NASCAR continues to work on improving its on-track product, an endeavor chairman Brian France takes so seriously he plans to attend Mondays test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The test at Charlotte will be the second as NASCAR continues to seek a rules package that could enhance the competition. ‘Obviously, we want to get more lead changes, we want to get closer, tighter competition’ France said Thursday in a briefing with reporters. ‘Id love a photo finish every weekend. The point is that were going to be working all the time on (improving) the competition and “¦ lead changes are going to be a huge part. Once that Charlotte test is complete and NASCAR has a better grasp of its 2014 rules, the focus could be turned to other areas of the product: France hinted Thursday there could a larger emphasis placed on winning and changes coming to the qualifying process. For qualifying, NASCAR told competitors it is considering moving away from single-car qualifying for the group formats used on road courses. France also downplayed an overhaul to the 2015 Sprint Cup schedule when NBC takes over the second half of the NASCAR television package. ‘Most tracks with a couple of exceptions dont like to give up a date thats worked for them and so on that theyve had for a long time’ he said. ‘So there might be a change or two, but I wouldnt predict any significant changes.” Other topics covered by France: -The Richmond scandal: France said he was personally ‘pissed off, to be honest” when it became clear that Michael Waltrip Racing had manipulated the end of the regular-season finale in its attempt to get Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field. -Formula Ones scheduled race in Austin, Texas: The F1 schedule released this week placed the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin on Nov. 2 – the same day as the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, a three-hour drive from Austin. ‘Well, I wouldnt have done that myself’ he said about F1s race date. ‘Im sure they had the same kind of scheduling challenges that we do. They go all over the world, and that was what they chose. It wouldnt be my first choice.” -Iowa Speedway: NASCAR last week announced it had purchased the track, but has no plans to add a Sprint Cup race to Iowa. The track has hosted Nationwide Series and Truck Series races since 2009, and IndyCar also races at the facility. France said NASCARs ownership gives the track some stability.( Associated Press ), see a transcript of the press conference on the December 5 NASCAR Teleconference transcript page .
