NASCAR hasn’t solicited Terry Labonte’s opinion yet on its proposed “playoff” system that is being given serious consideration for implementation in 2004. But the two-time Winston Cup champion already has formed strong feelings about the plan, which apparently would freeze the points chase with 10 races remaining and allow only the top 10 in the standings to compete for the championship. The nearly three dozen remaining teams would continue to race without a shot at the crown. “It’s a real slap in the face to the guys running 11th through 15th and their sponsors to say, ‘OK, you can’t even compete to be in the top 10,'” Labonte said. “My thought is maybe everyone can run a 26-race schedule, then take the top 10 and let only those 10 guys run the last 10 races. That would be real interesting.” Labonte points to the Craftsman Truck and Busch series, which featured several drivers in title contention through both season finales under the system used in Cup, as proof that change isn’t needed to a current structure that rewards consistency. Public opinion seems to support that view. Internet polls have been running heavily against the proposal, and several of his peers have expressed concerns about an overhaul.( Richmond Times Dispatch )(12-21-2003)
