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Points changes:
01/20/2004

After watching the press conference and the Q&A session I gather the changes are as follows. The race winner will get an additional 5 points for winning the race starting at Daytona and continuing throughout the season. This sounds good to me. Next will be the “adjustment” of points for the drivers within 400 points of the leader. This is where I think the confusion comes in.

After 26 races, the leaders will have there point totals adjusted. The leader will be upped to 5,050 points, the second place driver with 5,045 and back through the line up of the pack within 400 points of the leader. This could be any number of drivers, there is no firm cut off for the “400 point” rule. The top 10 drivers will be guaranteed a million dollar pay out and the winner will be awarded five. The 11th place driver will be acknowledged at the awards banquet post season but will not get a cash pay out.

The drives in the ‘back’ of the pack will not have a point adjustment at all. They will be accumulating points based on the current, or should I say past point system. There are a few factors that will also be coming into play along with the new point system. The minimum track speed has been adjusted. The announcement was made in late December. Any of the cars that get wrecked and attempt to get back on track for points will have to be in better running condition than the past. I know drivers hate to have to circle the track in wrecked cars just to keep up with the point race. They do cause a hazard for the drivers contending for the win. I think this will be more of a factor in the points system than the change in points awarded for winners.

I am hesitant at this time to endorse the adjustment of points after 26 races. I need to think this change through in my mind. I have muddled this over for the last hour, I can’t seem to decide if I like it or not. I think once the race season starts, in 28 days, we will have a better idea of the outcome of this change.

By the way, Mike Helton, sure looked great on camera today. I read on Jayski’s site that he was on a diet, looking good Mike!


	back \| up \| next Points changes: 01/20/2004 After watching the press conference and the Q&A session I gather the changes are as follows. The race winner will get an additional 5 points for winning the race starting at Daytona and continuing throughout the season. This sounds good to me. Next will be the “adjustment” of points for the drivers within 400 points of the leader. This is where I think the confusion comes in. After 26 races, the leaders will have there point totals adjusted. The leader will be upped to 5,050 points, the second place driver with 5,045 and back through the line up of the pack within 400 points of the leader. This could be any number of drivers, there is no firm cut off for the “400 point” rule. The top 10 drivers will be guaranteed a million dollar pay out and the winner will be awarded five. The 11th place driver will be acknowledged at the awards banquet post season but will not get a cash pay out. The drives in the ‘back’ of the pack will not have a point adjustment at all. They will be accumulating points based on the current, or should I say past point system. There are a few factors that will also be coming into play along with the new point system. The minimum track speed has been adjusted. The announcement was made in late December. Any of the cars that get wrecked and attempt to get back on track for points will have to be in better running condition than the past. I know drivers hate to have to circle the track in wrecked cars just to keep up with the point race. They do cause a hazard for the drivers contending for the win. I think this will be more of a factor in the points system than the change in points awarded for winners. I am hesitant at this time to endorse the adjustment of points after 26 races. I need to think this change through in my mind. I have muddled this over for the last hour, I can’t seem to decide if I like it or not. I think once the race season starts, in 28 days, we will have a better idea of the outcome of this change. By the way, Mike Helton, sure looked great on camera today. I read on Jayski’s site that he was on a diet, looking good Mike!