NASCAR officials announced Thursday that they will alter the points system for the Whelen All-American Series short track standings, which is used to determine their annual national champion and state champions.
The changes will theoretically work in the favor of drivers at Connecticut race tracks, who compete in events with handicapped staring lineups rather than starting lineups set by time trials, which is common in the Southeast.
Under the former system a race winner received two points for every car in the event up to 20 cars with second place receiving two fewer points and so on through the field. Race winners also received a five point bonus.
Under the new system a race winner will receive two points for every car in an even up to 18 cars with second place receiving two fewer points and so on. In addition to the full-field designation being lowered to 18, the bonus points structure was changed. A race winner will receive a three point bonus, but if that winner starts 10th or deeper in the field, they will receive an additional two bonus points.
A driver’s best 18 finishes between Jan. 1 and Sept. 21 2014 will count toward their Whelen All-American Series points total.
“These changes were based on feedback from our competitors, track operators and fans,” Bob Duvall, senior director, business development for NASCAR said in a release. “We feel this will bring an added element to our track’s weekly shows, and we’re already looking forward to an exciting 2014 season.”
It was also announced that NASCAR will not recognize a national champion in not only its Division I (premier division), but also in its Division II-V support division levels at short tracks.
NASCAR also announced that each Whelen All-American Series track in 2014 will recognize a Youth Achievement Award winner for a driver between the ages of 14-18 based on the Whelen All-American Series points system. A Youth Achievement Award national championship will also be awarded.
Other new elements announced at the meeting included a Liberty Tire Recycling rubberized mulch program that aligns with NASCAR’s ongoing Green Initiative and a program for tracks to secure paint and other related items from Sherwin Williams, the official paint of NASCAR.
Attendees also got their first look at the new official’s uniform for all NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks supplied by 5.11 Tactical, in a new partnership announced in November.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season will run from Wed., Jan. 1 to Sunday, Sept. 21.
Sounds cool.