#4. A couple of surprise right turns would make for a more interesting race. Also encourage crashing. Maybe have hood mounted machine guns on all of the cars. Tracks with random potholes. Maybe a few elderly people roaming around the track.

I should be the one running NASCAR.

I think the jury is out on whether it will be easier or not. I give them credit though - they had to do something to change up the way that drivers compete for the championship.

I think I like the Wild Card entries in the Chase idea. There should be good reason why someone who was outside the top ten in points is allowed to compete in the championship races - and winners are as good a reason as any.

I suppose the new system evens the field for now. Humans typically always take the path of least resistance. It's only a matter of time before teams & drivers find a way to use the system to gain max benefit with minimal effort. Then we'll see more changes.

I think there have to be more changes coming in order for this sport to keep evolving.
1.) I don't think all the races need to be as long as they are. I'm not in favor of indiscriminately slashing lengths off either though.
2.) They probably already have a grand scheme in mind, but there are some tracks that should, and will lose dates. I hope that additions like Iowa and Road America could be included somehow, as well as the return of a track like The Rock (won't happen, I know).
3.) I like the idea of making drivers choose which championship they want to chase. I wonder though, if someone like Edwards runs the full season, won't that make it confusing? I really think more needs to be done for the Nationwide series. It would be great to allow that series to be a development series for owners as well - rather than a proving ground for Gibbs, Roush, Childress, etal. I am reminded of Clint Bowyer's statement in reference to a Gibb's car: 'A monkey could drive that car and win.'

There's more, but I have written enough.

I think the jury is out on whether it will be easier or not. I give them credit though - they had to do something to change up the way that drivers compete for the championship.

I think I like the Wild Card entries in the Chase idea. There should be good reason why someone who was outside the top ten in points is allowed to compete in the championship races - and winners are as good a reason as any.

I suppose the new system evens the field for now. Humans typically always take the path of least resistance. It's only a matter of time before teams & drivers find a way to use the system to gain max benefit with minimal effort. Then we'll see more changes.

I think there have to be more changes coming in order for this sport to keep evolving.
1.) I don't think all the races need to be as long as they are. I'm not in favor of indiscriminately slashing lengths off either though.
2.) They probably already have a grand scheme in mind, but there are some tracks that should, and will lose dates. I hope that additions like Iowa and Road America could be included somehow, as well as the return of a track like The Rock (won't happen, I know).
3.) I like the idea of making drivers choose which championship they want to chase. I wonder though, if someone like Edwards runs the full season, won't that make it confusing? I really think more needs to be done for the Nationwide series. It would be great to allow that series to be a development series for owners as well - rather than a proving ground for Gibbs, Roush, Childress, etal. I am reminded of Clint Bowyer's statement in reference to a Gibb's car: 'A monkey could drive that car and win.'

There's more, but I have written enough.

You got respect for everything ABOVE the "I have written enough" comment.  I'm with Jen, I really miss the old days of the Q when there were copious discussions about all of our opinions on "stuff"

Okay, so here's MY take.  We've been clammoring for wins to count for MORE, and now the spread between first and second place is less.  I've been screaming (and I'm not the only one) for extra points for a win to be awarded immediately after the race, hopefully leading to more RACING!!!  I'm sick of them playing the "points game" and it appears (from what I've read and heard - be nice to me, I've worked 20 days out of the last 22 and haven't had a chance to read everything yet) that the points game will be even more the way they will race.

I am a HUGE fan of them declaring only one series to race for a championship.  It may make the N'wide series more exciting to have the Cup drivers in the series, but honestly, what pride is there for the full time drivers if they really don't have a chance to compete for the championship in N'wide - if they could compete with the Cup drivers, they would be racing Cup, right?

Some of the races could be shortened and it wouldn't bother me a bit (California quickly comes to mind, but they already shortened that to 400 miles - do I hear 300?)

I'd LOVE to see some of the more unique tracks in the Chase - and yes, a road course as well - but I really am sick of the cookie cutter tracks - yes, I know the banking makes them race differently, but too many of them seem all too much the same. 

okay, I'll have more when I get all caught up, and if I'm wrong on anything, please let me know!

You got respect for everything ABOVE the "I have written enough" comment.  I'm with Jen, I really miss the old days of the Q when there were copious discussions about all of our opinions on "stuff"

Okay, so here's MY take.  We've been clammoring for wins to count for MORE, and now the spread between first and second place is less.  I've been screaming (and I'm not the only one) for extra points for a win to be awarded immediately after the race, hopefully leading to more RACING!!!  I'm sick of them playing the "points game" and it appears (from what I've read and heard - be nice to me, I've worked 20 days out of the last 22 and haven't had a chance to read everything yet) that the points game will be even more the way they will race.

I am a HUGE fan of them declaring only one series to race for a championship.  It may make the N'wide series more exciting to have the Cup drivers in the series, but honestly, what pride is there for the full time drivers if they really don't have a chance to compete for the championship in N'wide - if they could compete with the Cup drivers, they would be racing Cup, right?

Some of the races could be shortened and it wouldn't bother me a bit (California quickly comes to mind, but they already shortened that to 400 miles - do I hear 300?)

I'd LOVE to see some of the more unique tracks in the Chase - and yes, a road course as well - but I really am sick of the cookie cutter tracks - yes, I know the banking makes them race differently, but too many of them seem all too much the same. 

okay, I'll have more when I get all caught up, and if I'm wrong on anything, please let me know!

I like that they had the guts to do something with the points system, but I wonder if it will make the drivers points race even more. If points racing is the game then they start engraving JJ on the 2011 trophy because no one is better than the 48 team at that.

Personally, I would like to see more points for the top 3-5 finishers - something like 1st= 75; 2nd = 65; 3rd = 55; 4th = 50; 5th = 45. Then make a different graduation of points from 6-10 and one point increments thereafter. Get rid of the bonus points for a single lap led - that's a joke. Keep the bonus for most laps led because there should be reward for dominating.

The qualifying rules are better, but I would rather see it taken further. I think that if you keep the top 35 rule then those who have to qualify on time should have to qualify regardless of whether those in the top 35 qualify or not - and they should run them first so that if qualifying gets rained out, at least those cars have recorded times. We're only talking about 8-15 cars at most which can't take that long. If they have to make them qualify on Sunday morning.

I HATE that someone is thinking of messing with the PHX layout. We don't need anymore "cookie-cutter" aero-dependent tracks. I know, I know, aero is important even on the small tracks. The  best races all year are at places like Richmond, Bristol, Phoenix, Martinsville - NOT California, Kansas, etc.

Regarding the "lower" series... I guess I long for the days when a veteran like Mark Martin would show up for maybe 10-15 races a year and race to win, but not race to harm those who were running for a championship. I like having 4-8 veterans in the field to give the inexperienced drivers a barometer to measure themselves against. It's boring watching Kyle, Brad, & Carl dominate the field.

I like that they had the guts to do something with the points system, but I wonder if it will make the drivers points race even more. If points racing is the game then they start engraving JJ on the 2011 trophy because no one is better than the 48 team at that.

Personally, I would like to see more points for the top 3-5 finishers - something like 1st= 75; 2nd = 65; 3rd = 55; 4th = 50; 5th = 45. Then make a different graduation of points from 6-10 and one point increments thereafter. Get rid of the bonus points for a single lap led - that's a joke. Keep the bonus for most laps led because there should be reward for dominating.

The qualifying rules are better, but I would rather see it taken further. I think that if you keep the top 35 rule then those who have to qualify on time should have to qualify regardless of whether those in the top 35 qualify or not - and they should run them first so that if qualifying gets rained out, at least those cars have recorded times. We're only talking about 8-15 cars at most which can't take that long. If they have to make them qualify on Sunday morning.

I HATE that someone is thinking of messing with the PHX layout. We don't need anymore "cookie-cutter" aero-dependent tracks. I know, I know, aero is important even on the small tracks. The  best races all year are at places like Richmond, Bristol, Phoenix, Martinsville - NOT California, Kansas, etc.

Regarding the "lower" series... I guess I long for the days when a veteran like Mark Martin would show up for maybe 10-15 races a year and race to win, but not race to harm those who were running for a championship. I like having 4-8 veterans in the field to give the inexperienced drivers a barometer to measure themselves against. It's boring watching Kyle, Brad, & Carl dominate the field.

I like the fact that the points are going to be simplified BUT I think that there should be a bigger gap between first and second. I know there's bonus points for the winner, but I'd like to see a bigger gap, so lets say 50 for the winner, 45 for second, 43 for 3rd and then the current 1place 1 point system. Wins are what it is about and I feel they should be rewarded much more than just by a single point.

I know NASCAR can't do much about it with the current rules but I really don't like the buying points bit...I know its been happening for years but why should Steven Wallace have a guaranteed spot because his dad has friends in high places? I think Paul Menard's 27 team has bought a spot (surprise?). I'm not suggesting any kind of alternative, I just think its wrong that points can be bought rather than earned if another team folds.

Well, after two races, I'm not sure I'm a fan of this "new" points system.  Jamie McMurray is 44 points back of first place which is a terrible hole to be in.  With 43 points awarded to the winner of each race (plus bonus points) it seems almost insurmountable.  It's not that I am a huge Jamie fan, it just seems kind of ugly.  Yes, they are awarding for wins this way, but they were the old way as well, and I just don't see the benefits of this particular points system.

Like cuddles, I'll see after a few more races, but this is gut feeling at this point in the season.

After this past weekend I am getting the feeling that we are about to see more wrecked cars driving around that have no business being on the track because the points are so valuable. Maybe it will all pan out in the end when these guys figure out how manipulate this points system to their benefit, but for now I sit and wonder.

Well, after two races, I'm not sure I'm a fan of this "new" points system.  Jamie McMurray is 44 points back of first place which is a terrible hole to be in.  With 43 points awarded to the winner of each race (plus bonus points) it seems almost insurmountable.  It's not that I am a huge Jamie fan, it just seems kind of ugly.  Yes, they are awarding for wins this way, but they were the old way as well, and I just don't see the benefits of this particular points system.

Like cuddles, I'll see after a few more races, but this is gut feeling at this point in the season.

Beats the ka-ka out of me               I know -- you'd like to do that too

Yeah Jen, that's exactly it.  He declared his intention to run in the Nationwide Series for THAT championship, and therefore cannot collect points in the Cup Series.  Moronic.  I can understand it the other way, that Cup drivers cannot collect points in the N'wide Series, but the other way around seems so harmless.  I mean, Trevor isn't competing in every race, so he wouldn't have the lead for long, and bragging rights would be cool.

Oh, I know he has the bragging rights for winning the Daytona 500, I meant bragging rights for have the Points lead. But it doesn't much matter, the change has been made :(

After this past weekend I am getting the feeling that we are about to see more wrecked cars driving around that have no business being on the track because the points are so valuable. Maybe it will all pan out in the end when these guys figure out how manipulate this points system to their benefit, but for now I sit and wonder.