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Can we please do away with ‘points as they run’?
By admin | November 10, 2008
By Richard Allen
Perhaps my least favorite part of the television coverage of NASCAR is the statistic called ‘points as they run’.
For whatever reason, the networks that cover racing feel the need to keep viewers constantly updated as to the point standings “if the race were to end right nowâ€. Trouble with that is, the stat is often given when the race is nowhere near its completion.
It serves very little purpose to give viewers this update 100 miles into a 500 mile race. That is especially true when the update is given before the halfway mark. Or, when there is no obvious threat of rain or any other condition that might cause the race to be shortened. For that matter, the stat is pretty much useless even if one of the top points competitors has had some sort of trouble.
Networks especially seem to love flashing this stat onto the screen when one of the points contenders has for some reason gotten out of sequence on pit road and has thus dropped back in the field. Never mind the fact that everything will eventually even out when the other contenders make a pit stop or when the next caution flag flies.
The only time positions matter in relation to the point standings is when the checkered flag waves. Something bad that happens in the first half of the race may be overcome by the finish. A car that has run well all day might experience a problem on the last lap that may cause a drop of 20 positions.
However, it will be a safe bet that should Carl Edwards take the early lead and Jimmie Johnson drop back in the pack due to a problem on pit road this Sunday viewers will be inundated with visual aids to update the most useless stat in racing. That is ‘points as they run’.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. His weekly column appears in The Mountain Press every Wednesday.
Topics: Articles |
November 11th, 2008 at 9:21 am
YES, YES, YES! Just another meaningless stat for the talking heads to talk about.
There are usually plenty of legit things to talk about, they just might not all be about the ” chosen few”
November 11th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I always enjoyed “Points as they run” on the last race of the year. On the other races, lets only do that during late cautions.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I agree with Rich! And, I add this: When ESPN/ABC puts up “Points as the run”, they don’t put up the timing stats!
The timing stats are much more useful as you can tell who’s rising or falling.
Now, if I’m watching “live” I can get that data off the net. Otherwise, the “crawl” is all I’ve got!
November 11th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
If you’re a driver or crew chief or race car engineer, there’s nothing more important than “points as they now run” because it tells you everything about your strategy, as it now stands. Do you need to run harder, how much harder, do you have a cushion, how much? The fuel strategy of the 99 car in Texas is such an example; cars consume much more fuel as you push them towards full throttle, backing off 1% in HP can save as much as 5% in fuel consumption, and power goes with the cube of speed. It’s a wonderful chess game, and the whole idea of “points as they now run” could be expanded to get some real insight into race strategy.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
i’ve heard enough about nascars valuable points every race. football is king.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I don’t think it is useless, I find it interesting to see how little things during a race can affect the big picture. The points structure is so confusing as it currently sits, it helps me understand just what has an effect on the standings. If it was in 6 inch letters across the middle of the screen, I could see it being an issue, but c’mon, it is a little line under the lineup that would normally have something like The Official Toilet Seat of NASCAR banner in it.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
At least they did away with the idiotic ‘draft track’ where they showed the air flow around the cars.