Without my driver in a ride this season the interest in what takes place during a Cup race is not something that glues me to the TV on race day.  However, at the suggestion of a friend that the Loudon race could make the Chase interesting, I watched.  Since I had caught the last laps of most of the races what took place was not big surprise.  I didn’t like most of what I saw with the exception of those last laps where Ryan and Tony really raced each other and provided fans with the finish they deserved after all the other “moves” that were made on track.  IMO this wasn’t racing.  It seems to me the emphasis is more on getting into the “Chase” by any means available at any point during a race than good clean racing combined with skill to finesse those much deserved pay backs and good hard racing instead of all the politics and grandstanding.  I won’t even touch race commentary but simply mention that Loudon was a 300 lap race and there probably wouldn’t be many drivers stopping on lap 330, as mentioned, for their final pit stop.

It’s races like this that make me think about how the format for the championship could be adjusted to allow more racing and less of what is now appearing on track each week.  Here is my suggestion for Truck, Busch, & Cup races.

Note that driver/owner provisionals and points are omitted along with the Lucky Dog Pass in this format.  Entries will qualify on time/speed to race.  This format is centered around a true level “playing” field. 

v  36 races in the season

Ø      Races 1 – 25 field 43 cars

Ø      26^th race is for driver’s favorite charities - no points race – purse goes to charity of the winner

§         All drivers who have run previous 25 races eligible

Ø      Races 27 – 36 field top 25 cars

§         Only drivers finishing 1^st through 25^th in the points standings eligible

§         Tracks for the Championship should include a road course, short flat, short high banked, super speedway, with remaining 5 tracks selected by top 5 finishers from previous race year having the final race held at the reigning champion’s track of choice

v     Points awarded for:

Ø      Pole sitter points

Ø      Race winner points

Ø      Laps led under green flag racing - not for yellow flag laps

Ø        Most laps led under green flag racing

Ø        Finishing points calculated the same as they are currently

In the real world the fans work in they get paid for a job well done.  Bonus pay comes for work above and beyond what is expected.  There are no “lucky passes” for the 9 to 5ers when they don’t show up for work 3 days in a row or if they loose money for the company for a full quarter.  Go to work, do a good job, get rewarded, get to the top, is the format.  Racing can be set up with those same goals.  If you give the drivers and teams that they will give us all exciting, competitive races and we will see more skilled driving and less “elimination” driving.

So do you suppose NASCAR would consider this?  Send replies to