New NASCAR scoring method?

[sperry]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?...v=ap&type=lgns

The plan would lock in the top 10 drivers after the 26th race of the 2004 season. They would then compete over the final 10 races -- with their standings possibly being reset to zero -- for the Nextel Cup championship.

It's not for sure, just something NASCAR's talking about, but it's an interesting take on motorsports scoring. Kinda adds a "playoff" feel to the end of the season, and means that there'll be some drama around race 22-26 when people on the bubble have to fight for a spot in the top 10. Plus, everyone in the top 10 now has a shot at the championship.

On the otherhand, it's basically taking a Talledega race and converting it to a full season: race 26 = "the big one" where the majority of the field is knocked out, then eveything comes down to the last 10 races, where anyone can win. I'm not so sure the drivers will appreciate that.

I guess this came up for discussion cuz Kenseth dominated the championship while only winning a single race... to be frank, anyone that consistant (esp. in NASCAR where luck is often more important than skill or preperation for winning) deserves the championship, IMO. But it's not quite as exciting for the fans.

You know, if NASCAR really wants to get fans excited, they should just fix the races, and have like a really popular driver get wrecked out early, but then his team works hard and he gets back into the race for a fabulous come from behind victory!! Then after the race, the vanquished "bad-guy" driver that wrecked out our hero will be all "I will get you!!! At DARLINGTOOOOOONNNN!!!!!" and he'd be all sweaty and angry and stuff yelling into the camera whil DW holds a mic for him and avoids the spittle. Then The Rock, er Earnhardt Jr. would be like, "I'm faster than you at any track, day or night!!! BRINGGGGG IIIITTTT!!!!!" Then the fans would be all hyped for the next race at Darlington, and it'd be on TNN, er Spike: "Welcome to Sunday Night RAW!!! ...acing!!!" And the car's would roll out amonst loud rock or rap music and smoke effects and all the pit crews would be brawling, but the referies, er track officials, don't notice till someone's already been hit with a roll of quarters or a folding chair or something. Man, the future of NASCAR is exciting!!

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Originally Posted by sperry

I guess this came up for discussion cuz Kenseth dominated the championship while only winning a single race... to be frank, anyone that consistant (esp. in NASCAR where luck is often more important than skill or preperation for winning) deserves the championship, IMO.

Did NASCAR's management suddenly develop ADD or something? As I recall Terry Labonte won the championship in 96' with only 1 or 2 wins, as have many others in the past. That series has really gone to shit in the last 5 years... The last time I cared enough to sit down and watch a race all the way through was at least a year or two ago.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey

Did NASCAR's management suddenly develop ADD or something? As I recall Terry Labonte won the championship in 96' with only 1 or 2 wins, as have many others in the past. That series has really gone to shit in the last 5 years... The last time I cared enough to sit down and watch a race all the way through was at least a year or two ago.

HEEAAAAYY!!!

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Originally Posted by sperry

HEEAAAAYY!!!

[TopGun]Geez you crack yourself up...[/TopGun]

[MattR]

Heeeayy!

I think its a great idea, except dumb NAscar fans won;t like it cuz they have to use teh math., But smart NASCAR fans like me would really enjoy it.

I like NASCAR, and I think it would add a level of excitement to the championship,

[sperry]

I'm not against the new scoring method, it does seem cool. My problem is with NASCAR's constant tendancy to screw with the sport to "make it more entertaining".

You know what's entertaining? fucking racing!! You don't have to gussy it all up with fancy TV coverage and fan participation, etc. That's the same shit that turned Olympic wrestling into the horror that is the WWE. IMO, NASCAR's already ruined the sport by trying to go main-stream.

Like Austin, it's been years since I've been excited about watching a race. I still watch Daytona... and I love catching Martinsville or the night Bristol (short tracks are teh cool!)... but overall, I don't care who wins what. All the cool drivers are retiring.

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Pretty much all the big time race series in the U.S. are fux0red right now... NASCAR is turning into a WWE-esqe spectacle, CART is in it's death throes, and IRL is just smaller-time NASCAR with wings. I guess NHRA is still about the same as it used to be, but... they just go straight. I don't really include F1 cause we're just one stop on their schedule.

[MattR]

Thats Why I love ALMS!.

However, the D.I.R.T. series and World of Outlaws still rock ass...Dirt Oval ownz You!!!


Heaayy!

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Yeah, I think amateur and relatively unknown Pro series like ALMS, Speed World Challenge, American Iron, USTCC, etc. etc. are the best racing going on in the country right now.

[MattR]

Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey

Yeah, I think amateur and relatively unknown Pro series like ALMS, Speed World Challenge, American Iron, USTCC, etc. etc. are the best racing going on in the country right now.

Absolutely! I love the Speed World Challenge series, GT and Touring cars especially...Next year I want to try to make more than just one race

[dknv]

What I never understood about NASCAR/Winston Cup, is why they allow owner contingency points to be able to bump a driver back into the field even when their qualifying time wasn't in the top 43, and bump out another driver who qualified & should've been in the race.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by dknv

What I never understood about NASCAR/Winston Cup, is why they allow owner contingency points to be able to bump a driver back into the field even when their qualifying time wasn't in the top 43, and bump out another driver who qualified & should've been in the race.

Simple: NASCAR values its sponsors more than its drivers. They're all about money.

[MikeSTI]

if its on TV its all about the money :?