FORT WORTH, Texas -- NASCAR chairman Brian France said Sunday that series officials will better reward race winners next year, that he does not plan to expand the Chase field and there likely won't be a separate points system for championship contenders.

France spoke briefly before the Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. It was the first time during the Chase, which started in September, that he's spoken publicly about changes for next season. France said this summer that alterations would be made to next year's Chase, but offered no specifics. He said Sunday he expects decisions on the Chase will be made in December.

"We're going to do something to make the win more important,'' France said. "That's something very important. There will be some other adjustments that we consider and they'll be small, by definition, modest changes. It won't be a revelation.''

A winner receives 180 points for a victory with a runner-up scoring 170. That gap could be as great as 20 points if the winner scores the maximum 10 bonus points. The gap could be as few as five points if the runner-up scores the maximum bonus points. Three times this season the winner scored only five more points than the runner-up.

France stated a winner might benefit in ways other than more points.

"It may not just be that,'' France said. "There's lots of ways to make a win more important.''

What about a separate points system for the title contenders? Some drivers have suggested NASCAR adapt that.

"I don't think you're going to see races within a race and all that other stuff,'' France said.

Another area of debate is the Chase field. The top 10 drivers and anyone within 400 points makes the Chase.

So, what about expanding the field?

"No, it's not on the table,'' France said. "We like the 10. Ten races, 10 drivers.''