Jimmie Johnson could've been No. 1 twice had the points system been different. Credit: Autostock

New points would have affected some title races

If NASCAR's decision to award five more points to the winner of each race had been in effect since the invention of the current points system in 1975, the record book would look quite different.

Not only would Jimmie Johnson be celebrating his second championship in the past three seasons, but Richard Petty's seventh championship would have been achieved by just one point, and Jeff Gordon would have already won five.

CHANGES ANNOUNCED Wins will be more important than ever following changes to the points system and Chase.  •   Complete story, click here FRANCE ON CHANGES Part of the reason NASCAR tweaked its championship format, CEO Brian France said, was because the format lacked a way for "wild-card" teams to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup.  •   Complete story, click here DAVID CARAVIELLO Changes to the Chase promise to add more drama and intrigue, but David Caraviello says fans should dust off their algebra texts to figure out the thing.  •   Complete story, click here WHAT IF ... NASCAR's decision to award five more points to the winner of each race had been in effect since the invention of the current points system in 1975, the record book would look quite different.  •   Complete story, click here MESSAGE BOARD What do you think of the changes to the points system and Chase format NASCAR has announced for 2007?  •   Post your thoughts New for 2007Brian France on the changes in the points and Chase Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

An analysis of how the new rules changes would have affected each season's championship illustrate how expanding the Chase for the Nextel Cup field to 12 drivers -- with the exception of Tony Stewart's 2006 season -- would have had a negligible effect on the standings.

In fact, much of the drama at Richmond the past two seasons would have been diminished by the new format.

However, what appears at first glance to be a subtle change to the points system -- giving another five points to the winner of each race -- would have had major ramifications if applied retroactively.

Consider 1979, Richard Petty's seventh and final championship season. He edged Darrell Waltrip that year by 11 points. However, if you take into consideration that Waltrip won seven races to Petty's five, Petty would have won the title by a single point.

Alan Kulwicki's 1992 comeback would have ended up as a nice rally instead of a championship, since Bill Elliott won five races to Kulwicki's two that season. So instead of losing the title by 10, Elliott would have clinched the title by winning the season finale at Atlanta, even with Kulwicki running second.

And Jeff Gordon's name would replace Terry Labonte's on the 1996 trophy under the new system, as he won 10 races to Labonte's two. That would have easily wiped out Labonte's 37-point advantage.

Of course, that's 20-20 hindsight -- and strategies certainly would have varied based on the system in effect at the time. Still, it's an intriguing prospect.

At the same time, many of NASCAR's closest points battles wouldn't have changed hands. Even though Elliott won 11 races to Waltrip's three in 1985, Waltrip had enough of a cushion to hold on. The same holds true for Elliott in 1988, Rusty Wallace in 1989 and Earnhardt in 1990.

Even though Wallace won 10 races in 1993, he still wouldn't have caught Earnhardt, who won six times that season.

So how would the new rules have affected the first three Chases?

2004

No fewer than eight drivers had a chance to capture a spot in the Chase heading into Richmond. However, Ryan Newman would have gained 10 additional points for his two victories, which would have solidified his position.

Jeremy Mayfield's win would have moved him into the Chase under both systems, while Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne -- 11th and 12th, respectively, in the standings after Richmond -- would have been added to the expanded Chase.

Instead of starting with a 25-point cushion over Kurt Busch, Johnson would have been up 20 points -- the result for four "regular-season" victories compared to Busch's two.

However, the five-point bonus for winning races would have played a huge factor in determining the eventual champion. Because Johnson won four times in the final six races, he would have accumulated 20 additional points.

Busch won at New Hampshire, but instead of winning the title by eight points, he would have lost it by two.

Inside the Points Final standings based on new points system (2004) Pos. Driver Revised Actual 1. J. Johnson 6,513 6,498 2. Ku. Busch 6,511 6,506 3. J. Gordon 6,490 6,490 2005 Pos. Driver Revised Actual 1. T. Stewart 6,533 6,533 2. C. Edwards 6,513 6,498 3. G. Biffle 6,508 6,498 2006 Pos. Driver Revised Actual 1. J. Johnson 6,475 6,475 2. T. Stewart 6,459 4,727 3. M. Kenseth 6,409 6,419

Under the new system, Gordon would have finished 23 behind and McMurray -- who didn't make the Chase that season -- would have wound up fourth, 87 out.

2005

Gordon and Elliott Sadler would have been the two drivers added to the expanded Chase, but neither would have been a factor in the championship. Under the revised points, Gordon would have wound up eighth and Sadler 10th.

Stewart still would have been crowned champion by 20 points, although Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle would have made things more interesting at the end, since Edwards won twice during the Chase and Biffle once.

2006

The new Chase format would have taken much of the intrigue out of Richmond, leaving the 12th spot to be determined between Biffle and Edwards. Even that would have been anti-climatic, since Edwards wound up several laps down and in 35th place in the finale.

However, with the winner's bonus, not only would Stewart have easily made the 12-man Chase, he would have been just 20 points behind the leader after Richmond.

And coupled with his three wins in the final 10 races, Stewart would have wound up second, 16 points behind Johnson.

Matt Kenseth would have been third, with Kevin Harvick edging Denny Hamlin in a tiebreaker for fourth, thanks to two wins during the Chase.