Nationwide Series Points Situation Already A Concern?

If Saturday's Nationwide Series race was any indication of what may happen for the rest of 2011, it could be a frustrating year for those who follow NASCAR's second-tier circuit.

On the other hand, it's almost certainly too early to judge. Nor can we predict how this season will look by the time we get to Homestead.

Here's the issue: Five of the top six finishers on Saturday did not collect any points. Under NASCAR's new "pick a series" points system, the five Sprint Cup Series drivers in the race dominated but had a combined zero points.

As a result, here are the Nationwide Series point standings: 1. Reed Sorenson, 2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 3. Jason Leffler, 4. Danica Patrick and 5. Joe Nemechek.

Patrick is fourth in points after finishes of 14th and 17th this season. She moved up three spots after finishing three laps down in Saturday's race.

If that trend continues – drivers getting mediocre finishes but holding the top spots in the point standings – then the new system will have a credibility problem.

There are two directions this could go. And it's hard to predict which one it will be.

In one aspect, disqualifying the Cup drivers from collecting points isn't going to do anything to change the makeup of the races. Each week, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Co. will still dominate and win the majority of the events.

Only they won't be part of the points race. So the guy who finished eighth might be in a battle with the guy who finished 12th and the one who finished 14th.

It's meant to reward the Nationwide Series regulars – which is a great thought – but the risk is it come off instead as an artificial way to decide a champion. NASCAR badly wants to put a spotlight on the Nationwide drivers, but if every race is dominated by a Cup driver, it may not have the intended impact with fans.

Right now, NASCAR is straddling the fence on what to do with the Nationwide Series. Something certainly had to be done – though many fans have long supported the idea that Cup drivers should be banned outright.

NASCAR won't do that, though. The tracks and sponsors and TV partners don't want it. Having only Nationwide drivers in the series is not seen as a viable financial option.

So for now, we're stuck. NASCAR hopes the new system can be a way to discourage Cup drivers from running so often, but only time will tell.

In the meantime, as we wait to see how it'll all unfold, fans of the Nationwide Series are looking at some funky point standings two races into the season.