NASCAR considering scoring-system changes

Last-lap crash in Busch race causes problems

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said the sanctioning body has been looking at ways to upgrade its scoring system after the current system came under question on the last lap of Saturday's Mr. Goodcents 300 Busch Series race.

The race was restarted with one lap to go, but a crash between Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Greg Biffle forced NASCAR to throw the caution. Under rules implemented two weeks ago, cars don't race back to the yellow, even on the last lap.

But several drivers, including race winner David Green, raced to the yellow and checkered flags anyway. That meant the results on NASCAR's scoring computer -- which records where the cars are at the finish line -- were incorrect. The new rules dictate the cars being scored exactly when the yellow flag comes out.

That's the problem. Hunter said NASCAR knew it was going to be difficult to score the cars "because we cannot freeze the cars at the exact moment that the yellow is displayed."

Hunter said the cars were scored halfway between Turns 1 and 2 when the caution lights came on. After officials conferred for almost an hour, the unofficial results were released. Several positions had changed, most dramatically Jason Keller's. Keller had rolled out of the throttle and was passed by every car on the lead lap. But since he was running fourth when the yellow waved, he was given that position.

Several competitors complained to NASCAR after the race, and Hunter said NASCAR is hoping to improve the current system.

"We're simply telling all those competitors that we're looking for a better system," Hunter said.

Hunter said NASCAR is considering two systems. The first will use electronic lines under the racetrack, just like the one currently at the start-finish line, in quadrants around the track.

The second is an effective global positioning satellite system that would freeze the field when the caution is waved. NASCAR has a GPS system, but Hunter said exact positions can't be determined.

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Asked when either of the new systems could come online, Hunter said. "I think next year is realistic," and "possibly" by Daytona.

"(Competitors) expect NASCAR to come up with a better system to score the cars," Hunter said. "And we will. It's just a question of when."

Hunter also said NASCAR would not reconsider its decision to allow racing back to the yellow, even on the last lap.

He also reiterated that the results from Saturday's race are unofficial and some positions could change when NASCAR releases the official race report Monday.

"These are unofficial results," Hunter said. "They don't become official until Monday when we do they official race reports. ... I don't to lead anybody to believe that we may have a wholesale change come Monday. ... Everything's unofficial until Monday.

"Quite frankly, I don't foresee any wholesale changes, possibly a position in one or two cases, but I don't even know that that'll happen."