If the rumours were to be believed then NASCAR was looking to introduce a simpler points system for the 2011 season as an attempt to help fans understand the points race more easily... Keep It Simple Stupid...
On the surface what NASCAR have announced sounds nice and simple, but I simply don't get it.
So -
In each race the driver finishing 1st gets 43 points, 43 drivers in a Cup race remember. 2nd place gets 42 points, 3rd gets 41, and so on to 43rd place receiving 1 point. So far so simple...
If you lead a lap you get an extra point, lead the most and get another point. So far so simple...
If you win the race you get an additional 3 bonus points... Hang on... so actually you get 46 for first, 42 for second, and 41 for third blah blah blah. This is the points system for all three of NASCARs top touring series. So far, erm, getting a bit complicated...
But what of the Chase...
When NASCAR resets the points for the 12 driver "Chase" the top 10 in points will be in. So far so simple...
The last two Chase spots will be given to the drivers who have the most wins from the drivers who finish the regular season in positions 11 to 20. If none of the 11th to 20th place drivers win a race then the 11th and 12th place drivers in regular season points will get spots in the Chase. So far, erm, getting complicated... again...
NASCAR have not announced the base line points for the Chase (i.e. the amount of points the drivers are given to separate them from the remainder of the field), but each race win in the regular season will count for another 3 bonus points when the Chase starts... I think... but only if you finished in the top 10 in points... not for the "Wildcard" drivers in the 11th and 12th chase spots, if they won any races... So far, well, what's the opposite of simple...
Everybody is going to have an opinion whatever NASCAR do, and making the points system simpler is a good idea if you are trying to access more fans. I am simply not sure if what NASCAR has done is any simpler than the old system. If you are simply aiming to put more emphasis on race wins then the new system may achieve that, but not simply.
The basics of 43 points for first, 42 for second and so on are great. Awarding a bonus point for leading a lap and another for leading the most laps is good. After that it just gets more and more complicated. If you are going to award 3 bonus points for a win, every time, then they are not bonus points, the winner simply gets 46 points, and second gets 42. This is fine, why not just say that? I get the feeling that the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series have got the better end of the bargain with the new points system.
So is the new system a case of "Keep It Simple Stupid", or "Keep It Complicated Stupid," or "Stupidly Complicated", or "Stupidly Complicate it"??
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