Drivers only able to accumulate points in one series in 2011

[Cheeze]

Personally, I'd go for that. But I'd give them 12 races.

And make the 12 races the same for everybody.

 

[Markfan]

And make the 12 races the same for everybody.

That wouldn't be fair, that would benefit some drivers and harm others because the track selection wouldn't be balanced for everyone, you can see the same flaw in the chase.

 

[Cheeze]

But if you let them do any 12 races, 3 Cup drivers could, theoretically, sweep the Series pretty much like the last 4 years. I say let 'em race at the restrictor plate tracks, the Bristol, Charlotte, and Road Coarse races, and throw in a random track that changes every year. That way the Nationwide drivers will be able to have their own functional series and still be able to gain experience by racing with the veterans.

 

[dalejrgamer]

According to NASCAR officials, the only drivers who will receive points in Nationwide Series races will be those eligible for the series championship. Full-time Sprint Cup drivers running for that title are de facto ineligible.

The top Nationwide driver, however, won’t receive first-place points unless he or she wins the race. In other words, if Justin Allgaier runs fourth behind Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick—as was the case in last year’s season-opening Nationwide race at Daytona International Speedway—Allgaier will receive fourth-place points and money.

NASCAR announced Friday that drivers had to select the one championship they’ll seek before the start of the season, unlike in years past when they were eligible for championships in all series.

Read more: Notebook: Top speeds soar at Daytona - NASCAR - Sporting News

Once again, NASCAR finds an easy way out of this.

 

[Fisha695]

Once again, NASCAR finds an easy way out of this.

I don't think it's an easy way out as much as it is Joe Balash, Helton & Darby just not thinking it through.

 

[dalejrgamer]

I don't think it's an easy way out as much as it is Joe Balash, Helton & Darby just not thinking it through.

That, too.

 

[MattSRD28]

Yeah, but who honestly cares about owners' points? I watch it for the drivers' title, and I don't like how some guys won't be getting those points.

The owners care, and since they are the ones who are keeping their teams alive, Nascar won't just ignore them.

Once again, NASCAR finds an easy way out of this.

Occam's Razor

This move is the best move possible for the Nationwide & Truck Series. As the 2011 season unfolds, I'm confident that that will be illustrated.

 

[DannyM]

The owners care, and since they are the ones who are keeping their teams alive, Nascar won't just ignore them.

If you're going to put it that way, the double-duty drivers care about the Nationwide title just as much as the owners...

But, I was obviously just talking about the fans. Most of us do not pay a bit of attention to the owners' title.

 

[MattSRD28]

If you're going to put it that way, the double-duty drivers care about the Nationwide title just as much as the owners...

True, and that's why Cup drivers have been allowed to earn drivers' points in the Nationwide/Truck Series up until now. When it became clear that Cup drivers were stunting the growth & development of younger up and coming drivers by preventing them from winning their series' drivers championship, the line needed to be drawn.

Now, keep in mind, a F/T Cup driver can earn points in Nationwide or Trucks as long as he doesn't have a problem with not earning drivers points in the Cup Series. No one's brought that up yet, but it would be true under the "Pick A Series" system. There will be drivers racing in Cup races this year not earning drivers points because they picked Nationwide or Trucks to earn points in. Trevor Bayne, for example.

But, I was obviously just talking about the fans. Most of us do not pay a bit of attention to the owners' title.

I know, but even though fans by & large don't care about owners' points, the owners care about owners' points. Nascar owed them a contingency plan, and they got one. If fans don't care, then nothing Nascar does regarding owners' points matters one way or the other.