How do NASCAR drivers score "points"?
Michigan
Posts: 4,942 ✭
in Sports Talk
Do they get a certain number of points depending on how they finish in a race and a running total over all the
races determine their standing or is there some other system?
races determine their standing or is there some other system?
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In addition to the points allocated, any driver who leads a lap receives five bonus points. The driver who leads the most laps receives an additional five bonus points.
Chase for the Nextel Cup
Adjusted points structure
Place Points
1st 5,050
2nd 5,045
3rd 5,040
4th 5,035
5th 5,030
6th 5,025
7th 5,020
8th 5,015
9th 5,010
10th 5,005
Note: If more than 10 drivers qualify, the additional drivers will have their points reset at 5,005.
In Nextel Cup racing, following the 26th race of the season, all drivers in the top 10 -- and any others within 400 points of the leader -- earn a berth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
All drivers in the Chase will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver in the standings begins the Chase with 5,050 points; the second-place driver will start with 5,045, etc. Incremental five-point drops will continue through 10th place (5,000 points). If more than 10 drivers qualify for the Chase, the additional drivers will have their points reset at 5,000.
Owners are rewarded in the points race in much the same fashion but, unlike drivers, they earn points for merely attempting to make a race. If an owner shows up with two drivers and one fails to qualify, the owner still receives points for the non-qualifying effort.
Through the first five races of the season, the top 35 in owners' points from the previous season are guaranteed a starting spot in the race. Beginning with the sixth race, the top 35 in current owners' points are guaranteed a spot.
The fastest non-qualifier on race day earns 31 points for his owner, three down from the 43rd-place points. The scale continues downward for all non-qualifiers, with the lowest possible point awarded being one.
Manufacturers have a points race of their own. The car maker who has a driver take first place in a race earns nine points for that race. Second-best performance by a manufacturer gets six points, third place earns four points and fourth place, three points.
Race Points System
Finish Points Finish Points
1st 180 23rd 94
2nd 170 24th 91
3rd 165 25th 88
4th 160 26th 85
5th 155 27th 82
6th 150 28th 79
7th 146 29th 76
8th 142 30th 73
9th 138 31st 70
10th 134 32nd 67
11th 130 33rd 64
12th 127 34th 61
13th 124 35th 58
14th 121 36th 55
15th 118 37th 52
16th 115 38th 49
17th 112 39th 46
18th 109 40th 43
19th 106 41st 40
20th 103 42nd 37
21st 100 43rd 34
22nd 97
Any driver who leads a lap receives five bonus points.
The driver who leads the most laps receives an additional five bonus points.
SIMPLE, HUH?
Thank goodness you gave that link. I actually thought you took the time to type all that out.
I can't imagine that the average NASCAR fan watching at home or in the stands at the racetrack could possibly
keep up with who was ahead at any time unless there was a large scoreboard that showed where everyone
was in the standings at a particular moment.
I think I'll stick with football. A team getting to the Super Bowl is much easier to understand.
<< <i>I had no idea it was this complex.
I can't imagine that the average NASCAR fan watching at home or in the stands at the racetrack could possibly
keep up with who was ahead at any time unless there was a large scoreboard that showed where everyone
was in the standings at a particular moment.
I think I'll stick with football. A team getting to the Super Bowl is much easier to understand.
Don't underestimate the average NASCAR fan. They know what their favorite driver needs to do at each race and who they trail in the standings as well as fans of other sports.
<< <i>I had no idea it was this complex.
I can't imagine that the average NASCAR fan watching at home or in the stands at the racetrack could possibly
keep up with who was ahead at any time unless there was a large scoreboard that showed where everyone
was in the standings at a particular moment. >>
That is actually one of the more annoying parts of watching a race is when they show the updated points standings 25 laps into a 500 lap race. It would be like following the baseball standings two weeks into the season. It matters a little, but they have a long way to go.
>>
I think I'll stick with football. A team getting to the Super Bowl is much easier to understand.
Except for the last week of the season when there are 76 different playoff scenarios. 'If team A wins and team B ties but scores 13 more points than team C, then team D is SOL.'
<< <i>
<< <i>I had no idea it was this complex.
I can't imagine that the average NASCAR fan watching at home or in the stands at the racetrack could possibly
keep up with who was ahead at any time unless there was a large scoreboard that showed where everyone
was in the standings at a particular moment.
I think I'll stick with football. A team getting to the Super Bowl is much easier to understand.
Don't underestimate the average NASCAR fan. They know what their favorite driver needs to do at each race and who they trail in the standings as well as fans of other sports. >>
I will tip my hat to them in respect for their tenacity to keep up with such a complex system, it takes a hard core fan to want to do this.
<< <i>
<< <i>I had no idea it was this complex.
I can't imagine that the average NASCAR fan watching at home or in the stands at the racetrack could possibly
keep up with who was ahead at any time unless there was a large scoreboard that showed where everyone
was in the standings at a particular moment. >>
That is actually one of the more annoying parts of watching a race is when they show the updated points standings 25 laps into a 500 lap race. It would be like following the baseball standings two weeks into the season. It matters a little, but they have a long way to go.
>>
I think I'll stick with football. A team getting to the Super Bowl is much easier to understand.
Except for the last week of the season when there are 76 different playoff scenarios. 'If team A wins and team B ties but scores 13 more points than team C, then team D is SOL.'
Yeah, that is the one time when things can get really complex but at least it gets resolved pretty quickly.
They buy their wives and girlfriends jewelry and other expensive gifts.
<< <i>I had no idea it was this complex.
I can't imagine that the average NASCAR fan watching at home or in the stands at the racetrack could possibly
keep up with who was ahead at any time unless there was a large scoreboard that showed where everyone
was in the standings at a particular moment.
I think I'll stick with football. A team getting to the Super Bowl is much easier to understand.
.............and they can still figure that out after a 12 pack of Bud.
Win 3 races in a row, then finish in 35th because of a crash or engine failure (3 x 180 + 58 = 598 points), and you're worse off than someone that finished 6th in those same 4 races (4 x 150 = 600 points).
Sure, the emphasis is on consistency, but it lead to somewhat boring races where everyone is conservative.
F1, IRL and Champ Car are just as bad.
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