Re: it\'s all over but the shouting
Slugox is right: Awarding the same number of points to finishers 36-43 will do absolutely nothing to discourage wrecked cars from staying in the garage.
Why? Because they're still earning points. And the mindset of "we must go out and run laps to earn those valuable Winston Cup points" is ingrained in NASCAR. Crew chiefs will figure there will be another big wreck or attrition, and the wrecked car will climb into the top 35 and earn more points.
Plus, there usually are six or seven cars per race eliminated in a wreck or by mechanical failures. So the junkers turning laps still will finish in the top 35 and get points.
Formula One and World Rally have the right idea: Only the top eight score points. Now, those series only have fields of 20 factory cars or less. But I really think only the top 25 or 30 in Nextel Cup should score points. If you're outside of the top 30, you suck or are unlucky and don't deserve points.
Some may say that no points after 30th place will encourage drivers to park ill-handling cars early. Well, what's wrong with that? All the slow cars do is get in the way and cause wrecks, anyways. And sponsor pressure will keep all the cars on the track. Even if its car is running 36th, the CEO of the sponsoring company wants to see his logo circling around the track.
The NASCAR points system rewards mediocrity just as much as it rewards consistency. That's no way to crown a champion.
Take care,
PK
Slugox is right: Awarding the same number of points to finishers 36-43 will do absolutely nothing to discourage wrecked cars from staying in the garage.
Why? Because they're still earning points. And the mindset of "we must go out and run laps to earn those valuable Winston Cup points" is ingrained in NASCAR. Crew chiefs will figure there will be another big wreck or attrition, and the wrecked car will climb into the top 35 and earn more points.
Plus, there usually are six or seven cars per race eliminated in a wreck or by mechanical failures. So the junkers turning laps still will finish in the top 35 and get points.
Formula One and World Rally have the right idea: Only the top eight score points. Now, those series only have fields of 20 factory cars or less. But I really think only the top 25 or 30 in Nextel Cup should score points. If you're outside of the top 30, you suck or are unlucky and don't deserve points.
Some may say that no points after 30th place will encourage drivers to park ill-handling cars early. Well, what's wrong with that? All the slow cars do is get in the way and cause wrecks, anyways. And sponsor pressure will keep all the cars on the track. Even if its car is running 36th, the CEO of the sponsoring company wants to see his logo circling around the track.
The NASCAR points system rewards mediocrity just as much as it rewards consistency. That's no way to crown a champion.
Take care,
PK
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