In an attempt to make things easier to understand for fans, drivers, and the media, NASCAR has overhauled its entire points system. The change will take effect in all three of NASCAR’s top tier series including the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. It was not that the old system was broken, it will just be easier for everyone to understand the new system.
The old system distributed points from 1st to 43rd in un-even increments. The top five drivers were separated by five points, with drivers six through ten being separated by four points. From 11th down to 43rd the point increment decreased by three points. There were also five bonus points available if you led a lap, and five more available if you led the most laps. If you do not completely understand this formula, it is ok.
That is one of the main reasons that NASCAR has made the change to all three of its top series to make tracking the points easier over the course of a race. Under the new system, points will be distributed equally. For example, the driver who finishes first in a race will be credited with forty three points, second place forty two points, third place forty one points, etc… The minimum number of points earned for a 43rd place finisher will be one.
There will also still be bonus points awarded during events. One way to earn a bonus point is by leading a lap. Drivers who lead a single lap in an event will earn one bonus point. The driver leading the most laps will also earn a bonus point. With NASCAR wanting to put more emphasis on winning, the driver who ends up in victory lane will also earn three additional bonus points, meaning that the maximum amount of points scored by a driver in a single event is forty eight.
There will also be a change in the Chase format for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. After the 26th race of the season concludes at Richmond International Raceway, the top ten drivers in points will earn a berth in NASCAR’s version of the playoffs. There will also be two wildcard drivers eligible for the Chase to bring the total number of drivers in the Chase to twelve.
The wildcard drivers will be the two drivers who are in the top twenty in points that have the most victories who are not already in the chase. If no drivers outside of the top ten meet the criteria, then the 11th and 12th place drivers in points will be advanced into the Chase.
Another change that NASCAR has made to its point system in 2011 is that drivers must choose which series they will earn points in. This will make past Nationwide Series Champions like Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch ineligible for the Nationwide Championship, as they will all compete for the Sprint Cup title. This was done in an effort to allow Nationwide only drivers to compete for their title. The same rule also applies to the Camping World Truck Series.
Devon Holder is a feature writer for SpeedWeekly magazine and SpeedWeekly.net
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