NASCAR adopts a playoff system! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

The_Dude · 01-08-2004, 04:25 PM

OH MY FUCKING GOD

WTF ARE THEY THINKING. I dont think anyone wanted this. WTF

Quote:

NASCAR will use playoff-style points system

NASCAR indeed is changing the way it crowns a champion in the Nextel Cup Series in 2004, switching to a season-long points race to a 10-race "playoff," vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter confirmed to NASCAR.com Thursday afternoon.

While Hunter didn't disclose the exact nature of the playoffs -- because NASCAR hasn't nailed down the details -- a system will be used in the final 10 races to determine the champion.

"Yes, we are committed to changing the format we use to determine the champion," Hunter said in an exclusive interview with NASCAR.com. "We're looking at 26, 10. We're looking at a number to make sure we don't exclude anybody in the 10 who would have a chance to win the championship."

The numbers of drivers eligible for the championship could be more than 10, and any driver in the playoffs will be seeded. NASCAR will not reset the points back to zero, but instead start each driver with a certain number, with the driver leading the standings getting the most points with 10 races to go.

"A small lead, but it's a brand-new chase to the championship," Hunter said. "Nobody will go back to zero."

Any driver within a certain number of points of the leader will be eligible for the playoffs. Hunter said NASCAR is trying to determine that number based on models from the previous 28 years of using the current system, but that number is between 300 and 600.

For example, if a driver is in 14th place but 300 points behind the leader, he would still be eligible for the playoffs -- and the championship.

"We'll start them off with x number of points, and the leader will have more than second, third, fourth, fifth, on down the line," Hunter said. "Then we still use our same points system the rest of the year for them."

That's to make sure drivers out of the playoffs won't end up with more points with drivers in the playoffs. That starting-point number for playoff drivers has been established, but Hunter wasn't ready to announce them

Hunter said NASCAR will award more points to the winner of each race, but it won't be a large number.

"Somebody said, '25,' and I said, 'Not that big,'" Hunter said. "We don't know what the number is yet. But the winner will receive more points than second place, no matter what."

NASCAR will not alter the points for lower finishers of a race as previously speculated, but the minimum speed at each track will be raised, reducing the number of slower cars allowed on the track (like cars returning from a crash).

Qualifying will continue to pay no points.

As an added incentive for the drivers not in the playoffs over the final 10 races -- if winning a race weren't enough -- NASCAR will create an award for the highest finishing driver out of the playoffs and will recognize him at the Awards Banquet in New York.

"You're racing to win races," Hunter said. "That's what you're supposed to be here for -- not running for points. We're toying with the idea of putting special point fund money to that position."

As for why NASCAR has decided to change the points system, Hunter said it was simple: After Labor Day, when college and pro football are beginning and competing for fans and television viewers, things go flat for NASCAR.

NASCAR wants to add drama to the fall schedule, for TV and the fans. Some races late in the year are not selling out, Hunter said.

"There's just so much more for NASCAR to compete with in that last third of the season that we don't have the rest of the year," Hunter said. "We're doing this to draw additional attention to our sport. That's the bottom line."

Hunter also pointed out that the championship should not be based solely on consistency. Matt Kenseth, for example, won only won race in 2003 but ran away with the championship. Meanwhile, Ryan Newman won eight races but finished sixth in the points.

"The balance of winning and consistency has sort of gotten out of whack," Hunter said. "It seems that the consistency factor plays more of a role than winning races. We need to change the format.

"It's a new day, so we want to try this. We think it'll work. In the end, if it doesn't work, we'll change it back."

Drivers have generally reacted negatively to the proposal, and fans have been against it from the start. In a NASCAR.com poll in December, fans were overwhelmingly against the playoff system. But Hunter said it was up to NASCAR to educate the fans as to the positives of the plan.

"Fans that I talked to, when I explained to them why we're doing this and what we hope to accomplish, they may not swing all the way over, but they say, 'Oh, OK, I get that,'" Hunter said.

One argument against the playoff system was the inability to break into the top 10 for drivers out of the playoffs. Figuring out the cutoff -- x number of points behind the leader -- was the "last piece of the puzzle," Hunter said.

"On the average, that happens about one out of three years," Hunter said about drivers moving into the top 10 in the final 10 races.

to me, everything was workin pretty fine and i saw no need for change. i've looked at polls on the nascar site and other places and a most of the fans had the same approach. I guess they didnt want another run away championship like what Kenseth did this year. This is too drastic in my opinion though. Tweak the point system and all, but playoffs in NASCAR? It doesnt even sound right saying that.

Please do not bash NASCAR as a sport on this thread!

I have to do this on every NASCAR thread i make

.

The Link

archer2371 · 01-08-2004, 05:21 PM

Argh, this is the stupidest thing done by NASCAR evar! The Championship Race is about consistency through the entire year! Not how well you do the last ten races of a season, someone could do really mediocre until those last ten, and then dominate and win the Championship. Good grief! WTF are they thinking?

Spartak · 01-08-2004, 05:30 PM

How stupid, all the major motor sports are decided by driver consistancy over a season.

And they even acknowledge that both the drivers and fans absolutely hate it, yet they are STILL going through with it.

Very stupid.

Conclamo Ludus · 01-08-2004, 05:46 PM

I don't think it will stay after this season. As a fan who just got into it last year, I can say I'm definitely going to be glued to the races this year. If anything it will be interesting to see how it all turns out. I wouldn't be surprised if they change it back before the season even starts if the outcry is big enough. NASCAR fans don't seem to be into it, and they'll be loud about it.

It does kind of piss me off that the season seems to just dwindle out. There's no going out with a bang like the playoffs in other sports. Not that this is the solution, but its an attempt at making it even more exciting towards the end. It'll be a fun year.

dragon2fire · 01-09-2004, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Please do not bash NASCAR as a sport on this thread!

that made my day

lol

you think some one on this fourm would bash nascar

lol

cas305 · 01-09-2004, 07:52 AM

Wow what are they thinking??? If they are worried about someone not winning many races doing well then give more points for winning races. They thought fall turnouts where bad before, how do they think pissing off all the fans is going to help that?? They are going to pull a Tony George and ruin the sport!

Conclamo Ludus · 01-09-2004, 08:19 AM

It bothers me because it takes out the consistency factor. The best team is not going to be NASCAR champion. The best team is the consistent team. I am a Newman fan but I don't think he should've won just because he finished first in so many races. He was inconsistent and deserved his standing. You shouldn't be able to fuck up so badly that you can't finish a few races, and then be able to pull a championship out of your ass later in the season. Consistency is what denotes the best team, and the best team should be champion.

And the last ten races really aren't the best tracks to crown the champion with. Maybe they'll change what tracks will be used for the final 10. This is just too drastic of a change. I thought the system was fine regardless of the Kenseth runaway. Its not going to be like that every year. The Busch series and the Craftsmen series came down to the last laps of the last races, tell me that wasn't more exciting than a "Playoff" system.

It will still be interesting to see how the year pans out. The drivers are going to hate this, and will probably not see the winner as legitimate as they would otherwise, that is unless they were the consistent racer anyway.

The_Dude · 01-09-2004, 10:28 AM

i hope that last 10 races have talledega/daytona in them

.

DonNutz · 01-11-2004, 09:05 AM

I think it's a good idea, the only thing I would change would be to put the more important races with the bigger crowds in the final 10.

paddyjoe · 01-11-2004, 09:28 AM

I think the final 10 races will automatically take on more importance, so what they need to do is make sure all different racing styles are represented.

The short tracks (Bristol or Martinsville), maybe a 3/4 mile like Richmond, a road course, a one-miler (maybe Phoenix), definately Charlotte, and then finish where they started, at Daytona for the grand finale.

I think it could be alot of fun, and one thing I admire about NASCAR, is they're not so stuck in their tradition that they can't change some rules around to make it more interesting. Of course, they've been doing that for years anyway, with in-season aero package changes and restrictor plate hole changes.

Anything to keep the championship all but wrapped up with still 3 or 4 races to go. Anyway, it's probably the best way to keep fresh greenbacks rolling into the sport.

laconic1 · 01-12-2004, 12:01 PM

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what happens when the TV network that came up with the XFL decides it wants a bigger bang from it's NASCAR investment. This is truly the stupidest idea ever. What NASCAR deserves is for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to have a 600 point lead on 2nd place when the playoff begins and have some guy 15th in points get on a hot streak at the end and steal the championship from Jr. That would really show how messed up this system is, and get it changed immediately.

bellzboy · 01-12-2004, 09:07 PM

They just don't get it. The problem was not that the race wasnt close enough, the problem was that the guy who won the championship had one win, while newman had 8 and was what, 3rd?

tristar1 · 01-13-2004, 07:06 AM

The more "accepted" and corporate Nascar gets.....the lamer it gets.

PorscheBunny · 01-14-2004, 01:19 AM

This change is idiocy.

The only change they needed to make in their point system was to increase the reward for finishing in the top 5 or 10 in each race.

Dano069 · 01-22-2004, 01:10 PM

I'm done. No more watching it for me. When was the last time a person outside the top 10 was only 400 points behind? Who the hell are they kidding? Unfortunately, money is what it's all about now. Advancements in aerodynamics have made the differrent models look the same. Gee, wonder how many drivers will be let go because they didn't make the top 10?

Want to make it more exciting? Take off the damn restrictor plates, make the cars look like the ones in the showroom and get rid of the provisionals.

Hey, with this new point system, for the last 10 races, they should make the top 10 drivers in points start at the back of the field. Now, THAT would be exciting wouldn't it? Oh wait, it won't happen, the sponsers would NEVER go for that!

Conclamo Ludus · 01-22-2004, 01:16 PM

I would love to see factory "stock" cars racing on these tracks.

It would be a lot of fun.

laconic1 · 01-23-2004, 12:21 PM

NASCAR has done a horrible job over the past couple of years by moving all of their promotion to the top 10, with nobody else getting any recognition unless they are a "young gun". And NASCAR wonders why their teams are having a hard time getting sponsors. This will only make a bad situation even worse. It's amazing how virtually every competitor except Michael Waltrip (and everybody knows he's an idiot) hates it, most of the fans hate it, yet NASCAR implements it anyways. Morons.

The_Dude · 01-23-2004, 12:31 PM

dale jr has spoken against this :P.

i think that they should take the new system back just cuz the weight that he carries.

go #8

laconic1 · 01-24-2004, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Dude
dale jr has spoken against this :P.

i think that they should take the new system back just cuz the weight that he carries.

go #8

I seriously hope Dale Jr. is the one that gets screwed out of the championship because of this bullshit. Watching their Golden Boy lose the championship because of their stupidity would give NASCAR what they deserve.

01-08-2004, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
archer2371 Sarge of Blood Gulch Red Outpost Number One Location: On the front lines against our very enemy	Argh, this is the stupidest thing done by NASCAR evar! The Championship Race is about consistency through the entire year! Not how well you do the last ten races of a season, someone could do really mediocre until those last ten, and then dominate and win the Championship. Good grief! WTF are they thinking? __________________ "This ain't no Ice Cream Social!" "Hey Grif, Chupathingy...how bout that? I like it...got a ring to it." "I have no earthly idea what it is I just saw, or what this place is, or where in the hell O'Malley is! My only choice is to blame Grif for coming up with such a flawed plan. Stupid, stupid Grif."

01-08-2004, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Spartak Bang bang Location: New Zealand	How stupid, all the major motor sports are decided by driver consistancy over a season. And they even acknowledge that both the drivers and fans absolutely hate it, yet they are STILL going through with it. Very stupid. __________________ I can read your mind... looking at you... I can read your mind...

01-08-2004, 05:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	I don't think it will stay after this season. As a fan who just got into it last year, I can say I'm definitely going to be glued to the races this year. If anything it will be interesting to see how it all turns out. I wouldn't be surprised if they change it back before the season even starts if the outcry is big enough. NASCAR fans don't seem to be into it, and they'll be loud about it. It does kind of piss me off that the season seems to just dwindle out. There's no going out with a bang like the playoffs in other sports. Not that this is the solution, but its an attempt at making it even more exciting towards the end. It'll be a fun year. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

01-09-2004, 08:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	It bothers me because it takes out the consistency factor. The best team is not going to be NASCAR champion. The best team is the consistent team. I am a Newman fan but I don't think he should've won just because he finished first in so many races. He was inconsistent and deserved his standing. You shouldn't be able to fuck up so badly that you can't finish a few races, and then be able to pull a championship out of your ass later in the season. Consistency is what denotes the best team, and the best team should be champion. And the last ten races really aren't the best tracks to crown the champion with. Maybe they'll change what tracks will be used for the final 10. This is just too drastic of a change. I thought the system was fine regardless of the Kenseth runaway. Its not going to be like that every year. The Busch series and the Craftsmen series came down to the last laps of the last races, tell me that wasn't more exciting than a "Playoff" system. It will still be interesting to see how the year pans out. The drivers are going to hate this, and will probably not see the winner as legitimate as they would otherwise, that is unless they were the consistent racer anyway. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

01-09-2004, 10:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	i hope that last 10 races have talledega/daytona in them . __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

01-09-2004, 07:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
cas305 Insane Location: Indiana	Wow what are they thinking??? If they are worried about someone not winning many races doing well then give more points for winning races. They thought fall turnouts where bad before, how do they think pissing off all the fans is going to help that?? They are going to pull a Tony George and ruin the sport!

01-11-2004, 09:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
DonNutz Crazy Location: Earth	I think it's a good idea, the only thing I would change would be to put the more important races with the bigger crowds in the final 10.

01-11-2004, 09:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
paddyjoe through charlatans phone Location: Northcoast	I think the final 10 races will automatically take on more importance, so what they need to do is make sure all different racing styles are represented. The short tracks (Bristol or Martinsville), maybe a 3/4 mile like Richmond, a road course, a one-miler (maybe Phoenix), definately Charlotte, and then finish where they started, at Daytona for the grand finale. I think it could be alot of fun, and one thing I admire about NASCAR, is they're not so stuck in their tradition that they can't change some rules around to make it more interesting. Of course, they've been doing that for years anyway, with in-season aero package changes and restrictor plate hole changes. Anything to keep the championship all but wrapped up with still 3 or 4 races to go. Anyway, it's probably the best way to keep fresh greenbacks rolling into the sport.

01-12-2004, 12:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is what happens when the TV network that came up with the XFL decides it wants a bigger bang from it's NASCAR investment. This is truly the stupidest idea ever. What NASCAR deserves is for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to have a 600 point lead on 2nd place when the playoff begins and have some guy 15th in points get on a hot streak at the end and steal the championship from Jr. That would really show how messed up this system is, and get it changed immediately.

01-12-2004, 09:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
bellzboy Crazy	They just don't get it. The problem was not that the race wasnt close enough, the problem was that the guy who won the championship had one win, while newman had 8 and was what, 3rd?

01-13-2004, 07:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
tristar1 Upright	The more "accepted" and corporate Nascar gets.....the lamer it gets.

01-14-2004, 01:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
PorscheBunny Insane	This change is idiocy. The only change they needed to make in their point system was to increase the reward for finishing in the top 5 or 10 in each race. __________________ This post has been sanitized for your protection by the Ministry of Information of Oceania.

01-22-2004, 01:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
Dano069 is Nucking Futs! Location: On the edge of sanity	I'm done. No more watching it for me. When was the last time a person outside the top 10 was only 400 points behind? Who the hell are they kidding? Unfortunately, money is what it's all about now. Advancements in aerodynamics have made the differrent models look the same. Gee, wonder how many drivers will be let go because they didn't make the top 10? Want to make it more exciting? Take off the damn restrictor plates, make the cars look like the ones in the showroom and get rid of the provisionals. Hey, with this new point system, for the last 10 races, they should make the top 10 drivers in points start at the back of the field. Now, THAT would be exciting wouldn't it? Oh wait, it won't happen, the sponsers would NEVER go for that! __________________ I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

01-22-2004, 01:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	I would love to see factory "stock" cars racing on these tracks. It would be a lot of fun. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

01-23-2004, 12:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	NASCAR has done a horrible job over the past couple of years by moving all of their promotion to the top 10, with nobody else getting any recognition unless they are a "young gun". And NASCAR wonders why their teams are having a hard time getting sponsors. This will only make a bad situation even worse. It's amazing how virtually every competitor except Michael Waltrip (and everybody knows he's an idiot) hates it, most of the fans hate it, yet NASCAR implements it anyways. Morons.

01-23-2004, 12:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	dale jr has spoken against this :P. i think that they should take the new system back just cuz the weight that he carries. go #8 __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal