New Points system for Championship

[muggle not]

Mark Martin and several other drivers think there should be a "different" points system used for the 10 championship races than the same system used during the other races. One bad race early on can almost knock a driver out of contention, such as what happened to Jimmy Johnson last year. Martin thinks that points should be awarded on a 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, basis each race for the 10 cars in the Championship playoff.

I kinda like Martin's idea at first glance. I think it would make the current playoff system more exciting and fair. What do you think.

[Adam43]

There has been talk of this being introduced for next year, do you think that is possible.

10,9,8,...,1 has advantages as you say, but it isn't like to promote racing between drivers in and out of the chase on the track. There is no insentive to overtake someone outside the chase.

[Dutton]

There is if that someone is between one chase driver and another chase driver (i.e. to be one place closer to overtaking the chase driver ahead).

Personally, I think the whole chase concept should be removed. To my mind, the title should be the total result of the season as a whole.

I appreciate that in order to get into the chase a driver has to have done a decent job in the first place, but, nonetheless, should the driver who qualifies for the chase by placing, for the sake of argument, a distant seventh go on to win the title...that is a bit off IMO.

Please note that I am not saying the format is unfair, as such, as it clearly is not: every driver and team, after all, consents to take part in the championship under the rules that govern it.

I would just prefer it to be a standard points matrix, but, well, the chase allows for it all to be "close" again come the climax to the season.

It is not to my liking, but I can certainly appreciate the thinking behind it.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Dutton

There is if that someone is between one chase driver and another chase driver (i.e. to be one place closer to overtaking the chase driver ahead).

Yes, I realise this, but my point still stands. It makes the reason to do so less. If on the last lap, or there are many between. And if you are being overtake you aren't going to fight it as much.

All, of course, only if you are fighting for the championship.

Personally, I think the whole chase concept should be removed. To my mind, the title should be the total result of the season as a whole.

I agree.

[muggle not]

I also like the older format better than the chase. However, since we do have the chase I think Mark Martin's idea on points during the last 10 races among the top 10 drivers is a good idea and would make it more fair and certainly more interesting.