Ok. So I wondered: Could Nascar somehow enhance the racing on the track? Make it so that the drivers raced all out through every single race in every series? Well, apparently that answer is yes. At 6:oo p.m. Monday evening, Nascar announce a rules change that will affect racing as we know it forever.

Effective immediately, every points paying race will now have a new format. They will consist of three segments, the length of which will vary with the size of the race. The first two segments are identical. Win it, and you get ten championship points (The regular points), plus 1 playoff point. What is that? It’s a point for the chase, assuming you make it. A point which could be priceless come playoff time. Finish second in a segment, and you get nine championship points. 3rd gets 8, and so on down the line. So think about that. If you win two segments, you get 20 bonus championship points, plus two bonus points for the playoffs.

What about winning the race? Well, not only does that get you into the playoff like it has the past few years. But you also get 5 playoff points, and 40 championship points. 2nd gets 35. 3rd 34, and so on down the line.

So what does this do for the racing? Everything. You have to race all out, full tilt, the whole race. And for every race. Because every segment you win, that’s a point toward EVERY round of the chase. Think. If you win 10 segments over the course of the season, that’s 200 bonus points for each round of the Chase (with the exception of the Championship 4, which is still the first across the line wins). Think about it, every one of those segment wins over the course of the season could be the difference between advancement and elimination. And yes, the Chase segment wins count towards the next round too. So the 2017 season is most likely going to be a down to the wire war between teams all the way to the finish. No more hanging out at the back of the pack like Talladega last Fall. That was sad. Worst race of my life. Why did that have to be the one Talladega race like that?! Anyway. There is no rolling over after winning one race. No. You race all out for every lap, every segment, every race, all season.

Oh, I cannot wait for Daytona! I’m practically shaking! Bring on the 500!