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NASCAR: 10 Things To Watch For During 2017 Season

By Christopher Olmstead

Nov 13, 2016; Avondale, AZ, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (88) and driver Matt Kenseth (20) and driver Joey Logano (22) lead on a restart during the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Avondale, AZ, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (88) and driver Matt Kenseth (20) and driver Joey Logano (22) lead on a restart during the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 16, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; A general view of signage during media day for the 2016 NASCAR season at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; A general view of signage during media day for the 2016 NASCAR season at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Format/Point System

This one might be the biggest one on the list given the fact that it’s hard to predict how this is going to play out.

On Monday NASCAR unveiled a series of race enhancements for the upcoming 2017 season. The gist is simple; NASCAR races will not be broken into three segments. The winners of the first two segments will receive a playoff point while the top-10 will also receive championship points (1st-10, 2nd-9, 3rd-8 etc.). The final stage will be the run to the finish and it will give us a race winner.

Those playoff points can also be earned by winning races (five points) and finishing inside of the top-10 in points after the end of the regular season (1-15 points based on position). Any playoff points earned over the first 26 races will transfer into each round of the playoffs that a driver is still eligible. So, if Kyle Busch earns 35 playoff points during the regular season, he will start each round of the playoffs with 35 points.

Naturally, NASCAR fans hated the announcement and many have already refused to watch the 2017 season. For those of you out there with any sense, I hope you will at least give the new format a month or two to prove itself, after all it only seems fair.

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