Kasey Kahne has five Nextel Cup Series wins this season. Credit: Autostock

NASCAR looking at changes to point system

Bigger reward for race winners among edits being discussed

RICHMOND, Va. -- NASCAR officials are looking at several models that will increase the points awarded for victories in the Nextel Cup Series next season, NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said on Saturday.

The governing body also is considering adding a clause that will give a spot in the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup to the driver outside the top 10 with the most wins.

Both scenarios would have put Kasey Kahne, who entered Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway with a series-high five wins but 11th in points, in the Chase that begins next weekend at New Hampshire Speedway.

A formal announcement on the changes won't be made until December at the season-ending banquet in New York.

NASCAR currently awards 180 points to the race winner, with five bonus points given for the most laps led. Second place gets 170 points and positions three through six are separated on five-point increments.

Officials are looking at models that will increase the winner's edge on second by another 10 to 15 points. The models include what would have happened in the past 10 seasons with those changes.

Kahne, for example, would have an additional 50 points for the five wins he had entering Saturday's race in which he entered 30 points out of 10th.

Only the top 10 in points and anybody within 400 points qualify for the Chase, which begins after the first 26 races. Officials also are looking at increasing that number since no driver outside of 400 points has made the Chase since the playoff format was implemented in 2004.

There have been no discussions of simply expanding the number of drivers in the Chase to the top 12 in points as has been reported.

Also not under consideration is requiring a win to get into the Chase.

Drivers and crew chiefs have mixed emotions about the changes. Many are in favor of awarding more points for a victory.

"The points, there needs to be a bigger separation a couple of different ways,'' Johnson said. "One is for events. Two, to get in the Chase and to have a five-point separation, that's just crazy.''

The points leader after 26 races has only a five-point lead over second place and a 45-point lead over 10th place when the points are reshuffled for the Chase.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, said only that "we're always talking about doing things to make [the system] better.''

Mark Martin, who entered Saturday's race 32 points ahead of Kahne, doesn't see any need for change and the bottom line should remain consistency.

"It's the same system they've been using basically for 50 years,'' he said. "It's been good for 50 years, so I think it's fine now.''