Tuesday morning marked the official start of the 2017 NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, beginning a two-day media extravaganza featuring over 40 drivers from all three of NASCAR’s major touring series.
Following Monday evening’s blockbuster announcement by NASCAR of the sweeping changes to the championship points system, drivers shared their thoughts about the new “enhancements”
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was among the drivers who joined NASCAR CEO Brian France on the stage on Monday night, and during his availability on Tuesday reiterated his excitement about the new format.
“I’m fine with it,” said Earnhardt, Jr., “because I think it’s a nice reward in the middle part of the race. You can have a guy go out there and he leads 75 percent of the event and finishes last and gets one point (under last year’s format), and it’s not indicative really of how strong he was in that event.
“So I think this is a subtle way to reward who is competitive and running well in the meat of the race. If a guy goes out there and does really well and gains 45, 50 points and doesn’t win the race, you’re not going to hear complaints from the guy standing in victory lane. He’s going to be holding the trophy.”
The 2017 season will welcome several newcomers to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, among the rookie of the year contenders Erik Jones, Ty Dillon and Daniel Suarez.
Coming into the Cup Series as rookie from the Xfinity Series is a daunting task all in itself, but the 2017 rookie class will now face an even sharper learning curve as they try and adapt to the new format.
Jones, at least, is somewhat used to change, having run three different point systems over the last three seasons.
“The Truck series in my first year was the traditional points format, and last year the Chase was implemented into the Xfinity Series,” said Jones. “Now we have the new playoff format and segment format.
“Growing up, all I knew was the very traditional points format. Now it’s different, but I think it’s pretty well understood by the drivers. There’s a different mentality to each format, but, as drivers, I think we all adapt pretty quick.”
The decision to radically change the points system comes on the heels of Jimmie Johnson’s historic seventh Cup title in 2016, and it certainly didn’t escape the media’s attention that the last time NASCAR made tweaks to the points system and the championship chase was after Johnson’s five-year championship-winning streak in 2010.
It’s been pointed out, though, that had the new system been in place in 2016, Johnson still would have won the title, and Johnson himself dismissed the idea that NASCAR was changing the rules just to stack the deck against him.
“I’m not bigger than NASCAR,” said Johnson. “There is no way they are changing rules based on the No. 48. This sport is a lot bigger than one person.
“As a competitor, it’s tough to say that’s going to change much of what I do. It might take people from being at that 100 percent mark to making them a little bit more desperate in given situations, and create more storylines.”
After finally getting his seventh title and tying Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt, what about title number eight?
“I’m really content with where I’m at and happy with where I’m at, so I guess there’s less pressure (too win an eighth title),” said Johnson. “Truthfully, I’ve felt like there hasn’t been a lot of pressure on me through six and seven because I never even thought I’d have one to start with, you know?
“I feel a stronger calling for being involved in the Drivers Council and a part of NASCAR and trying to help this sport. Absolutely, I’m showing up to win races and championships. But, I feel almost more pressure to handle that part correctly than I do to go out and win an eighth (championship).”
The 2017 season will also see familiar faces in new rides – Clint Bowyer to Stewart-Haas Racing, Matt DiBenedetto to GoFas Racing, Ty Dillon driving for Germain Racing, and Tuesday’s announcement of Gray Gaulding to BK Racing.
Bowyer will be joining his third team in three years after joining HScott Motorsports for a one-year stint last season before moving over to Stewart-Haas Racing to take over Tony Stewart’s ride.
After waiting in the wings for a year struggling just to finish in the top 10, Bowyer is happy to be where he finally belongs.
“A lot of thought really goes into the new season with a new life, a new chance, a new crack at-bat, a new manufacturer, new sponsors, new teammates and a new organization, but what an unbelievable opportunity it is to go out and do what you love to do”, said Bowyer. “And not only to do that but do it in first-class equipment built by racers that only share one thing in common – the will to go out and win races. Those are the hot rides you want to be in.
“Success only makes you hungrier for more success and it’s been a while, but, more importantly, I want to get established as a consistent frontrunner, not a sporadic show-up and run good here and be bad the next week. We’ve got to get consistent week-in and week-out and perfect that and keep perfecting it and then you’ll win races.”
Of course, one notable face that will be noticeably missing this season is Carl Edwards, who abruptly retired earlier this month after 14 years in the sport.
Edwards’ sudden retirement surprised everyone, including his teammate Matt Kenseth, who had known Carl for years going back to their days at Roush Racing.
“I was very, very surprised,” said Kenseth. “But the more I think about it, I wasn’t shocked, but I definitely didn’t see it coming.
“I called him and asked him (about his decision),” Kenseth said. “When I hung up, it was probably less clear than before I picked up the phone. I tried to listen to what he was saying, I tried to listen to what he wasn’t saying and I didn’t really come up with anything. Carl has always been his own guy. He’s always kind of does his own thing. And if he decided it was what he needed to do at the time it doesn’t surprise me.”
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