The Sprint Cup season is in full swing. We're still at the beginning, but it's been exciting and at this point it's starting to become clear that there are a few people who seem like shoe-ins to make The 2011 Chase... The above picture has become a familiar site in the past couple of weeks. After Kyle Busch's win at Bristol, the 18 dominated by leading the most laps at both Fontana and Martinsville before being passed by the 29. Kevin Harvick definitely seems to be living up to the nickname Mike Joy gave to him, "Mr. Where Did He Come From?". Obviously, as a die hard Kyle Busch fan I was not happy to see Harvick beating him two weeks in a row, but it's been great racing and fun to watch. Harvick is currently the only Sprint Cup driver with two wins under his belt, and with the new emphasis on winning, he seems to be a great early bet for a top Chase contender (to no one's surprise). Hey, now that he's the points leader (with one win and two third place finishes to boast of for the season) Kyle's looking like a top Championship contender himself. And hey, as long as someone beats the 48 this year, I'll be a pretty happy race fan.
NASCAR recently announced that they would be changing the points system that is used to determine the Chase for the Sprint Cup (NASCAR's playoffs). NASCAR says that the changes simplify the points system and put more of an emphasis on winning. Basically, in the old system the top twelve in points made the Chase... now, the top ten in points make the Chase and the last two spots are taken up by the drivers that have won the most races in the regular season. I'll let the experts explain the new points:
The new points system -- which applies to all NASCAR national series -- will award points in one-point increments. As an example, in the Cup Series, race winners will earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the victory. Winners also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the most laps, bringing their total to a possible maximum of 48 points. All other drivers in a finishing order will be separated by one-point increments. A second-place finisher will earn 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so on. A last-place finisher -- 43rd place -- earns one point. In the Camping World Truck Series, the last-place finisher receives eight points, to account for that series' 36-driver race field.
But I know what you're all thinking... how do I feel about the new points system? Does it rule or suck????? Honestly, I'm into it... for one main reason: I really have no idea what the old points system was. I mean, I'm a pretty dedicated race fan, I read the NASCAR.com and the ESPN.com/racing/NASCAR and I follow all the "important" NASCAR twitter, but I honestly could not tell you how many points the winner got in the old system, and even though during a race I could totally throw around phrases like "Man, Carl Edwards really wants those bonus points in this race, that bastard" I had no idea how many bonus points you got for leading a lap... was it 5? I really don't know. Well, the new system is pretty easy to understand, and I mean, some people are pissed... but isn't it pretty much the same thing, just with different numbers? I'm cool with it. I'm not really sure how this new "wild card" system will impact things... I feel like there's a good chance that the drivers with the most wins would be in the top twelve anyway? But what do I know, I'm just a little indie race fan from New York.
So as the NFL playoffs wind down, and the country gets super psyched for the Super Bowl, I get super excited as well... because the Super Bowl means that the Daytona 500 is just a few weeks away! And let's be honest... the Daytona 500 is way better than the Super Bowl... it's faster and there is a much higher chance of something exploding (Carl Edwards's engine, please!). If you're a serious race fan like me, these past two months with no NASCAR have been hard for you... sure, after the excitement of the end of the Chase (I was rooting for Hamlin, fyi) I needed a few weeks to decompress, but now it's just been forever since I've seen cars drive really fast. Now I'm just excited for a new season to start! Will the Fox broadcast team have their shit together? Will they have a new cool song? Will Kyle Busch totally win? It's really been too long... can't wait to hear DW say... "Let's go racing boys!"
"Man, wherever cars are going too fast in a circle, I will be there."- Brian Williams
Now, I've always liked Brian Williams. He's great at reading the news, he's funny, he's a hottie, he's classy and he's got a great sense of humor about himself. I love it whenever he's on 30 Rock. Well my roommate just informed me that Brian Williams, a cool New York dude, is a huge NASCAR fan. A google search later I found out this true. I am psyched! Score one for the race fans!
