NASCAR Points

NASCAR Points

Like most governed races, the NASCAR has its own elaborate set of scoring. Not just the conventional "cross the finish line to win" but a series of scoring system that is based on two categories: Final Position and Laps Led. This makes those struggling races to catch up during late runs, sparking a late game interest to spectators.

NASCAR points are awarded according to winning position. The First Place is awarded 180 points, with each succeeding winning position awarded the points minus ten points. That would make, for instance 180 for the first place, 170 for the second and the third gets 160. Laps are also point awarded, and they have a discerning factor in the NASCAR points. The minimum is 185 points for the leading racer. The next racer gets 170 points. After which a "scale" starts, with 5 points separating from the second leading racer until the 6th racer. That is saying if the second racer gets 170, the third has 165 and the fourth 160, so on and so forth. At the sixth racer, another set of scale starts, now the difference will be four; so, the seven gets a difference of fours until the eleventh. After which, the next scale begins now the difference will be three. That makes trailing drivers not severely lost and those that recovering from wrecks and mishaps a chance still to compete competitively.

Drivers that had led laps are awarded extra 5 points on top of their scores from position. The driver that leads with the most laps also earns additional 5 points with a maximum of 10 points. The lap leadership is only determined at the finish line of each lap, with those that have crossed first considered as the lap leader even if he trails some time during the lap.

NASCAR points are normally entered on the competitor's name, therefore the natural driver of the car (not the replacement driver). If replacement drivers are committed, for instance like when Ricky Rudd replaced Tony Stewart who was at that time injured, the replacement driver gets no point, but the race retains legality.

Over the years, the NASCAR point system was a series of improvisation. It did build up from prize money (early NASCAR points are based on prize money or "purses") in the past but since major winners can dominate succeeding matches it was later revamped. Like on one occasion when Richard Betty (regarded by most as the most prolific NASCAR driver) easily dominated the game by winning several previous races. Even when he finished 30th by the end of the season, he still outscored the race events winner by several points due to accumulated purse.