Random thoughts while trying to be more positive because that’s what Larry McReynolds says I need to do.

So it’s all official. A win in NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series or Camping World Truck Series race will be worth 43 points next year.

Except when it doesn’t.

There are three bonus points for winning the race, so that makes a win worth 46 points. So a trip to victory lane is worth 46 points. Except when you lead a lap — and last time I checked to win a race, you had to lead at least one to win — that’s worth another bonus point. So a win is now worth 47 points. But then if you lead the most laps, that’s worth one more bonus point. So a win can be worth 48 points.

And this is simpler how?

But if you finish 43rd, that’s worth one point, unless you lead a lap; then it’s worth two. Or if by some fluke luck you lead the most laps and somehow manage to lead the most laps, that’s worth three.

Yeah, that’s much simpler.

Never discount things contrived on a bar napkin over beers.

So Brian France, what you have now done is given people the ability to now do all the math and scenarios so they can tell you who would have won under the old, old system (pre-Chase) and who would have won under the old system (old points plus the Chase) and complain that Jimmie Johnson wouldn’t have won if you hadn’t made those changes.

And you still haven’t done anything to reward winning the dang race.

Also thrown out there by ol’ Brian at the competition update is what I like to call the “Jamie McMurray 2010” rule. They are going to allow the two drivers with the most wins who aren’t in the top-10 after 26 races to have a spot in the Chase and a chance to win a championship.

Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton are pissed off. So there are still 12 drivers, just not the top 12 in points. If this had been in place last year, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray would have made the Chase over Kenseth and Clint Bowyer.

So you are going to reward winning at the bottom end of the Chase but not really making winning count in the grand scheme of your points system?

Like I said, Brian needs to consult with Larry and me before making any changes.

Jay Cutler looks and plays football like a Dollar General manager.

I do like the new NASCAR qualifying procedures. Qualifying order will be determined by practice speeds and if there is rain that washes out qualifying, then the field will be set by the same.

While NASCAR will still protect its top-35 in points, it gives a chance to some of these teams and doesn’t leave it up to something as arbitrary as how many races that car has attempted that season. If you show up at the track with a fast car –— or make it fast in practice — you get to race.

Chad Ochocinco says he is changing his name back to Chad Johnson. Too bad he can’t go back to a time when he had a decent career and people cared.

A dude bowled a 100 on TV the last week and won $50K. He’s a professional bowler. Somewhere my life took a wrong turn. Because I could easily bowl a 100 on TV.

ESPN extended Rusty Wallace’s contract until 2014, which is when the network’s deal with NASCAR runs out.

Any faith I had in the World Wide Leader in Sports just flew out that window.

I don’t understand what the big deal is with the Tony Stewart fight in Australia. According to all the TV I watch, that’s all that goes on in Australia anyway.

Fox Sports boss David Hill said he wants NASCAR to shorten their races. Fox currently broadcasts 13 of the 36 races on the Sprint Cup schedule.

If I were in charge at NASCAR, I would agree to shorten races if Fox would get rid of the dadgum gopher they use in their race broadcasts.

Contact Andy Cagle at andycagle@earthlink.net.