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Solving NASCAR issues with Bonus Points

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

January 25, 2011 12:33 pm UTC 1 Comment

NASCAR is looking to simplify their points system in all three national touring series.

Carl Edwards trophy Phoenix International Raceway 10

The thinking on NASCAR’s part is the fans have a hard time understanding the current system. There isn’t anything intrinsically wrong with the current system. After all; it has served the sport well for decades. Revisions to the current system however could improve it and give the fans what they want–more emphasis on wins.

The powers that be at NASCAR are in and have been in a “change is good” mode for several years. Good, bad or indifferent–Brian France and his charges have seen change as the cure for the sport. Lets look at a new points system for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series and see what makes sense.

Speculation for a new system revolves around what is being referred to as the “43 system” where the winning car receives forty-three points and every place under that receives one few than the spot above down to the forty-third place finisher who receives one point.

This system; in its strictest form does nothing to give the fans more emphasis on winning. If anything it reduces that aspect of the current system. So how can NASCAR simplify the system and reward winners?

Lets take the basic 43 system and make a couple of simple changes. First lets look at the bottom of the finishing order; the area inhabited by the start and park teams. The merits of these SaP teams has been debated before and that’s for another time. But they are here to stay so in my points system places 41, 42 and 43 each earn two points. Places 36 through 40 each earn five points, in an effort to keep badly damaged cars from returning to the track.

Keeping damaged cars from returning to the track will reduce yellow flags and debris cautions. This one is for the drivers and crews, as many have listed the returning lame car as one of their biggest pet peeves.

We move back to the top of the leader board, where the winner will receive 43 points, the second place car 42 and so on down the line. But because we like to see racing throughout the event, one bonus point should continue to be given to the car that leads the most laps and FIVE bonus points are to be given to the winner for a green flag victory.

This puts the emphasis on the drivers to race for wins and yet would reduce the possibility of the kamikaze finish on a third Green-White-Checker attempt. Rain shortened events would receive the “kissing your sister” recognition they deserve.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler/On Pit Row

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series, How to fix NASCAR, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Nationwide Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Sprint Cup Series, The Fast Lap

Tagged with: bonus points, Green-White-Checkers, start and parkers

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Mark Martin Off to a Fast Start in Quest for the Cup

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

September 21, 2009 8:56 am UTC No Comments

Mark Martin holds off Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya to take the win at New Hampshire.

Martin led 66 of the last 96 laps to become the first five time winner on The Sprint Cup circuit in 2009 and increased his points lead in his quest for his first Cup championship. Martin took the checkers as the spun and prone race car of AJ Almendinger sat on the front stretch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

NASCAR had enacted their “no racing back to the caution” rule after a similar occurrence at the track left Dale Jarrett in harms way in a very similar situation. But, in this instance NASCAR waited and waited and waited to throw the caution; instead hoping that Allmendinger could get his ride fired and out of the way.

NASCAR wanted to let the race reach a natural conclusion, but in doing so put Almendinger and the front of the field in harms way. Once again the fans and competitors never know what direction NASCAR will follow when it comes time to end a race. Cautions can be throw in a nano-second if debris is found on the trackand the field can be returned to a more entertaining formation.

NASCAR cannot be blamed for trying to let the drivers determine the outcome of the event. They waited until the last possible second to throw the yellow in turn four but by that time it was too late to slow the oncoming cars significantly and the front pack had to perform evasive manuvers to avoud the #44.

This leads to this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

Should NASCAR have thrown the caution as soon as Allmendinger spun his car on the front straight?

While initially trying to let the race run its course, NASCAR made a ruling that Montoya, who raced past Hamlin for an apparent second place finish had to relinquish the spot to Hamlin because NASCAR’s loop data showed Hamlin ahead of Montoya when the late caution came out.

Once again it appears as if NASCAR wants to have it both ways.

Let us know what you think about this week’s BUZZ and we could use your comment on the radio show. You could win a Kevin Harvick bobblehead if your comment is chosen as the Shell–Fuel My Passion–comment of the day. Listen live every Tuesday from 5-7pm ET and give the show a call–toll free– at 800-645-2946

photo credit: Icon Sports Media

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Hendrick Motorsports, Mark Martin, NASCAR, NASCAR Conspiracies, New Hampshire International Speedway, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, The Fast Lap

Tagged with: AJ Almendinger, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin

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Tha TOAD Substitutes fer Dusty!

by Art Almond, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

Awright y'all... I'm tha crazy dude that is known as... "Drawer-Dude" I draw funny pictures of this racin' cartoon character that I created... known as "PIT-ROAD-TOAD! You can see more Toad-Toons at my blog site... RACIN' RUCKUS

January 7, 2009 8:15 pm UTC No Comments

Filed under: Comics, Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR video, Nextel Cup Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Pit Road Toad, Shut Up and Drive, The Fast Lap

Tagged with: Art Almond, Dusty Downforce, Pit Road Toad

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“Days Ahh Blunder”… THA TOAD at Tha Awards.

by Art Almond, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

December 11, 2008 4:38 pm UTC 3 Comments

This years Awards Banquet featured some movie stars… who for some unknown reason have a sudden interest in Racin’! Could they be planning to make another NASCAR movie? The likes of Tom Cruise, and Kevin Costner can cost a movie producer up to twenty (20) million dollars per actor, per movie!

As you can see here… the TOAD is more than capable of performing in front of a camera. I will send the TOAD’S resume to all major motion picture corporations… with a comprehensive salary cost evaluation.

Just looking at the initial figures… it seems logical to hire the TOAD. He will work for one six pack of beer ($5.99)… and one… eight piece bucket of chicken ($10.99)… twice per day for a total cost of $16.98 per day of filming! Now… multiply this figure by sixty (60) days of production… and the total cost savings for hiring the TOAD would be in the neighborhood of $19,998,982.00!

Perhaps the TOAD could star in a new racing movie… we could call it… “DAYS AHH BLUNDER!”

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Filed under: Comics, Monday Morning Crew Chief, Nascaholics, NASCAR, NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR Rumors, Nextel Cup Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Pit Road Toad, The Fast Lap

Tagged with: Art Almond, Awards Banquet, Pit Road Toad

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Kyle Busch is the Best Road Racer in NASCAR

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

August 14, 2008 7:02 am UTC 1 Comment

Like the driver himself, the headline may cause NASCAR fans to scream foul.

Facts can be made to say about anything that you want them to. They can be twisted, manipulated and stretched in any number of ways to get a point across. It is tough to argue that anyone is better than Rowdy at road racing in NASCAR at this point in time.

No one in NASCAR history has won three road races in a single season until The Shrub did it in 2008. Winning both Cup races at Infineon and Watkins Glen along with the Nationwide race in Mexico City moves him to the head of the list.

ON PIT ROW, the radio show, every week asks four “Fast Lap” questions that are worded in such a way as to spur debate. One of this week’s Fast lap questions asked if Kyle Busch is the best road racer ever. NASCAR has been running road races as long as there has been NASCAR, and no one has been able to win more than two in a season.

Two names have been brought up as better road racers than Kyle. One is Dan Gurney. Gurney was one helluva road racer, no doubt about it, but I don’t consider him a NASCAR driver. He was the epitome of a road course ringer in NASCAR’s youth. Gurney posted 5 wins on road courses in his NASCAR “career”; but again he was never a full timer and four of those came at one race track–Riverside. Considering the road course stops on the circuits today, Riverside seems more like Pocono than a true road course.

Jeff Gordon has nine wins on the lefts and rights. A pretty remarkable number until you consider the level of competition that he raced against to gain many of those wins. Gordon began winning road course races when only ten or fifteen percent of the field could possibly win one. The first attempts for the NASCAR elite to run at The Glen and later at Infineon was a scene out of a Buster Keaton movie. Gordon was able to pile up wins while the rest of the field was using the two road courses as ‘throw aways”. Who can forget the scenes of top notch drivers doing more driving in the dirt than on the course?

The level of competition is higher. The race tracks are tougher and in my mind, no one in NASCAR history has done it better than Kyle Busch. Busch’s sponsor M&M/Mars has put together a promotion to find the most colorful fan in NASCAR. Check it out at http://tsc.nascar.com/mmsracing/
it is some fun–much like watching their driver has become.

Kyle is turning heads on the race track and turning detractors into fans. Love him or hate him, the boy has talent and some flair for the dramatic.

Photo credits:BethAnne Heisler/ON PIT ROW
Icon Sports Media

Filed under: Busch Series, Kyle Busch, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, Nascar Legends, Nationwide Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Pocono Raceway, road course ringers, The Busch Bros, The Fast Lap

Tagged with: Dan Gurney, Infineon Raceway, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, NASCAR, Watkins Glen

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Loose in Turn Three-peat

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 18, 2008 3:12 pm UTC 3 Comments

So, you tell me which is right – the old “third time’s a charm” saying or is my Grandmother’s favorite – “bad things happen in threes” – more appropriate for our ” Loose in Turn Three” project?

Check out hosts, Bruce Simmons’ Bruce’s Bits & Pieces, Tim Zaegel’s Do You NASCAR, and me, Bench Racing Charlie to get caught up on the complete discussion on this week’s three topics and please leave plenty of feedback. Thanks and enjoy!

Should NASCAR go to a more structured drug testing policy?

Charlie: Aaron Fike admitted last week that he had raced his Craftsman Truck while under the influence of heroin. Kevin Harvick stated that he is convinced that at least one other driver had raced while under some substance’s influence. NASCAR currently tests when they become suspicious. That is just too loose a policy for a major league sport – especially one that features its performers driving potentially lethal weapons. It’s time to do something more structured.

Random testing for narcotics and alcohol would be a place to start. I know it’s not simple. But figure it out, you know.

TZ: Ya know, I can actually go either way on this one. In NASCAR’s defense, being a former service member, I can say that when done properly, random testing can be very effective. When I look at the crews and drivers in the garage, I also believe that this is still the “clean” sport that it’s always been perceived to be, and these strike me as the type of guys that are more than capable of policing their
own. The only potential issue I can really see with drug use in this sport is the fact that the field keeps getting younger and younger, so you may have a red flag there. Overall – more structured? Yes. Strictly enforcing mandatory weekly testing? No.

Bruce: I’m with Charlie on this one. I’d like to think that when I’m hurtling along at 120 to 180 mph going into a corner, that there is some semblance of calm knowing that the guy next to or behind me isn’t hopped up and seeing giant butterflies sitting on the deck lid of the car in front of him. But how far NASCAR wants to go with this is the big question. Do you tag first, fifth, fifteenth and twenty-fifth finishing spots every week or pull short straws? It’s going to be how
they deploy the process of random testing that’s going to catch heat, no matter what.

That’s what we think. What do you think?

If you haven’t already, click over to TZ’s post on:

Will Tony Stewart Still Be 100% Committed to Toyota in Cup Series in 2009?

Then check out Bruce’s bits on this one:

What Do You Guys Think of the Fox Coverage at the Beginning of the Phoenix Race?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media , Inc.

Filed under: Craftsman Truck Series, It's Only Cheating if You Get Caught, Kevin Harvick, NASCAR officials, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Roush Racing, The Fast Lap, Turn 2 posts

Tagged with: Aaron Fike, blog, Craftsman Truck, Kevin Harvick, motorsports, NASCAR, NASCAR drug testing

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