NASCAR’s highly touted Chase for the Nextel Cup format to decide the championship of its biggest series is likely to undergo a face lift next season.

NASCAR Chairman Brian France confirmed Thursday series officials will use the time after this season to look at several possible adjustments to the Chase format.

Among the ideas to be considered:

• Increasing the number of guaranteed spots in the Chase — currently 10.

• Changing the second method of making the Chase — being within 400 points of the leader . In two seasons, no driver has qualified for the Chase on this method.

• Altering the points structure used in the final 10 races. Currently, those running for the championship and the rest of the drivers still operate on the same points structure.

• The types of track used in the final 10 races. France, however, said this was the least likely of the items to be changed.

“What I have always said about the Chase was we needed a few years under our belt to see how it evolves, how it changes in strategy, see how the actual formula we have … really works,” France said.

“Now, in our third-year, we feel it’s the ideal time to for us make adjustments.”

Of the items listed by France, changes in the amount of points awarded to race winners and how points are awarded during the Chase are the most likely to be addressed in the off-season, two NASCAR sources said Thursday afternoon.

In his comments Friday, France appeared most headed in that direction.

“Everything that we’ll be looking at has been brought up by various people the last couple of years. We’ll be thinking about the point structure — should we add a little more to the win in the final 10,” he said.

“Just various things that we think will build what we’re hoping for, which are big moments and a bigger stage for the drivers.”

[Charlotte Observer]

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