'Chase for title' confirmed

NASCAR had some harsh criticism last year after Matt Kenseth won the 2003 championship by winning just one race. Ryan Newman was sixth in the standings although he won eight. The points system has always rewarded consistency above all else, and has been unchanged since 1975.

"It's exciting and it's the right thing to do," said NASCAR chairman Brian France. "That's what drove us to this decision."

The new system will mean an adjustment of the points after the first 26 races. The drivers in the top 10 and any others within 400 points of the leader will earn a berth in the "chase for the championship."

Those drivers will have their point totals adjusted after the 26th round, which this year will be at Richmond on 11 September. The first-place driver will begin the final 10 races (starting at New Hampshire on 19 September) with 5050 points, the second driver 5045 and so on, with incremental drops of five points.

The drivers not involved in the championship will keep the points they have earned to that point in the season.

The points system itself is to remain unchanged, except that race winners will get 180 points rather than 175 as previously.

"The 'chase for the championship' should not be seen as a playoff," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. "It will provide a better opportunity for more drivers to win the championship, creating drama and excitement throughout the entire season."