In 2005, two of NASCAR's biggest drivers failed to make the chase--Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR quickly moved to extend the chase field to the top twelve drivers. Just weeks before the 2011 season started, NASCAR announced a change in the way points would be acquired, which has made for a better season. You get one point for each position you finish in. For example, there are 43 cars in the race, and if you finish fifth, you would subtract five from 43 to get your total. Then of course there are bonus points for laps led.
Gone this year is also the top twelve. Only the top ten will qualify for the Chase and NASCAR will pick two wild cards to make up the final two drivers. NASCAR made the changes to improve the racing by reducing the number of drivers who are points racing towards the end of the regular season.
This year NASCAR is rewarding victories. To earn a wild card position, you have finish within the top 20 in the points standings and have at least one victory. NASCAR will calculate based on number of victories and point totals who qualifies for the two wild card positions. For instance, a driver may be in 18 position and have three victories, which is more than the driver in 11th position with two. The driver with the three victories get the wild card before the person with two. In case of a tie in victories, the wild card would go to the drive that placed highest in points.
The new system is making the desire to win races higher, and it has shown as Ryan Newman was the 13th winner this year since the new system was put in place. In comparison, last year only produced 13 winners.
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