Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
SPENCER: Picking Apart The Points
Points racing is hampering the show each week in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
Jimmy Spencer  |  Posted May 27, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)

Points racing is hampering the show each week and nowhere was that more evident than the non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

We’ve been talking for almost two weeks about how outstanding the All-Star Race was and what NASCAR can learn from it. There has been an almost unanimous cry for the implementation of double-file restarts in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races ever since, as the practice seemed to increase the excitement and intensity level in the All-Star Race.

Something else NASCAR should take away from the exhibition race, though, is the need to restructure our points system. While the All-Star Race was a non-points event, it clearly demonstrated how hard and intensely drivers will race when they’re not agonizing over points. Sure, there was $1 million on the line but that was not the only motivation.

Points shouldn’t restrain drivers from racing as hard as they can but points are causing some guys to just ride it out in an attempt to make the top 12. I’m tired of hearing drivers say they had a “good points day” after finishing eighth. Carl Edwards finished fourth in the Coca-Cola 600 and then commented that he had a good points day.

A good points day for a driver doesn’t necessarily translate into a great race for the fans. Therefore, NASCAR needs to reorganize the points system to encourage drivers to race with abandon. Look at allowing them to drop their three best and worst finishes of the season, essentially basing the points system on 30 races instead of 36. Teams would still have to enter every event but not all would count toward the championship. There are so many ways to accomplish the end goal of giving these drivers more incentive to be aggressive, take chances and go for the win like we saw in the All-Star Race.

I’ve heard NASCAR argue in the past that a system such as I’ve proposed would be confusing to the fans. Well, the fans and competitors are confused already due to some of the rules and decisions handed down. Fans don’t give a damn about the points system and how we arrive at its constitution - they just want to see a good race like the All-Star. Most NASCAR fans don’t care that a driver finished fifth and gained points on his closest competitor. They want to know why he didn’t try to pass the fourth-place car or catch up to the leader.


Page 1 of 2
Prev
12
Next
jimmy_spencer's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jimmy Spencer

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.