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David Pearson endorses new point system
By Gary Graves, USA TODAY
Despite his insistence that he paid more attention to how much money he earned rather than points, David Pearson raced long enough to know he's been on both sides of NASCAR rules changes.
The three-time champion also knows this: The points system in place since 1975 was better than previous versions, and Tuesday's revisions will pay off in the long run — only because history has shown they have. (
Related item:
Old points systems
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"When I first heard about it, I didn't think much of it," Pearson said. "Anyone running 10th or lower has never won and never will. But I'm sure it'll work out. This is better than what they had before."
Especially since victories will carry more weight in the points chase. Pearson said that was rarely a concern in a 26-year career including 105 wins and duels with seven-time champ Richard Petty.
He didn't need a calculator when he claimed his first title in 1966, the first of a two-year formula awarding higher-purse event winners more money and points. That year he won 14 of 42 starts.
NASCAR altered the format for three more years in '68 to a tiered system based on race distance, but Pearson won that year and the next. If he didn't care about points, then he was less likely to pay attention in 1972 when the circuit changed the points for four consecutive years. Petty won three of those years under formulas including points per lap based on race distance; winnings multiplied by starts; and the one in place until Tuesday.
Benny Parsons edged Cale Yarborough in '73 by solving a system in which the winner earned 125 points and points for laps run according to distance. Pearson figured in the points chase just once in '74, but he kept on winning, which he remembers better than points. That's something Nextel Cup drivers might discover this season. "I don't think anybody needs changes unless it's to help themselves," he said. "The way they have it is to make people run harder for championships, and that's the way it should be."
Adding up the points through the years NASCAR's point systems since the series was established in 1949:
1949-51
— Points based on the amount of prize money paid. (Example: Race purse of $1,000 paid 50 points for first place, 45 second, 40 third, 35 fourth, 30 fifth, etc. Race purse of $3,500 paid 175 points for first place, 157.5 second, 140 third, 122.5 fourth, 105 fifth, etc.
1952-53
— Same formula, but purses rose. A minimum purse of $4,000 paid 200 points for first place, 192 second, 184 third, 176 fourth, 168 fifth, etc. A minimum purse of $25,000 paid 1,250 points for first, 1,200 second, 1,150 third, 1,100 fourth, 1,050 fifth, etc.
1954-62
— Competitors were awarded points per the old system, with additional points awarded per a separate schedule.
1963-65
— Events paying $4,200-$6,000 awarded the winner 400 points, with each succeeding position receiving 16 fewer points. Events paying $7,000-$10,000 awarded points per the point schedule listed in the 1963 NASCAR Rule Book. Events paying more than $10,000 awarded points on the basis of 50 points per $1,000 posted by promoter.
1966-67
— Events paying basic prize money in the $5,000 and less than $7,000 category awarded the winner 400 points, with each succeeding position receiving 16 fewer points. Events paying $7,000-$10,000 awarded the winner 500 points, with each succeeding position receiving 20 fewer points.
1968-71
— Events to 249 miles: 50 points to win, with one fewer point for each succeeding position. Events 250-399 miles: 100 points to win, with two fewer points for each succeeding position. Events 400 miles and more: 150 points to win, with three fewer points for each succeeding position.
1972
— Tracks under 1 mile, 0.25 points a lap; 1-mile tracks, 0.50; 1.3-mile track (Darlington), 0.70; 1.5-mile tracks, 0.75; 2-mile tracks (Michigan), 1.00; tracks 2.5 miles and over, 1.25.
1973
— 100 points to win, with two fewer points for each succeeding position, 100, 98, 96, etc. (Race winner received 25 points in addition to the first position points.) Additionally, lap points were awarded for the number of laps completed.
1974
— Money winnings from track purses (qualifying and contingency awards did not count), in dollars, multiplied by the number of races started, and the resulting figure divided by 1,000 determined the number of points earned.
1975
— 175 points for winner and five points fewer for 2-6; four fewer for 7-11 and three fewer for 12-43; five bonus points for leading a lap, and five points for most laps led.
2004
— Five additional points for winner. Top 10 drivers and those within 400 points after 26 races qualify for 10-race shootout for championship. Points leader starts with five-point lead over second-place driver, 10-point lead on third-place driver and so on.
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