WHAT: The NHRA POWERade Series' new playoff system, announced in August 2006 and debuted in 2007.

WHEN: The Countdown is in play during the entire season, with two distinct tiers in which the field of eligible drivers is reduced to 10 before determining the ultimate champion in each category.

WHERE: The Countdown can be followed in person at any one of the more than 20 NHRA POWERade Series tracks across the country, from Southern California to New York and virtually everywhere in between. And all 24 races can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, which telecasts all of the NHRA POWERade Series races in high definition to more than 91 million households.

HOW IT WORKS: The Countdown is composed of two distinct tiers called the Countdown to 10 and the Countdown to 1.

• The Countdown to 10 is an 18-race "regular season" in which the full-field of drivers in each pro category is reduced to 10 who advance to the playoffs and remain eligible for the 2008 POWERade Series world championship. These top 10 drivers in each class will have their points adjusted in 10-point increments with the first-place driver receiving a 20-point - or one-round - bonus for winning the regular season. The first-place driver will begin the playoffs with 2,090 points followed by 2,060 for second on down to 1,980 for 10th place. The "regular season" will begin at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Feb. 7-10 in Pomona and end at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis.
• The Countdown to 1 is a six-race playoff in which the field of 10 remaining drivers eligible for the championship is reduced to 1, the POWERade Series world champion. The playoffs begin at the NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway @ Concord Sept. 11-14 and culminate with the Auto Club NHRA Finals Nov. 13-16 in Pomona.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Countdown to the Championship will allow more drivers than ever before to legitimately compete for an NHRA POWERade Series world championship.
• The final six events will include full fields in a traditional elimination format.