NASCAR planning Chase changes

— -- Winning might just mean everything in the Sprint Cup Series going forward.

According to a  report in the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR is planning an overhaul of its points system that makes it a virtual lock for drivers to reach the Chase for the Championship by posting a win during the season's first 26 races.

The newspaper, citing multiple sources briefed on the plan, reported that the Chase field would increase from 12 to 16 drivers under the restructuring.

If there were more than 16 winners during the "regular season," the 16 drivers with the most wins and highest point totals would qualify for the Chase. If there were less than 16 winners, the remaining spots would be comprised of the drivers with the most points.

The 10-race Chase playoffs then would feature a round of driver eliminations, according to the report. The proposal has the eliminations taking Tony Stewart's race-winning, championship-deciding showing in the 2011 finale. Keselowski won easily in 2012 when Johnson was felled by mechanical problems, and it was Johnson, again, in an easy Sunday drive for win No. 6 in November.

So a shake up to the system wouldn't be unexpected. But it may not necessarily look like what The Observer reported -- the newspaper was clear the format is only being considered -- because it's not unlike NASCAR to float ideas to gauge reaction.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.