NASCAR Notebook: Brian France suggests changes coming
POINTS TWEAK? -- For the second time in little more than a month, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France has strongly hinted that changes are coming to the Sprint Cup points system, which was last overhauled prior to the 2011 season.
"We're not satisfied we have the exact balance we want with winning, consistency, points, running for a championship," France said Tuesday night on Motor Racing Network's "NASCAR Live," radio show. "We think we can make some tweaks that continue to incentivize risk-taking, racing harder and so on. We're looking at that. We'll undoubtedly be coming with things that put the incentive on winning races and competing at the highest level."
Last month in Las Vegas, France said NASCAR can improve its points system. "Do I think we have it perfect in terms of the right incentives to win? I don't think we do," France said. "I think we can do -- I'm not willing to say exactly what it'll be, but I think we can do a little bit better."
PARROTT REINSTATED -- Former NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief Todd Parrott was reinstated on Tuesday after completing the sanctioning body's Substance Abuse Road To Recovery Program. Parrott was suspended last October after failing a random drug test.
Parrott, who had been crew chief of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford driven by Aric Almirola, was released by the team after the suspension. In his 19-year career as a crew chief, Parrott has been atop the pit box for 31 race victories. He had his best years with Robert Yates Racing and Dale Jarrett from 1996-2002, winning a series championship with Jarrett in '99.
MAYFIELD AVOIDS JAIL -- Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield on Monday pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors in a Catawba County (N.C.) court and agreed to pay about $90,000 in restitution and court costs. The guilty pleas, on two counts of possession of stolen goods and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, also carried a 45-day jail sentence, which will be waived so long as Mayfield abides by terms of an 18-month probationary period.
Jeremy Mayfield hasn't competed in NASCAR since 2009.
SWAN SONG -- Swan Racing's two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup team will feature Cole Whitt in the No. 26 Toyota Camry with crew chief Randy Cox and Parker Kligerman in the No. 30 with Steven Lane as his crew chief. The team will field Toyotas and both drivers will compete for NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors in a crowded field that includes Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson and Justin Allgaier.
BOAT TO NNS -- Former USAC and IndyCar Series driver Billy Boat is starting a NASCAR Nationwide Series team for his son, Chad. The team will enter at least 15 races this season, using the No. 84 Chevrolet with veteran crew chief Dan Deeringhoff, who won a Nationwide championship with Clint Bowyer in 2008.
The Boat family hails from Phoenix but the NNS team will be based in Mooresville, N.C.
Chad Boat, 21, has made 26 starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, and 10 starts in the ARCA Racing Series, where he scored four top-five and six top-10 finishes. He will race for Rookie of the Year honors this coming season in the NNS.
