Brian France says last year's finale at Homestead is proof that the Chase for the Nextel Cup worked. Credit: Autostock

France: No major changes planned for '05

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR will not make any changes to its current points system this season, sticking with the 10-race shootout format that created the closest championship race in series history.

"We don't anticipate (changes) for '05," NASCAR chairman Brian France said Monday. "We did look hard at making any potential adjustments ... we feel like we have a pretty good system and we're set for '05."

STAYING PUT During a stop on the NASCAR Nextel Media Tour on Monday, NASCAR chairman of the board Brian France denied rumors that say he's leaving the sport.  •   Complete story,  click here

France kicked off his first year as head of NASCAR by overhauling the decades-old points system and creating a playoff structure for 10 drivers over the final 10 events of the season.

Five drivers went into the season's final race, Nov. 21 at Homestead, Fla., with a chance to win the title. At the end, only eight points separated champion Kurt Busch from runner-up Jimmie Johnson.

That, France said, was proof that the system worked. The last time NASCAR had a close chase heading into the final event was 1992 when six drivers went to the finale with a shot to win it.

"You know, 2004 is undoubtedly going to go down as either the greatest season we've ever had, or one of the greatest seasons we've ever had," France said. "Did we make racing better? Was the racing on the track more exciting? Did we showcase the opportunities for the best drivers in the world to do their thing? And the answer is absolutely, and the Chase was a big part of that."

The first 26 of the season's 36 races are used to determine the participants for the 10-race championship battle. The top 10 in the standings following the 26th race at Richmond in September, plus anyone within 400 points of first place, will have their points totals reset for the final 10 races.

"We will go through another cycle in 2005 and take a look at it, but on balance we're happy with where we are," France said.

In resisting the urge to tinker with the system, NASCAR will begin the season without any major changes for the first time in four years.

NASCAR went into 2002 with an emphasis on safety following the 2001 death of Dale Earnhardt. Realignment, and moving races out of the South and into larger markets, was the 2003 theme.

And last season saw a slew of changes, from France beginning his reign, to a new series sponsor in Nextel and the revamped points system.

France said he plans to spend 2005 working on cost containment, safety issues and a push toward diversity. He said NASCAR will continue to market itself internationally, pointing to a March Busch Series race in Mexico City as the first step.

However, France said there are no plans to stage a Nextel Cup race in Mexico or Canada anytime soon.

France said NASCAR is still trying find a New York City venue, but deferred questions to his sister, Lesa France Kennedy, head of the family-owned International Speedway Corp.

France Kennedy said ISC officials are working on traffic plans to sell a proposed track to New York officials and that the company hopes to bring NASCAR racing to the nation's largest media market by "the latter part of the decade."

ISC has already paid $100 million for more than 450 acres of dormant industrial land on Staten Island, and plans to buy an additional 236 acres next year for $10 million. In all, it wants to acquire 660 acres, which it said would be the largest undeveloped block of land within New York City.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg previously has voiced doubts about traffic jams that might be generated by the track.

"Traffic is always a concern," France Kennedy said. "But we are only talking about several days a year, and on a weekend. So we would not be competing with commuter traffic."