800 left turns to go
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by K Walker
This week the NASCAR Nextel Cup is heading to the Richmond International Raceway for its final time this year. After 800 left turns at Richmond the points will be reset, and the top twelve will be taken into a last and final ten race "playoff". NASCAR as adapted another points system this year of the Chase to the Nextel Cup.
The points will be reset for the top twelve drivers (such as last year), but this year you would have had to win. NASCAR has implemented a points system that as they reset the chase points NASCAR will add ten additional points to your total so based on the number of wins you had in the season you could possibly be seeded higher. This fairs well for drivers such as Jeff Gordon who has won four times this season or Tony Stewart who has three wins in his colum this year. But not so well for consistent drivers such as Clint Bowyer. Bowyer currently is in the 9th spot in the Nextel Cup standings and he is doing it the hard way. Bowyer has not won this season although his average finish has been fifteenth.
Clint has zero DNF's this year but on the other hand Jeff Gordon has one DNF to his name and Tony Stewart who has two DNF's. I completely understand that winning the Nextel Cup is not about mediocrity but my case in point is that I do not believe winning should be rewarded to readjust the points standings. The driver has already been awarded with points for winning why reward points twice for something done once. It is just like paying someone to mow your lawn twice over when he only did it once.
To me it makes no sense, but of course it is not my decision. I have a few friends that would say I am bias because Clint has not won a race, but by my calculations he will be seeded about eleventh instead of his correct ninth position. This is all assuming he will not win at Richmond International Speedway.
I feel that I am bias but on the other hand I never liked the idea of a chase to the Nextel Cup in the first place. I am an OLD NASCAR fan, I am from the days when no one cared that Winston sponsored the series and before the time they stopped letting alcohol into victory lane. I am a fan of the old system where if you win, you get points and if you are consistent you get the points you deserve. I remember a time when drivers could win a championship with only one win congratulations Benny Parsons, we all miss you.
