No drastic changes expected for points system

[Happy29]

By JENNA FRYER
The Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C. - NASCAR is not likely to make any drastic changes to the championship points system, instead focusing on alterations to the cars.
Since NASCAR adopted common templates this year, drivers have complained that passing is nearly impossible and the competition is too even.

By fixing that - perhaps by reducing rear spoilers by a half inch next season, thus cutting down on downforce - NASCAR officials said Sunday it would help even out the current points system.

"Both problems are tied together, and an aerodynamic reduction program is one step toward fixing both issues," Winston Cup director John Darby said.

NASCAR has been toying with different ways to change the points system, ranging from awarding extra bonuses for victories and poles and changing the way points are given to cars finishing at the back of the pack.

But every formula under consideration has been applied to the past 10 years final point standings, and NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the champion never changed.

Plus, talk of making changes is insulting to current points leader Matt Kenseth, who has built a tremendous lead through consistency and just one victory this season.

"It is totally unfair to Matt Kenseth and that team, who have race by race put together a very strong year," Hunter said Sunday. "So we've got to fix the cars, not the points system, and figure out a process that allows us to put the competition in

NASCAR is still considering awarding extra points for victories and poles, but Hunter said changes to the way points are given to the back of the field will likely not change.

 

[Ward Burton]

I think It is time for atleast a little bit of a change, next year is a re-birthing year for NASCAR....Nextel, New Fuel, New Points, and races re-scheduled, it is the time for change.

 

[17_Fan]

All this talk of changing the points was getting old any ways. The Junior/Gordon happy media doesn't like the fact that a quiet kid from Wisconsin is kicking their butts. They feel the need to always point out the fact that Matt has only one win this season. Well, so does Junior and so does Gordon. In fact there are only three drivers in the top ten in points that have more than one win.

 

[Whizzer]

Originally posted by 17_Fan@Sep 2 2003, 02:43 AM
All this talk of changing the points was getting old any ways. The Junior/Gordon happy media doesn't like the fact that a quiet kid from Wisconsin is kicking their butts. They feel the need to always point out the fact that Matt has only one win this season. Well, so does Junior and so does Gordon. In fact there are only three drivers in the top ten in points that have more than one win.

Good theory , but in the study of making changes to the point system NASCAR went back ten years and in every case scenario of point adjustment, the end result was still the same. Matt won.

These cries for change are not coming from the Junior/ Gordon camps, they are coming from all over the NASCAR landscape, and upon review, they all turn out the same.
Matt Kenseth, unless he falls into a deep pit of ill fortune, will win the championship, fair and square, and be very deserving of the title.

Just because there are calls for change does not mean they are coming from more popular or recognizable race teams. Matt chooses to be in the limelight rather than the spotlight but this might change and Matt will fit in that category once he wins this championship and the stragglers looking to jump on a winners bandwagon, find him.

 

[slick-nick]

The only reason people brought this up was because of Matt's dominant performance this year, but if ya ask me.. I say Kevin Harvick will give him a run for his money. He chopped almost 40 points off his lead this past weekend, and he is the only driver to score more points than Matt over the last 7-8 weeks.

 

[17_Fan]

Originally posted by Whizzer+Sep 2 2003, 08:49 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Whizzer @ Sep 2 2003, 08:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--17_Fan@Sep 2 2003, 02:43 AM
All this talk of changing the points was getting old any ways.  The Junior/Gordon happy media doesn't like the fact that a quiet kid from Wisconsin is kicking their butts.  They feel the need to always point out the fact that Matt has only one win this season.  Well, so does Junior and so does Gordon.  In fact there are only three drivers in the top ten in points that have more than one win.

Good theory , but in the study of making changes to the point system NASCAR went back ten years and in every case scenario of point adjustment, the end result was still the same. Matt won.

These cries for change are not coming from the Junior/ Gordon camps, they are coming from all over the NASCAR landscape, and upon review, they all turn out the same.
Matt Kenseth, unless he falls into a deep pit of ill fortune, will win the championship, fair and square, and be very deserving of the title.

Just because there are calls for change does not mean they are coming from more popular or recognizable race teams. Matt chooses to be in the limelight rather than the spotlight but this might change and Matt will fit in that category once he wins this championship and the stragglers looking to jump on a winners bandwagon, find him. [/b][/quote]
True, no one on the #8 team ever complained about the point system & the only one from the #24 team to make a comment was Jeff. But Big Bill & Mike Helton made comments about it changing and the media ate it up. And in just about every article, the mention of Matt running away with the points chase and only having one win was brought up, implying that this is the reason it must be changed.

Matt didn't chose to stay out of the spotlight, it was thrust upon him by the Junior happy media. Most of the media has made Matt out to be dull, for the shear fact that he didn't build a tavern in his basement and prefers to do other things with his free time than party.

Matt has stated that the lack of attention doesn't bother him and he realizes that more attention will be payed upon him if he succeeds in winning this year's Winston Cup, which also he stated won't bother him.

 

[Oldgoat]

I would like to see a little tweeking of the points system myself. They had the same argument when Terry won the championship before also. The winner and one with the most laps led should get more points I think. I would also like to look into taking the point out of getting the car back on the track to run for 38th place. Maybe after 36th place or so make the points all the same. Am still against points for the pole position since it is irrelevent to how well you run during the race. Only thing with giving points for pole is costing more money to the teams since they would start doing more to get the pole.

 

[17_Fan]

I don't remember the talk back in '96 about changing the points, but it was more valid then IMO. You had Terry in 1st with 2 wins & Jeff in 2nd with 10 wins and DJ in third with 4 wins. Rusty had 5 wins, but finished in 7th that year. Not quite the same as this year with Kurt having 4 wins & Ryan having 5 wins. They are in 6th and 7th in points, mainly from DNF's & goofy things like what happened to Ryan on Sunday. JJ has two wins & is in fourth, but all the other drivers only have one win.