Ten races to go. That’s how many events there are before the Chase for the Championship begins. It’s time to sound off on one of the most hotly debated issues in NASCAR.
Since its inception in 2004, NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship has created quite a stir. Called a ‘playoff’ by many the format replaced the traditional way of determining how the sport crowned a driver champion in its top touring series. At first 10 drivers, then 12 had their points re-set and participated in a 10 race final round at the end of the season. Under the old system driver points earned during each race over the course of the entire season were used to crown a champion. Among the drawbacks according to some, was that sometimes the driver leading the standings with a few races to go could secure the crown before the end of the season. The Chase all but eliminated that possibility.
Under the new format, the points from the first 26 races are used to determine the top-12 drivers that will participate in the Chase. A recent addition is the awarding of bonus points for wins throughout the entire season. Drivers are now ‘seeded’ according to their points after the 26th race as well as the addition of the 10-point bonus for each race win.
The NASCAR purists bemoan the Chase arguing, among other things, that the old way of winning a championship awarded those who were consistent throughout the entire season, not just for the final ten races. On the other side of the fence, or catchfence in this instance, fans say that consistency is still rewarded. Drivers still have to make that all important top-12 to be in the Chase, and with the razor thin point margins that happen in the Chase the final ten races can be some of the most exciting of the year.
So which side are you on? Is the Chase a good thing for NASCAR? Is it helping the sport or hurting it? Why or why not?
Comments
Nothing is perfect, whether it be the old or new system.
That said my stance is what's better? The Chase format that gives 12 drivers a very good shot at the title or, the old system where on a good year maybe 2-3 had a chance with 10 events left?
Competition wise and fan wise it should be a no-brainer, unfortunately some view the Chase from the viewpoint of "my driver has been screwed out of a Cup or two." (I'm lookin' at you Jeffy fans!)
When Brian France took over it was clear he was going to making changes in Nascar & the chase was the first biggie for me it's not right it doesn't fit the standard of racing. It began at the top 10 then on 2005 due to Kasey Kahane winning 6 races and not making the the top ten Mr. France desided to change it to the top 12 due to Rays whinning, and that didn't work for Kasey in 06. So, NO the chase does not make sense but it is what it is. Nascar is what it is a dog and pony show with the new tank they FORECED all teams to go too in 08, its nothing but a IROC templete. Its sad to see how money and greed destroyed American's #1 racing league.
With the 'new and improved' chase system, drivers are now point racing with less than half the season over. How is this better? At least 4 or the drivers in the 'top 12' are more than 400 points behind the leader. Remember when Brian told us that 400 points would be part of the cutoff because no driver had come back from that far behind with only 10 races left? So, just how 'worthy' are those drivers to be in contention for a champeenship? With this format, there is also not chance that a driver can make it into the top 10 before th season is over. We always know who the final 10 will be going to NYC, just not the final order. This is suspense? And, if you're going to include 12 in the 'finals', why aren't all of them invited to the banquet? The closer the season gets to Richmond, the more conservatively the top 12 drive, trying to preserve their spot, and the 'other 31' tiptoe around them so as not to be blamed for taking someone out of the running.
There is no point in racing for the top spot. All a driver must do is make the top 12 and then compete for wins. If a driver wins 3 races and ends up 12th in points he is seeded higher than the top finisher with only 1 win. I think the points championship should start 1st and all others seeded beneath him.
I think the Current format is a mistake. Wake me up when the final 10 races come around and then i will worry about watching. Prior to that it is all about getting into the top 12 and resetting the points.
I want to look at championships and be able to compare what a driver today did against the champ in 96 ect, without going through some advanced mathematical equation.
In my opinion, the chase sucks for one reason: Once the top 12 contenders are established, the camera and media coverage is strictly about those 12 drivers! Other drivers, owners and most valuable sponsors are left in the dust, without any mention of them possibly having had a very good season. 43 cars contend all year, but only 12 get to figuratively compete in the final 10 races...the Chase sucks!!
I like the idea of a chase, but do not like the idea of points racing. I would like to see anyone who wins a race in the chase and if there are not 12 winners, fill the field with the drivers with the most points. If there are more than 12 winners, start with the drivers with the most wins, then go to the drivers higher in the standings , but fewer wins, to fill the field or put in everyone who has a win and cut the field after each "Chase" race until you have 12 drivers to race at the end. To satisfy those who would scream about drivers winning shortened races, only count the races that go the distance. And if my driver doesn't make the chase, or is cut out of the chase itself early, so be it. Personally, I have a problem with someone being in the chase who hasn't won a race, but someone who has won 2 or 3 and had bad luck a couple of times being kept out.
The Chase is a great invention. I remember several seasons, under the old point system, I was rooting for the guy in 2nd or 3rd place due to the fact 1st place was already crowned. Wow, I remember how boring that was. (Especially when my guy wasn't the 1st place guy) I look forward to the final 10 races now. I think the fans do as well as the broadcasting company that lands the Chase races. There is so much more hype around the final races now and keeps me, Mr. Diehard NASCAR Fan, faithfully watching to the end. Kudos to the Chase! By the way, Greg, how's that "single G" thing workin out for ya?
Count the points earned from ALL races. Ten race DO-OVERS after 26 races are a JOKE!. The "Farce for the Chumpionship" system of seeding a 12th place driver with multiple wins and maybe 450 out of 1st, ahead of a 1st place driver with 1 win is FRAUD. Racing is all about getting to the finish line first, that's why they call it racing. That's the reason a 12th place driver with multiple wins is in 12th place in points in the first place. TO FINISH FIRST, FIRST YOU HAVE TO FINISH will always be true. Just wait for the day a 12th place driver with NO wins, wins the "FARCE". Could happened a lot easier than most people think with the 10 race "FARCE". The DO-OVER "FARCE FOR THE CHUMPIONSHIP" will always be a joke. Na$crap will probably expand the field next year to 15 drivers, as JR. WILL FAIL to make the "FARCE" for the 3rd time in 6 years.
The play-off system was cherrypicked from what the Hooters Pro-Cup uses. Unfortunately, Brian France didn't take the entire system. If he had, folks might tolerate it a little more. Instead, we have a bastardized system which doesn't work and definitely doesn't live up to any of the hype. Under the old system, you had seasons which were close and some that were blow-outs. Most rules changes in the last 10 years, whether it's an actual points race or something like the All Star race has been done to include Earnhardt Jr. The Top 12 is no different. Don't be surprised if it's expanded to the Top 20 or 25 next season, depending on where Earnhardt Jr finishes. Besides, everything that's wrong with NASCAR is Dale Jr's fault. The poor TV ratings, the poor perfomance of the COT, the drop in souvenir sales, and the empty grandstands. Brian France said so. After all, he is head head of NASCAR and he would never tell us anything that wasn't true. I've some some bridges for sale too in NYC.
Hey Marc .....Carl Edward's was screwed by the "FARCE" in 2008. The FALLACY of the "FARCE" is the 10 race DO-OVER. JJ would never have won 3 in a row without it. No driver bias, just the facts.
do way with the chase period. now nobody really races hard. they just want to finish in the top 12. pay big money to the winners of the race only and then we will see some exciting competetive racing again!
Mark...The Chase is CRAP!
# 24 would have 6 championships the old way!!
Don
To have almost 25 percent of the field be in the stupid 'chase' is ludicrous. If King Brian wants a "championship chase," then make it among only the top 10 percent - which, being only 4 , teams would never happen.
Make it simple: the team with the most wins in the season (a *full* season) wins the championship; that's the way it should be.
The way it is - BAH HUMBUG!!
The chase is a manufactured championship and I don't even count it and usually only watch 2 of the races during the chase. The big loser is the guy who has run really good for 26 races and then gets hosed by everyone being given points they did not earn. The guy with the most wins will be the new leader in the first race of the stupid chase.
This is something that must have been invented in California, so if a team works harder and wins races, the others still have a chance to win the championship.
You should get what you earn, in life, in racing, wherever. If you earned a championship, you win it, simple. If you were 12th with 10 races left in the season, you have those races to climb up in the standing or fall further before the season ends. No 'Lucky Dog', no show segments about rodents, no hours upon hours of pre-race and post race shows. Now they TALK about a race for a longer period of time than it takes to RUN the race.
And give to the Carl Long Fund. Even a dollar helps.
If you want a 10 race so-called champion then the chase is for you.
I hated the chase when it was first introduced and i still hate it now. Even though the old system may have only 2 or 3 contenders sometimes, think about it, those 2 or 3 earned the right to be in the hunt. With the chase, somebody who is 12th and is 500+ points back can suddenly win the championship by getting on a hot streak and finishing in the top 10 in each of the 10 races. I actually would like to see that happen to prove how big a farce this system is. Just look at the truck series championship battle last year, a pure down to the wire battle with a regular points system.
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