Changes for the 2011 Season announced

[Chris]

In his "State of the Sport" address.. Brian France made the following statements
The new points system will work as follows
win = 43 down to last =1
3 bonus points for winning / 1 point for leading a lap / additional point for leading most laps.

qualifying for the chase will be as follows = top 10 in points + 2 drivers with most wins (but MUST be ranked in top 20 in points)
When it comes time for the 'seeding" for the chase (where a driver previously got 10 points for EACH race he won in the first 26 races.) - that 10 point number will be reduced to 3 points for a win.. also the drivers that get in 11th and 12th will not be eligible for any bonus points.

As has already been announced.. drivers must "pick a series" and can only accumulate points in that series

Qualifying order will be based on practice times.  slowest in practice go out first.. fastest goes out last
Top 35 will be grouped together, and go or go home cars will qualify together
If weather cancels qualifying.. starting line up will be based on practice speeds

[scott b]

I was sort of hoping the leading a lap bonuses would go away.  My thinking on that being it gives drivers on the powerhouse teams like Hendrick an opportunity to play "swap the lead" for a lap or two with a teammate, where other drivers may not have that opportunity.  I understand NASCAR's goal of creating lead changes and rewarding drivers that run out front, but I'd rather see that done with cash awards for leading laps or leading the most laps than championship points.

I'm also not sure how the qualifying rules will play out, since changing weather conditions can make it an advantage or disadvantage to going out last.  I'm sure the drivers will have something to say if they have a rocket and end up at the back of the field because NASCAR was trying to create better ratings for the qualifying runs.

Overall, though, I don't see anything really horrible with the new rules... except that the Chase still exists. 

[Chris]

I feel like you
As far as the points..  to me nothing is different as a whole..
With the previous points it was 3 points per position from 10th to 43rd.
1st to 5th was 5 points... 6th to 10th was 4 points
Now it's just one point all the way... so it's exactly the same as it was from 10th on down (just on a different scale)
Now... Running up front actually "cost" you points for performing well.
IMO I think if they wanted to reward you for winning (and running well).. they'd have spread out the points some at the top
Maybe give a eight points bonus for winning.... six for 2nd, and four for 3rd.  That would make the teams really hustle to get into the top three spots

[south jersey girl]

I would have liked to see lap leading bonuses only apply to green flag laps.  I don't think you should be able to stay out under caution just to get bonus points

[Chris]

Yeah.. I'd of liked to see that also...   and a couple points for qualifying.  IRL gives points for qualifying, and with the points being so close it sure makes it interesting.

[Gordon Fan]

They should have trashed the Chase, then the sport would once again gain momentum. When they realize that Brian France ruined Nascar since he was put in charge and somehow they can get rid of him, we will continue to see these tweaks. I never liked the leading one lap gets you the same bonus points as leading the most laps. Leading bonus should be for at least 3 consecutive laps led for 5 points. Plus, they certainly will have to adjust the penalty points. No one can recover from losing 150 points in this format. Looking forward to a great and safe season. Glad to be back.

[Bryan Blanton]

Is from the way i from what i have heard about this new points format it sounds something like formula one or indycar's points format am i correct on that.

I thought i heard somewhere that jimmie johnsion may still have won the championship last year even with this format?

[Chris]

IMO.. I think [points scoring will be pretty much the same as before.. Before if you got 150 points behind.. you were starting to be in trouble.. now if you get 50 points behind you'll be in the same situation

To me it just looks like a "ploy" to make the points competition "look" closer than it actually is.
Last year if you won.. and I finished 5th.. you'd earn 185 ... and I'd of earned 155.  So thats a 30 points difference.
NOW under the same instance.. you'd get 44 points and I'd get 39.  Either way I'd have to beat you by 5 finish positions the next race so we'd be even again.  SO either way you go.. it's all about the same.

[SMOKEN14]

I Would of liked to seen Na$car get rid of the bonus points for leading a lap and leading the most laps.Also the lucky dog needs to go bye bye. now for my reasoning behind my thoughts
#1 Jimmie Johnson pulls over and lets Jeff Gordon lead a lap Did Gordon Really earn the lead? Probably not
#2 I'LL use my driver as an example Tony Stewart Leads 280 of 300 laps And either Blows up Or gets wrecked and finishes 37 BIG deal he lead the most laps and all he got was a DNF
#3 Lets use JR as an example He has one of his Typical days and goes a lap down early WHY should he get a free pass for being the first car down IF he wants his lap back let him race for it

[Chris]

I've ALWAYS said the Lucky Dog was done wrong...
Now I'm not against having the "kucky dog" rule.. but It should be implimented differently..
Here's what makes sense should happen...
The lucky dog does NOT go the first driver a lap down..... it should go to the first driver lap (or laps) down behind the leader.

To me this is why it should be this way...
Lets say a good car  (Lets say Tony Stewart)  has a flat tire early in the race.. it's a short track like Bristol and they lose 3 laps under green
Stewarts race is immediately over.  Cars get lapped so quickly there... that there will always be drivers one or two laps down.. so Stewart never has a chance to get a lap back...
Obviously this car is quicker that the start-n-park cars or the slower cars... but they always get a lap back before the Stewart
NORMALL a good car like Stewart (or pick a driver) can pass all the slower cars and be the first car one or more laps down.... so when the yellow flies.. if he's the first car lap(s) down he gets the lap back.  Now he is only two laps down. 
I'd still make him restart at the tail end.. but given time he could work his way back through the slower cars again and be in a position to be the first car lap(s) down.. so he could again get another lap back.
Being FAST on the track should be rewarded.. not where you are just "lucky" to be running.