Weekend That Was: AMS

Four races into the 2007 season, and already it is apparent that NASCAR's new points system is seriously flawed.

How else can anyone explain the fact that Jimmie Johnson is coming off back-to-back wins -- meaning he beat the other 42 competitors at each of the last two tracks -- and yet he's fourth in the current point standings?

Fourth? Are you kidding me? Sure, the Chase for the Nextel Cup is still a long, long way away and some might attempt to state that it is way too early to start complaining, but this is ridiculous.

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It is a byproduct of NASCAR attempting to fool themselves, and everyone else along with them, again. When the latest changes to the points system were announced in January, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France proclaimed that the adjustments were designed to establish more balance between winning and consistent finishes, but with a new emphasis on the former.

"The adjustments taken put a greater emphasis on winning races," France said at the time. "Winning is what this sport is all about. Nobody likes to see drivers content to finish in the top 10. We want our sport -- especially during the Chase -- to be more about winning."

The Chase is comprised of the last 10 races of the 36-race season. During the format's first three years, the drivers who were top 10 in points after the 26th race of the season qualified for the Chase; in addition, any other driver outside the top 10 but within 400 points of the standings' leader also was eligible.

Starting this season, the 400-point cutoff is eliminated and the top 12 drivers in the points after Race 26 will qualify for the Chase. All 12 drivers will have their point totals re-set to 5,000; each will then receive a 10-point bonus for each race victory they had during the first 26 races

The Chase drivers then will be "seeded" to start the Chase based on the number of wins registered during the regular season, with the argument being that at that point in time, as long as they have qualified for the Chase, the winners of the most races will reap the real harvest of their earlier victories.

All of which is well and good in theory. But how much are those wins worth for now? A lousy five extra points each week, that's what.

And it's still not enough. (Continued)