Not much tinkering with NASCAR setup this time around

CONCORD, N.C. — It’s time to get back to basics.

That’s the message NASCAR CEO Brian France stressed during his annual address on the first day of the Sprint Cup media tour on Monday.

For the first time in the last several years, France said there will be no major changes to NASCAR’s top series.

In years past, changes have included schedule realignment and the introduction and tweaking of the Chase for the Cup and the Car of Tomorrow.

There have also been changes in title sponsors. Winston Cup became Nextel Cup and is now Sprint Cup. The Busch Series is now the Nationwide Series.

France says he doesn’t regret making those changes, but knows fans can only take so many new things happening at once.

“That was a lot for our fans to digest at a short period of time, and we know that,” France said. “Change is good to a certain point, but we got all the change that we think the sport could stand. We need to get back to basics.”

By getting back to the basics, France hopes to re-energize the sport’s core fan base. In an effort to jump start that, 24 former champions will be on hand for the 50th running of the Daytona 500.

“We want to recognize our history. That’s important to our fans, so that’s why we’re going to minimize change and focus on the best racing in the world,” France said.

Changes haven’t produced better ratings or attendance. TV ratings for 2007 were down 9 percent from 2006 and 21 percent from 2005. France, though, noted that 21 of the 36 Cup races were either No. 1 or No. 2 during their time slot.

“A lot of other sports would like to have the problems we are having,” France said. “We are worried about the racing on the track. We don’t want to talk about the down turns and up turns.”

Possible ratings help might be a strong season from Dale Earnhardt Jr., who missed the Chase for the Championship last season and went winless last season. Earnhardt has moved to Hendrick Motorsports, a team that won 18 of the 36 races last season.

“He is the marquee driver that we have,” France said. “Historically, when teams like the Lakers do well, the NBA does well. We are no different than that.

“If Dale Jr. has a big year, that will help. He has the biggest fan base and will energize that fan base. But this is a sport and he has to earn it.”

While there aren’t going to be any major changes, there will be a few small ones including:

-- Each week, drivers outside the top 35 in points will be grouped together and will qualify at the end of each qualifying session.

-- Right-side tires changed can’t be rolled back to the pit wall. They must be carried half way.

-- Each team in the three major series will get an allotted amount of tires for testing. Sprint Cup teams will get 200 tires, while Nationwide teams get 160 and Craftsman Truck teams get 120.

-- Monies from all fines will be given to the NASCAR Foundation, which supports various charities. Last year, almost $1 million was collected in penalty monies between the three series.

-- A change also being discussed is increasing the minimum age to drive in the Sprint Cup Series from 18 to 21.