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January 23, 2007
My New Points System
By Mark Young
Yesterday was the first day of the 2007 NASCAR Media Tour and one of the main stops for the throng of media that invaded Charlotte was the NASCAR press conference hosted by CEO Pope Brian I. He announced that this year there will be 12 drivers to qualify for the Chase instead of 10, no big deal I guess but after that things get about as clear as mud. Once the Chase contenders are decided they will all be elevated to 5,000 points to separate them from any non-Chase driver who happens to get on a mean streak. Then the Chasers will be awarded 10 points for each race they won leading up to the Chase, emphasis on winning the reason behind that. To continue on the emphasis for winning France went on to say that the winner for each race, regardless of whether it is a Chase race or not will get an additional 5 points. Now I am not Brian France so I couldn't possibly come with ideas as good as those but let me share with you a few ideas I came up with to create more balance between winning and consistency.
Surely there is going to be several teams out there that will cry foul about these changes, you can't make everyone happy these days, so for the sake of being politically correct I have a few more changes to make to the points system.
1. 10 points awarded to the team who's hauler arrives first to the track each weekend. If they are going to put an emphasis on winning out on the track then why not get the guys who drive the big rigs involved? Could make a race out of the race, the weekly Cannonball Run Series possibly?
2. 25 points awarded to the team who leaves the track first following the start of the race. This rule serves two purposes. First this creates balance between winning and losing thus making the points battle that much closer. Secondly it will allow the cleaning crew to get started a little sooner each week thus creating a cost savings for NASCAR.
3. 10 points awarded to the team on the driver's birthday. If the driver's birthday happens to be during the off-season then the rule diverts to the crew chief, car chief, jack man, gas man, then tire changers and catch can guy in that order or until the first birthday has been used. As a provisional the car owner's birthday may be used.
4. 5 points awarded to all cars with even numbers. This was chosen based upon a coin flip, Mike Helton won.
4.1. 5 points awarded to all cars with odd numbers. Since Brian France is the boss and he was pissed because Helton won Brian found a way to get his way.......again.
5. 1 point awarded for each year the driver's age is over 40. This will help get the AARP off of their back and give Dale Jarrett, Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin, and Mark Martin a little better chance to into the Chase.
5.1 1 point awarded to each year the driver's age is under 30. This was because someone is bound to cry that NASCAR is playing favorites to the elderly.
If NASCAR wants to even the field between winning and consistency tell me why these idea's won't work?
That's what I think, what say you?
January 23, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Real funny!
Posted by: Alicia | Jan 23, 2007 8:59:22 AM
Your formula is no more ridiculous than the
one NASCAR is putting forth. This does absolutely nothing to improve the quality and excitement of racing. The caution flag is already waving for many of the tracks and television viewers, as they depart. The marketing drive is create new and exciting racing, when all you have to do is run a video of Petty, Pearson, Yarborough and the Allisons and you have the best. The great formulas don't always need to be changed to be good....Coca Cola is an example. Racing was great...now it is becoming mediocre.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 23, 2007 8:59:25 AM
Excellent ideas Mark...may I add a few?
Five extra points for the highest finishing Gordon, Earnhardt, Burton or other who shares a namesake with someone in the race.
Up to two extra Chevys in the Chase if there are fewer than eight when the Chase starts. Be sure to insist that that rule is NOT directed at Jack Roush.
An extra five points if in the opinion of the fans a driver uses the S-word in a post-race interview in a gratuitous manner.
And ten points for the sexiest driver award...wouldn't Richard Petty have won another championship if they were doing that in his day?
Well put Mark. A confusing idea gets more confusing.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jan 23, 2007 10:18:34 AM
Thanks for the additional ideas Kurt!!
Posted by: Mark | Jan 23, 2007 10:23:19 AM
I should add that there should be 5 bonus points awarded to any team that tests on a Tuesday, unless that Tuesday is a full moon in which case 10 bonus points will be awarded. On Tuesday's with a new moon, no points will be awarded.
Posted by: Matt Durel | Jan 23, 2007 11:50:11 AM
Mark, where is the love for Ricky Rudd? He is back! You mentioned some over 40 drivers, Jarret, Schrader, Sterling, Martin, but not the best driver over 40, Ricky.
Funny article Mark!
Posted by: Roland | Jan 23, 2007 1:11:40 PM
I think they should change the points system to one that mirrors golf. "Dale Jr. leaves Daytona 3 under par as the winner and Ryan Newman is going to have to rebound from that quadruple bogey he made after that roll through the infield."
Posted by: Michael | Jan 23, 2007 1:24:14 PM
My apologies to you Roland, lest we forget Senior Ricky!!
Posted by: Mark | Jan 23, 2007 1:24:15 PM
Uhhhh...I'd like to see some points awarded for cheesy fighting. I say bring back the REAL NASCAR!
5 points for shoulder shoving.
5.1 points if the "shover" is wearing a helmet during the shove.
2 points for the first driver who flips the bird. 5 points if flipped bird is broadcast on live TV.
3 Points for telling the blind NASCAR official who just busted you for pit speeding what you did with his "momma" the night before.
5 Points for each time you smoothly bump draft Jeff Gordon to the front of the pack in restrictor plate track races.
25 Points for admitting that you spun out intentionally to cause a caution, "Whoopsie, my bad!"
5 Points for being caught on National TV throwing debris out of your car window to cause a debris caution which works in your lucky dog favor. Or is the lucky dog...oh never mind.
8.3 Points for chasing down during a caution the driver who miffed you off during a green run, and cold cocking him with your car.
And finally...
1.2 Points for running back out onto the track through the middle of caution traffic to throw your helmet, glove, shoe, steering wheel, false teeth, hair piece, etc....at the driver who you assume wrecked your car and took you completely out of the race.
Posted by: XMY | Jan 23, 2007 1:34:05 PM
Mark, didn't your "U Want Some" blog state: "...new rules also comes a bit of a new attitude from this blogger. This season I am going to serve up my thoughts to you ala Emeril with a whole lot of "BAM". No more sugar-coating and politically correct thoughts."
And here you are sucking up to NASCAR....or maybe not......BAM!!!
Thanks for the laugh!
Posted by: Shirley | Jan 23, 2007 2:30:53 PM
It's time to introduce some new penalties to go along with all your new points. How about a 5 point penalty for finishing ahead of Junior? A 25 point penalty for wrecking Junior? A 1 point penalty for wrecking Mikey? A 10 point penalty for omitting a sponsor in victory lane?
Posted by: Doug | Jan 23, 2007 4:21:06 PM
Let's not forget the all-important 25-point penalty for some vague infraction like "actions detrimental to NASCAR" or something like that.
Oh...wait a minute...
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jan 23, 2007 8:41:30 PM
Very nice Mark! How about a 25 point deduction for pushing another driver with your helmet on?
Posted by: MikeHarper | Jan 24, 2007 12:08:07 AM
I say,I wished I had read this yesterday.I needed something to lighten my mood about the new chase.
You are really bringing your A game to this season.I loved it!
Posted by: Short Lady | Jan 24, 2007 9:44:36 AM
How about giving a 10 point Chase bonus for every "Lucky Dog" award a driver receives during the first 26 races? I don't think getting to pass the pace car and gain a lap is nearly enough of a reward for being talented enough to make yourself the highest scored car not on the lead lap at the time of a caution flag that takes place with more than 10 laps to go in a race. Of course, to be consistent with how race wins are rewarded in the new points system, this 10 point bonus should only apply to Lucky Dogs that take place before the 26-race cutoff. It would be completely unfair to give a 10 point bonus for Lucky Dogs received during the Chase.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Jan 24, 2007 11:39:59 PM
Hey Mark,
I love it.
But how many points does the drive that finds the MISSING BLACK DEVICE get?
Or should we check with Keith on that one.
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Jan 25, 2007 8:21:16 PM
I really thing they need to euthanasia the so called lucky dog!
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Jan 25, 2007 8:29:09 PM
The missing black device? I thought we all agreed that it was Robby Gordon who found it then used it to cause a caution?
Shhhhh, the Lucky Dog gets put down next week.....
Posted by: Mark | Jan 26, 2007 7:16:04 AM
Diane, can't help you with the missing device...Send pics and I'll look "harder." I'm also for euthanasia in the case of the lucky dog. On the other hand, hard working euthanasia (youthinasia) keep the price of sneakers and electronics down.
Mark,
I see a B-day points glitch. With NASCARs "Drive for Diversity," and neverending quest to find a woman who...Looks like a model; Cooks like Mom; Cleans up the garage area (including windows); Drives like Dale and still greets hubby at the door, I can see them yelling foul. We all know that at a certain age women stop having birthdays and would just rather give up the points than admit they got older.
Posted by: Keith | Jan 26, 2007 7:32:25 AM
There you go Keith, breaking up my happy little world by speaking the truth!!
Posted by: Mark | Jan 26, 2007 8:19:18 AM
Mark,
Just doing my share to keep your feet on the ground as the season approaches...LOL
Posted by: Keith | Jan 26, 2007 8:48:20 AM
Mark, you better keep an eye on Keith. He told me he was going target shooting to practice,
so he could shoot the evil dog. He said after he shot it he was going to disguise the dog by wrapping it in the black device. He keep saying he doesn’t know where it. But he has it. I think the dog needs to rest in peace. If it has to go whump whump in a NASCAR wheel well before it rests...so be it!
And yes the whole B-day thing could be hard to work out.
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Jan 26, 2007 12:20:30 PM
LOL Great topic Mark
ok cut the BS. give Jr 25 points for every llap he leads and 500 points for every race he wins and 5 points to anyone who helps him,and take away 75 from any driver or pit crew team that hinders him,but only if he resigns with the new and improved DEI..
can I get an A-MEN
Posted by: Trucker | Jan 26, 2007 2:53:48 PM
A-MEN!
Posted by: Shirley | Jan 26, 2007 4:23:23 PM
Nope, no Amens to that. Jr is an Earnhardt and there's no gimmee with that name...Ralph and Sr. earned it and just because Jr is the next heir to the throne doesn't mean he hasn't earned it also.
Posted by: Keith | Jan 26, 2007 5:06:54 PM
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