New NASCAR Point System Not Simple Enough for Some

New NASCAR Point System

One reason that many of today’s popular sports are so popular is that they are all based on a very simple set of rules. The easier it is for a fan to explain the rules of a game to a newcomer, the easier it is to that person to learn to appreciate the game, become a fan, and perhaps even play the game as well. A glance around any neighborhood’s soccer fields or baseball diamonds will quickly validate this theory.

In an effort to grow their fan base, NASCAR has announced that its 2011 points system will be much easier for people to understand. According to the NASCAR Chairman Brian France, the system breaks down as follows:

A first place finish in a race earns the driver 43 points, plus 3 bonus points. Every driver after first place will then earn one point less than the driver in front of them. For each lap a driver leads the race, one bonus point is earned, and the driver who led the most laps for the race gets one more bonus point.

Not all of the drivers are completely happy with the new system however. The idea of simplification has been welcomed, and the concept of 43 points for first place, working its way down to 1 point for last, is also liked. The bonus points are the part to which most of the veterans are opposed. In a statement, racing legend Richard Petty said that basing the NASCAR standings only on the points earned for position across the finish line, without any additional bonus points, is more apt to reward a driver who is consistent and who wins often.