Labonte: Only time will tell on changes.

NASCAR star Bobby Labonte believes only time will tell whether or not the new scoring system proposed for the NEXTEL Cup series will be a success.

Although he isn't for the proposals, Labonte believes that it is only when the season draws to a close that people will see if the changes have worked.

"I'm not really for it to be honest with you," he said. "But it is what it is and we can talk about it from now until November.

"Until November gets here, you don't know. It might be the best thing in the world. It might be the best thing for ratings. It might be the best, but right now we don't know."

The new system will see the regular season split in two to try and avoid a repeat of 2003, when Matt Kenseth led the title race for most of the season. Those drivers in the top ten after the first 26 races of the year will then battle it out over the final ten events to see who claims the title.

"I think you'll just be conscious of the fact that you have 26 races to be in the top ten and then you have ten races to be first," said Labonte. "You'll race as hard as you can. But you still don't want to make mistakes. You don't want to take a chance.

"Our goal right now is to just go out there and be in the top ten after 26 races and be first after [the final] ten."