UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 | 7:05 a.m.

line By Brian Hilderbrand, Las Vegas Sun

What: ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals

When: Friday through Sunday (pro categories)

Where: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Tickets: $16-$65 (adult, single-day); 644-4444, www.lvms.com

Information: www.nhra.com

For 33 years, the National Hot Rod Association used a pretty straightforward points system to determine its season champions in the professional categories. Occasionally, one or more of the points battles would come down to the last race of the season , but it was not uncommon for a racer to dominate and wrap up the championship with several races to spare.

Following the lead of NASCAR, which revamped its championship format before the 2004 season in an attempt to ensure a close points battle in the final two months of the season, the NHRA debuted the "Countdown to the Championship" for the 2007 season. The new elimination-style format essentially guarantees that all four professional world championships will be decided at the final race of the 23-race season, in Pomona, Calif.

The "Countdown to the Championship" breaks the 23-race NHRA season into three segments. After the first 17 races only the top eight drivers in points in each of the four pro categories are eligible to contend for the championship during the final six races - although each of the remaining races will be full-field events. Their points totals are adjusted to tighten the field and to ensure no other drivers can climb into the top eight during the final six events.

After the 21st race, the field of championship contenders is trimmed to the top four in points in each category and their points again are reset. Those four will battle during the final two races - beginning with this weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - for the 2007 world championships.

The "Countdown" has been met by mixed reaction by competitors and fans. Greg Anderson, who has won three Pro Stock world championships for team owner Ken Black of Las Vegas, has been an outspoken opponent of the new system but said he understands the NHRA's decision to implement it.

"I guess it's no secret I've never been a huge proponent of it," he said. "It just seems like the rest of the season leading up to this has just been for really almost no reason and that's no good.

"It's definitely tough on us as racers, but the bottom line is we're here to put a show on for the fans, and that's what this deal is all about. Drag racing is growing because it's exciting for the fans, so we better make sure we keep it that way if we expect to gain a little ground on NASCAR in popularity."

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