this year is because Matt didn’t have any bad luck. He’s had a Cinderella season and those don’t come often.”( Augusta Chronicle/AP )(11-8-2003)
