DOVER, Del. (AP) — Tony Stewart understands losing his regular-season points lead is part of Chase racing. He's just puzzled why so many critics want to change the points system.

"The system is a simple system," Stewart said on Friday. "It is easy to understand, it doesn't need to be complicated by trying to throw more numbers in there to confuse the fans."

Stewart's lead after the first 26 races was wiped out before the first Chase for the championship race last week at New Hampshire. He finished 14th and is in sixth place entering Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway.

The two-time Cup champion said last week a $1 million bonus should be awarded to the points leader at the end of the first 26 races.

That's about all he would change of the format that resets the points over the final 10 races to decide the champion.

"We are all going to have the same amount of points, plus whatever race wins we have. We are going to get 10 extra bonus points for those. It's easy to understand," Stewart said. "Everybody knows it going in to it. There is no frustration because you know that going in to it."

Mark Martin started the Chase with a 10-point cushion over Stewart and Jimmie Johnson because of his series-high four wins this year.

"I don't care if I was leading by a thousand points, it's not frustrating to lose those points," Stewart said.