Winning hasn't always been the goal in NASCAR

Winning is the goal for any competitive athlete or sports team, and while the same is true in NASCAR it’s also a sport where winning hasn’t necessarily always been the goal.

‘Big Picture’ racing is something practiced by many drivers and teams. During a race sometimes fewer chances are taken in order to finish well enough to protect points in the overall season championship standings.

There was a time not too long ago when ‘Big Picture’ racing was the norm nearly every week.  With NASCAR’s Chase the Championship, the season ending ten-race playoff, getting into the top-10 then later the top-12 has been the goal all season and ‘Big Picture’ racing was part of that strategy. But NASCAR threw teams a curve ball of sorts last year when they began awarding bonus points for wins and seeding drivers based on victories.

Once the Chase begins, drivers are seeded according to the number of wins earned in the first 26 races and that pretty much eliminates ‘Big Picture’ racing.

Kyle Busch and Mark Martin are in the driver’s seat headed into Sunday’s LENOX Industrial Tools 301. Both lead the series with three wins apiece in 2009, which means 30 bonus points for each.

If the Chase began now, Busch would be seeded first despite his current position of ninth in the standings. Martin, currently 11th, would be seeded second.

Reigning and three-time champion Jimmie Johnson, and Matt Kenseth, the 2003 series champion and reigning Daytona 500 champion, both have two wins.

Johnson, third in the current standings, would be seeded third. Kenseth, currently 10th, would jump to fourth in Chase seeding.

The remaining drivers all have a single win so far, and they would take fourth, fifth and sixth place in Chase seeding.

That means current leader Tony Stewart would drop from first to fifth. Second-place Jeff Gordon would drop from second to sixth and fourth-place Kurt Busch would drop to seventh.

The remainder of the current top-12 roster is still searching for that first 2009 victory.

Ryan Newman currently sixth, would be seeded ninth. Denny Hamlin currently seventh would be seeded eighth while last year’s series runner-up, Carl Edwards currently fifth, would be 10th. Greg Biffle who won last year’s fall event at New Hampshire and is eighth in the standings, would be seeded 11th.

Juan Pablo Montoya currently 12th would be seeded 12th.

"Our goal is to make it into the Chase," said four-time series champion Gordon. "But you can't help but keep an eye on the bonus points. Right now, I know we're 20 points behind those with three wins, so I'd like to cut - or possibly eliminate - that gap before the Chase begins.”

The Chase begins in 10 races starting with this week’s event at New Hampshire and that means there is a total of 100 bonus points up for grabs.

"Over the next 10 races, we're looking to build momentum,” said Gordon. “You want to enter the 'Chase' with the competition believing you are the team to beat. And a win this weekend can do a lot for a team and a driver.”

That momentum needs to begin with a victory at New Hampshire, not only for the all-important 10 bonus points but also according to Gordon for another very important reason.

“The first race of the 'Chase' is here,” said Gordon. “And that's a confidence boost when you return as the track's previous race winner."

So while protecting a points position may still happen, ‘Big Picture’ racing has become all about winning.

Fast Facts

Next Race: LENOX Industrial Tools 301

The Date: Sunday, June 28

The Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway; 1.058-mile oval

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

The Distance: 318.46 miles/301 laps

TV: TNT, 12:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN and Sirius Satellite

2008 Polesitter: Patrick Carpentier

2008 Winner: Kurt Busch

Schedule: Friday—Practice, noon-1:30 p.m.; Qualifying, 3:10 p.m. Saturday—Practice, 9-9:50 a.m.; Final practice, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.