And, you can add another driver to the list of those who don't want the 10 race playoff deal:
Jarrett not in favor of proposed changes
By Lee Montgomery, Turner Sports Interactive January 7, 2004
9:32 AM EST (1432 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Jarrett blasted NASCAR's proposed change of the points system Tuesday, saying the sanctioning body needs to be careful with such a drastic switch.
NASCAR is considering using the first 26 races as a regular season of sorts, with the top 10 after that point the only ones who can compete for the season championship. Jarrett said he has found plenty of holes with the proposal, the biggest being the possibility of dropping out of the top 10 in the final race of the "regular season."
"You can call me a traditionalist or whatever, but I'm not for the change," said Jarrett, a 17-year veteran and the 1999 NASCAR champion. "Whether you put yourself in a position or take yourself out of a position in those first 26, we've always been about the season-long deal, performing for 36 races. Whoever does that the best wins the championship.
"Just say we've had a pretty decent 25 races, and I'm seventh in the points. From fifth to 12th is really close, within 100 points of each other. The first lap, I get taken out at Richmond, and my car is torn up beyond repair, and I go all the way back to 11th or 12th. You're going to tell UPS, who spends millions of dollars, that the best their car can finish this season is 11th? I'm not sure how long they'll be around. I'm not putting words in their mouth. I just know of conversations I've had with them. I think we're taking a big chance with sponsors."
Jarrett said he used that argument with NASCAR president Mike Helton. The sport has been unique through the years compared to other major-league sports, and Jarrett said NASCAR needs to move a little slower.
"Do we need to be like the NFL, like Major League Baseball, the NBA to where we bring more teams in, and the best team doesn't always win the Super Bowl or the World Series or the NBA championship?" Jarrett said. "The team that's been the best throughout the season doesn't always do that. You bring in teams that may gel later on.
"I'm not totally against what they're proposing... But my choice would be to leave things the way they are, other than what I've always said: give the winner more points than anybody else in every race."
Besides, if NASCAR wants to compete against the NFL for three months, that is a difficult task, Jarrett said.
"We have our fans that are very passionate about our sport, and they're not going to turn over in those three months and watch an NFL game when there's a NASCAR race on," Jarrett said. "But you've got to look at the other side. If you're trying to get that NFL fan over there to switch over to us by changing things around and thinking they're going to turn over to watch a playoff system of ours, then you're dead wrong. They're very, very passionate about their sport, also.
"I'm a race driver, not a TV person, so I'm probably speaking out of turn. But I do know sports. Being a fan of it, we better be careful of what we're doing there. I didn't think the sport was in trouble to where we needed (major change)."
One other problem Jarrett has is exposure for drivers outside the top 10 in the final 10 races. Sure, teams that are outside the top 10 don't usually get a lot of television coverage in the final 10 races, but Jarrett said they'd get less under the proposed change.
"You can sit here and try to convince me all you want about how the networks are going to make sure everybody else is shown, too," Jarrett said. "I'm not even sure (if you're leading the race) if you're not one of those 10 that you're going to be talked about that much. Right now, they don't give a damn about the New York Giants, the Atlanta Falcons or anybody else who isn't playing."
