NASCAR needs to revisit points system

Consistency has become too important to NASCAR.

The holy grail in NASCAR is the Sprint Cup points championship.

In order to compete for the grail, drivers must rank among the top 12 after 26 races. They then spend 10 races running for the Cup while the others get in the way.

Too much emphasis is placed on top 10 finishes in Races 1 through 26, and not enough is placed on winning.

As the drivers start their engines for today's Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, Jeff Gordon sits atop the driver standings. Tony Stewart is in second place.

Gordon won at Texas. Stewart hasn't won this season.

Kyle Busch has won three races and is in seventh place. Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin each have two victories and are 10th and 11th in the standings.

Five drivers who are winless this year, Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle, are ahead of Kenseth and Martin. Three are ahead of Busch.

Whatever happened to the concept that to the victor go the spoils?

Burton and Biffle are amiable and affable men. Having them among the top 12 drivers is an asset for NASCAR.

And though he can be surly and cantankerous, Stewart's skill is undeniable.

But those drivers haven't won a race. It's fine if they are in the top 12. Consistency should be rewarded.

However, Busch should be at the top of the heap, followed by Kenseth and Martin. Then should come Gordon, Kurt Bush and Jimmie Johnson, each with one victory.

Winning is worth 15 more points (185) than finishing second (170). Winning is just 30 points more valuable than finishing fifth.

Winning in NASCAR is difficult. It should have more value.

Before the Richmond race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that while it would be nice to win, if he had the car to finish among the top five, he wasn't going to take any chances just to take the checkered flag.

Aren't these guys born to race? Isn't racing about winning? Remember what Ricky Bobby said in Talladega Nights? If you don't finish first, you're last.

(Ricky Bobby also drove with a cougar in his car, and we don't recommend that.)

In the final laps, drivers should push cars to the limits, drive three wide and make every effort to win.

Instead, some gauge the odds of finishing first. If they don't like their chances, they protect their position and roll in fourth, fifth or sixth.

Let's fix this.

Winning should be more valuable than a 15-point differential between first and second. A fifth-place finish should not be worth 30 points fewer than winning.

Some races should be worth more points than others. Both Daytona races should be more valuable than Watkins Glen or Chicago.

Today's race also should be more valuable, as should one of the Talladega races.

And one short track race, oh, let's say Richmond since drivers say RIR is the perfect track, should provide extra points.

The second Richmond race is the last chance to make the Chase. Give it more weight and watch the competition improve, especially among the drivers ranked 11 through 15.

NASCAR need not be winner take all. But the winner should take more than he gets now.

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or .