There’s a website I frequent that contains all the stats on any NASCAR driver I could ever hope for.
One curious thing though, after every race they post the finishing order along with all the related facts and figures and the updated standings. Beside the current standings they also provide the ‘traditional’ standings; that is the points how they are today ad how they would be under the old system…
And I always wonder why.
When NASCAR instituted the Chase format in 2004, the old points system at least in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series was gone. Kaput, over, done, forget about it.
The problem is that now that we have a Chase where Jimmie Johnson has seemingly locked up the title, and some of the old school pundits and fans are crying foul and saying that the old point system should be brought back.
Of course it shouldn’t.
What the Chase has given us has been some pretty exciting finishes; titles that weren’t decided until the last race every single year; something that didn’t always happen under the old system. In fact under the old Latford system it was a much more rare occurrence when the outcome of a title was decided in the final race of the season. The old schoolers will point to 1992 when Alan Kulwecki won the title in the last race at Atlanta. While that was a legendary race and a great title fight, more often then not under the old system that was the exception rather then the norm.
Under the Chase format every single year since 2004 the title was not clinched until the final race. Using the old system twice in the five years of the Chase the title would have been clinched.
There’s also the argument that the Chase doesn’t reward those who run consistently throughout the entire 26-race schedule leading up to the Chase. Those who are in the top essentially lose their advantage once the points are re-set. Someone who has ran well all season, the argument goes, ends up losing in the final ten races once they have all the points taken away that they gained. The truth of course is that those who are inside the top 12 when the Chase is set would have been there anyway, owing to the fact that until the Chase the old point system is used. Under the Chase format though, now all those inside the top-12 have a shot at the title, not just two or three as there were under the old system.
Looking at both systems the title would have been up for grabs going into the final race under the Chase system more times then under the old system.
Bottom line, the Chase works.
Even this weekend, the title isn’t locked up. Johnson has a 108-point lead, a deficit that second place Mark Martin has made up nine times in a single race, most recently two weeks ago in Texas when he made up 111 points.
So it ain’t over till it’s over…
Of course there will still be those old-schoolers who will bemoan the Chase, talk about how we need to have the old points system back just because one year out of the last five there is a big points gap.
But most would rather have the title decided in the final race, every year.
Comments
Greg you are missing the big picture! When you are at the next race you go to, you need to ask fans a simple question!
Are you at this race to see a good race? or
Are you at this race to see who wins the Chase?
The Chase ore old Point System is not what most fans are looking for these days! I dont see many fans carrying calculators or pen and paper or looking at a scoreboard to see who is winning the Chase!
Most of the fans are paying good money to see a great race that day! Not this "down the road" saga!That the point title promotes!
The Chase or Point TITLE has long "lost its lustre"!
Making the race on race day more important!not the Chase that is why we fight all the traffic,put up with all the high conssessions, souviers, and pay sometimes $100 bucks a ticket!
Also I think that is one of the reasons for all the empty seats!
Greg, One thing that needs to also be remembered is that comparing the old to the Chase formats is not reality. The racing would be different from the get go if EVERY SINGLE POINT mattered. The 10 reaces leading up ot the Chase would be very different as teams would not settle for 10th, 5th or 2nd, if getting that spot would matter more. "I am 100 points back of the leader but 200 points from the "bottom" so I am going to just "ride" here and take a good points day." is Chase thinking right now. Or at least perceived by the fans that way. How would the points change if instead of being content with 8th a team would push, pull, and get up to 3rd? The races have lost their importance and thus the appeal is gone. It used to be winning the races as the crowning achievement for the teams and drivers. Now it is getting into the Chase and being considered great for ten races. Note even the last two or three years the Chase races have not been the best races to watch. Best avg finish hmmmm???
Bottom line...the Chase sucks! JJ is the best 10 race champion ever...but he should NEVER be mentioned in the same sentence with Petty, Pearson, Earnhardt or Yarborough. We probably won't even watch Homestead because we have more exciting things to do, like rake leaves, pick up dog poop, etc. The Chase is the worst thing that has ever happened to NASCAR, it takes all the fun out of a driver having to do their best every week. Instead JJ hangs back, makes sure he's in the top 12 and then brings out his good stuff. I thought racers were supposed to want to win every race (i.e. Schrader, Robby Gordon, even though they are in bad equipment, they race every chance they get) JJ is so boring I fall asleep during burnouts, because I know how boring he will be in victory lane. Someone please save NASCAR I used to know and love!
One might have had the same argument about the 2003 butt whooping Kenseth gave that season when he won the title under the old system. Why change it just because someone dominates?
Between the networks entire focus being about the Chase and the Chase drivers, and having all the drivers racing more for points than for wins, no wonder race fans hate it. Under the old system, the networks covered the actual race and not points as they run every 5 minutes, thus focusing on 2 drivers the entire broadcast. Don't beleive me? Watch the race Sunday and you will know what i mean.
I have been saying this for months. Having a points system similar to IRL and F1, where a bad race doesn't kill you, and you will have a tight points battle almost every year. Also, the actual races will be covered an not some "playoff".
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