NASCAR may change point system for Nationwide Series

By Lee Montgomery

Monday, October 29, 2007

CHRIS TROTMAN / GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR officials are considering alterations to the point system for the Nationwide Series that would deny points for most, if not all, Sprint Cup drivers in 2009, several sources have told NASCAR Scene.

Beginning in 2009, drivers in the top 35 in the Sprint Cup standings would not be eligible to receive points in the Nationwide Series, under a proposal being considered by NASCAR.

NASCAR officials declined comment on the plan since it is under consideration. The sanctioning body, sources said, has also talked to teams in the series about other possible rules changes for 2009 in an attempt to differentiate itself from the Cup series.

If the proposed point system were in effect for this season, the series standings would be drastically different.

Nextel Cup drivers currently hold the top two positions, four of the top five and five of the top 10. Cup driver Carl Edwards leads the points standings, with Cup drivers David Reutimann second, Kevin Harvick fourth and David Ragan fifth.

The first non-Cup driver is Jason Leffler in third, 758 points out of the lead.

Harvick won last year's Busch championship while also running full time in Cup, while Edwards has all but clinched this year's title.

The specifics of the plan are apparently still being worked out, but Cup drivers would still be eligible for money and victories. It's also unclear what effect, if any, the rule changes would have on the owner point standings.

Also, NASCAR is reportedly still working out how points would be awarded. For example, if a Busch-only driver such as Leffler finished 10th behind nine Cup drivers, it's unclear whether he would receive 10th-place points or first-place points.

Proponents of the plan say it would greatly reduce the involvement of Cup drivers in the series, which might create a more level playing field for independent Nationwide teams.

One owner said he is "holding out for 2009" to be able to field a more competitive team, under the proposed new system. As many as 25 Cup drivers have been entered in any one Busch race this season.

Opponents of the plan want to include a caveat that if a driver such as Edwards is running all the Nationwide races, he should be eligible for the championship. Edwards, Reutimann and Ragan have run all 32 Busch races to date.

Opponents also don't want to eliminate the presence of Cup teams, which make up a large percentage of the series. If Cup drivers were not eligible for points, Cup teams might lose interest.