Now I know you know I'm not a big fan of NASCAR, but on the other hand it is racing and I do have to confess I watch a few of the races... and have actually gone to see them race at The Glen.

So, every time I turn around I hear someone talking trash on SPEED about the points system and how the change is going to destroy the series. Help me out, make it simple for me, I don't want to read the bylaws I just want to know what the changes are...




Oh, and as an FYI - the real racing season starts this weekend...

 

Hey Trip H. I'll let Carmen fill you in on the rule changes, but I had a couple of questions on the Rolex Series.
1) Is Maserati going to have a car this year? I heard rumours about that somewhere.
2) Is Terry Borcheler still driving the Chevy-Doran in the picture on your post? I thought I heard he was going to another team.
3) The Broumos Porsche team still the same?
4) Is there going to be more cars in the Daytona Prototype class this year? My son & I went to the race at Mid-Ohio, and the Toyota FabCar wasn't there...think it got damaged during qualifying, or maybe didn't make the trip.
5) Who do you think will take Daytona? Another GT car?

 

Doug,

Here is my understanding of the new system. I must weigh in and say (if I understand it correctly) I DO NOT like it.

1) The winner of the race gets 5 more points than last year. This is a good change. Winners should be rewarded disproportionately. This partially addresses last years issue where Matt Kenseth, the points champion, won only 1 race and Ryan Newman, who finished 6th (I think) won 8 races. Or maybe 9.

In the past, the 2nd place driver could end up with as many point in the race as the winner by coming in 2nd and getting the 5 bonus points for leading 1 lousy lap. The idea of getting 5 points for leading a lap is stupid IMHO, because you got guys pitting out of sequence and the 43rd guy stays out 1 more lap to pick up 5 points.

2) There are 36 Nextel Cup points races. For the first 26 races, everything will stay the same. As Matt Kenseth did last year, you can build a HUGE points lead during this time. However, the big change is this. For the last 10 races, they will only include anyone in the top 10 in points AND anyone within 400 points of the leader. They then wipe the points slate clean (almost) and have a shootout. The guy going in to race 27 will have a 5 point lead over the 2nd place guy, who will have a 5 point lead over 3rd, and so on.

Here's my beef. In the first 26 races do you think guys will be taking that bold move to go for the win? NFW!! All they have to do is putz around and get "decent" finishes and get through the first 26 races in the top 10 in points to position themselves for the 10 race "shootout". How lame. It will make the first 26 races boring IMHO. Why make risky moves and chance wrecking when you can come in 13th and pick up lots of points? Stupid. Any questions?

 

Hey Blue, I have to admit you follow this series way better than I do... about the only thing I follow in detail now days is F1. I have no valid replies for any of your questions, but I can promise you this, my little but will be on the sofa this weekend and SPEED will be on the TV!

 

Carmen, thanks, that is straightforward and easy to grasp.

#1- The idea that the race winner should get an extra pile of points is absolutely correct, that encourages the "go for it" attitude, and frankly that does make racing entertaining and deserving of the name race.

#2- Who the hell thought up this idea. That stinks!!! So what happens to the drivers who are not in the top 10 or within 400 points of the leader in the last 10 races? Do they even go out on the track? Why should they?

 

I guess the guys out of the top 10 still race. Reason? $$$$$$$$

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by OhioRacer

 

HEY!!! How did you get that Ohio badge....bastard

 

you have one to...you pay attention like this at work too?

 

BL18 sucks.....