The proposed change was reported Friday night by The Charlotte Observer.

NASCAR is expected to announce changes to its points structure and qualifying on Jan. 30. Its annual meetings with industry personnel and teams are scheduled for the days leading up to that date. Potential Chase formats are still being discussed and no final decisions have been made.

“NASCAR has begun the process of briefing key industry stakeholders on potential concepts to evolve its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship format,” Brett Jewkes, NASCAR's chief communications officer, said in a statement Friday night. “This dialogue is the final phase of a multiyear process that has included the review of extensive fan research, partner and industry feedback and other data-driven insights.

“NASCAR has no plans to comment further until the stakeholder discussions are complete. We hope to announce any potential changes for the 2014 season to our media and fans very soon.”

NASCAR currently has a 12-driver Chase. Drivers enter the final 10 races with the same number of points, except for the top 10 regular-season drivers earning three bonus points for every regular-season win. The driver from among those 12 with the most points after the 10-race Chase is the champion.

According to the Observer report, the new system would expand the Chase to 16 drivers, starting with drivers who have won during the 26-race regular season. The point standings would determine the remainder of the field if fewer than 16 drivers have a win, or cut the field off at 16 if more than 16 have won.

The report stated that sources indicated a revamped Chase would be broken into four segments. The first three would be three races each; the four Chase drivers who are lowest in points after each of those segments  would be eliminated. The points would be reset to even the remaining field. That would be followed by the season finale where the remaining four drivers — all tied — would battle for the championship.

NASCAR traditionally has tried to balance winning with consistency.

“Do I think we have it perfect in terms of the right incentives to win? I don't think we do,” NASCAR chairman Brian France said in December. “I'm not willing to say exactly what it'll be, but I think we can do a little bit better.”


EARNHARDT'S BAR CLOSES


Whisky River Jacksonville, a bar owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., has closed, according to its website. A spokeswoman for Bar Management, which operated the Whisky River, confirmed the closing.

Earnhardt still has the original Whisky River location in Charlotte with another scheduled to open soon in Long Island, N.Y. The Jacksonville location was in the St. Johns Town Center on the southeast side of downtown.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has a variety of entertainment and business ventures.


SCHUMACHER STABLE


Michael Schumacher remains in stable condition following a skiing accident that left the Formula One great with severe head injuries and in a coma since Dec. 29, his manager said on Friday.

The statement from manager Sabine Kehm does not mention the word "critical" for the first time in describing the condition of the seven-time world champion.

Schumacher has been in an induced coma in a Grenoble hospital since the crash in the French Alps.

"Michael's family is very happy and confident with the work of the team of doctors treating Michael, and they trust them completely. Michael's condition is still considered as stable," Kehm said in an email.

In the first statement since Schumacher's wife, Corinna, appealed for the family to be left in peace on Jan. 7, Kehm repeated that "any information regarding Michael's health not coming from the doctors treating him or from his management must be treated as pure speculation."

Doctors treating Schumacher in Grenoble have not commented on his condition since Jan. 6, when they said they still regarded him to be critical.

The 45-year-old Schumacher hit his head on a rock at the Meribel ski resort.

Schumacher retired from F1 in 2012 as the most successful driver in series history.

Contributors: Bob Pockrass, The Associated Press