It would seem to most that NASCAR is a fairly basic sport to follow. All the cars look the same, they only turn one way and the driver who finishes first takes the win, right? Well, that is correct but it turns out that the points system is actually quite complicated. While we don’t have the brains or the patience to explain how the old system worked, apparently the new points system for the upcoming 2011 season will be a whole lot easier to understand.

The new points system works a little something like this:

• If you win the race you receive 43 points but if you finish in 43rd place you receive one point and every driver in between receives points based on their order of finish
• The new system still allows for bonuses, with the winner of the race receiving three points and any driver who leads an entire lap receives a point for each lap they lead
• A point will also be given to the driver who leads the most laps in any given race

To keep race winners from scoring a massive point totals for just one awesome race, NASCAR has capped the total points at 48 for any one race. The new system certainly sounds quite easy but will it mean more Kiwis watch NASCAR? Probably not.