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NASCAR could make stage, bonus point changes for 2018 season

By Nick Tylwalk

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: A logo for the NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is seen during practice for Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: A logo for the NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is seen during practice for Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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It stands to reason that the brand new system of stage racing and bonus points was always going to be a work in progress for NASCAR.

NASCAR teams have now had about half a season to figure out stage racing and the points implications it brings. They just shouldn’t get too comfortable with the system as it stands right now.

NASCAR vice president Steve O’Donnell told SiriusXM Radio (via The Sporting News) that ideas for how to make the 2018 season better are already being batted around.

Among the ideas:

  • Designating some races as “majors” similar to golf or tennis and having them award more points. IndyCar does this with the Indianapolis 500. Obviously, the Daytona 500, Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600 would be races that might earn the major designation.
  • Adding more stages to some races like the fourth stage that the Coca-Cola 600 featured.

In fact, NASCAR seemed to like the way Austin Dillon and some of the other Cup Series drivers were trying different strategies to win at Charlotte.

"“I think it’s certainly something that plays into the strategy. We think it worked well all night in terms of having different strategies. You got to make certain choices about when you’re going to come in, when you’re going to stay out, who’s going to gamble. I know we talked fuel mileage, but to me, it’s part of the entire race, right, and the strategy. Who has a win and who doesn’t, who can afford to maybe take a chance and that all played out on Sunday night.”"

It was exciting seeing Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch try to run down the gambling cars, and dramatic when Jimmie Johnson ran out of gas late while leading. Still, the drivers don’t seem to enjoy races won on fuel mileage gambles unless they are the beneficiaries (just ask Truex and Busch), and a steady diet of those finished might not sit that well with fans.

The “majors” idea is interesting, though, and there’s certainly no reason why the Daytona 500 and a few of the other most prestigious races on the NASCAR schedule shouldn’t be worth more than, say, the second Pocono race each summer.

Next: Which 2016 Chase drivers might miss the 2017 Cup Series playoffs?

In any case, it’s not like this is a new thing for NASCAR, which has continuously tinkered with its points system and other aspects of the run for the championship in all of its top series for some time. It would probably be more of a surprise if things stayed the same in 2018 as they are this year, but that seems pretty unlikely.

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