The National Hot Rod Association introduced some notable adjustments to its points systems earlier this month. Never to be outdone, NASCAR made some major changes to its points systems and unveiled some other big changes for 2017.
Let’s start with NASCAR.
New NASCAR Points System
According to Motorsport.com, races in all three NASCAR race series—Monster Energy Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks—will be divided into three stages. At the end of each stage, drivers who finish in the Top 10 will be awarded on a scale from 10 points to one point, depending on their finish. At the end of each race, the winner will receive 40 points, second through 35th place finishers will earn points on a 35 to two-point scale, and all 36th place and lower finishers will get one point. Each stage winner will receive one playoff point, and the overall race winner will get five playoff points—all of which will be carried into the 10-race NASCAR playoff at the end of the season.
The playoff points can be accumulated throughout the season and playoffs until the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. There, the top four finalists will race for the win, and the highest finisher will be the series champion.
What do they call this new playoff?
No word, but it’s definitely not the “Chase.” NASCAR has decided to eliminate that moniker.
You can read more about NASCAR’s changes (and there are more) at Motorsport.com.
New NHRA Points System
Compared to NASCAR, the NHRA changes are small, but they could still have a huge impact on the outcome of the season. The big takeaway here is that the NHRA is trying to make the season finale at Pomona a bigger factor in determining champions. Winners at the season-ending race will now garner 150 points, runners-up will get 120 points, and semi-finalists will earn 90 points. The qualifying points format has also been revamped so that a single driver can earn as many as 191 total points at this single race.
Motorsport.com was all over these changes as well, and you can read about them here.
Nascar is going down hill, soon they will be gone, when Dale Sr. got killed it started to fade and they are changing rules again for them not the fans. They don’t want to see the drivers getting mad last they did the past 2 years. It’s a fact that when Dale SR. got killed its started done hill..i will be glad they should have done better before his death