In My Opinion: The Chase

2003 was a pivotal point in NASCAR racing. Brian France took over the reigns of the Series. At the time, NASCAR racing was the Winston Cup. As it had been since the 1970’s. RJ Reynolds decided to withdraw from sponsoring the Series, taking away their Winston brand. I’m not really sure what prompted this. Whether it was all their decision, or if it was Brian’s decision to start new. I can’t answer that. But I can give my opinion. Bill France, Sr. started NASCAR racing. And his son, Bill France, Jr. put the racing series on the map, with the help of R. J. Reynolds and their Winston brand. Winston Cup racing was born. And because of Bill France, Jr. and Winston, the sport grew all over the country. It was no longer just a Southern series. Racing was now nationwide. Everyone was watching racing.

Then along comes Brian France. I don’t know if he didn’t want cigarettes as a sponsor, or if Winston didn’t want to sponsor the Series with Brian at the helm. In any event, NASCAR found Nextel, and signed them up with a ten-year contract to sponsor the series. (By the way, Sprint took over Nextel and now the series is Sprint Cup.) So, in 2004 it became the Nextel Cup. That year, in 2003, Matt Kenseth won the Championship by a wide margin, despite the fact that he had only one win. Matt was consistent that year. You could count on him to finish in the top 5-10 each and every of the 36 races. Brian decided that winning should be more important. And that you shouldn’t get the trophy if you only had one win.

So, Brian implemented the Chase to the Nextel Cup. (Now called the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) He made the season only 26 races and the last ten were The Chase. To get into the chase, you had to finish in the top 10 in points by the end of the 26 regular season events. His reasoning was that in those last 10 races, NASCAR would be competing with football for viewers. And he decided that the only reason people watch football is to see who gets into the play-offs. So, he wanted a play-off system. The first 26 races, were the race for the chase and the last ten races were the chase for the championship.

In my opinion, this was the beginning of the end of NASCAR racing. No longer could any team race into the top ten in points, because the points for the chase was set after the 26th race. Through the years, the chase was tweaked a couple of times. When favorites failed to make the chase, it was changed to 12 spots in the chase.  And when they were still points-racing to get in, the seeding was changed. Every race you win in the first 26 races earns you 10 points, if you get into the chase. So, the driver with the most wins starts the chase in first place, instead of the chase being the top 12 in that order.

That’s all fine and dandy, but in my opinion, more fans are not coming into the sport. In my opinion, more fans are no longer watching NASCAR racing. If this new system earned any more fans from football, they quickly lost them. Because play-offs are post season, and those not in the play-offs, go home. In this case, all 43 drivers are in the last 10 races, but no one outside of the chase can do better than 13th place.

In my opinion, I thought it was more exciting watching the last few races to see who was out of the top 10 and who got to go to NYC and be on stage. The media loves the new format because they can start talking about getting into the chase with the first race in Daytona. Why that is exciting, I’m not really sure. But Brain and the media love it. The fans, however hate the new format. They say that now more drivers are winning, instead of points racing so that they get 10 points toward the chase. In my opinion, there are 43 drivers racing for the win each and every week. Not for the 10 points, but for the win. NASCAR is racing. They don’t just drive around all day. They race for the win. Not for the ten points. But for the trophy. To collect as many wins as they can. And it has always been that way.

In my opinion, the chase is a stupid gimmick and is not working. Ratings are down. Seats are not being sold. You may point to the economy, but when ratings are down, NASCAR should look into why they are down. The new car is a factor. It is now a safer car, but the car doesn’t handle very well, and most fans don’t want to watch follow the leader in IROC cars, where they all look alike.

But the biggest reason for poor ratings, in my opinion, is the chase. The media is always talking about it, and it turns most fans off. Because they don’t like it to begin with. This year Matt Kenseth won the first two races of the year at Daytona and California (Auto Club Speedway). But he was not consistent enough to stay in the top twelve in points. So, he finds himself racing for 13th in points. No matter what he does the rest of the year, even if he wins the next ten races, all he can do is get that 13th spot. Kyle Busch (the media sweetheart) has four wins and didn’t make it into the chase. So now, will they have to tweak it again to include all the winners of races? There are also four drivers in the chase with no wins. What should become of them? Do they not make it because they didn’t win? And those winners get in because they won?

I say, it wasn’t broken. Why did Brian think he had to fix it? In my opinion, they should get rid of the chase, and may the driver with the most points win the championship. The way it should be. The winners will still be at the top of the standings. Give more points for winning. Under that assumption everyone will race for the win. But get rid of the chase. The only thing it is doing is chasing fans away. It is much more exciting watching drivers race into and out of the top ten. If  Greg Biffle, in twelfth place finishes 43rd all ten races in the chase, he still remains in twelfth place. And, like I said, if Kenseth wins the next ten races, he will finish the year in 13th. I have to ask myself why that is exciting. And I can’t come up with a single answer. Except that the media and Brian France likes the new format.

I loved NASCAR racing the first time I saw it in the mid ’90’s. When it was Winston Cup. When you raced into and out of the top ten and the Champion was the one with the most points. Not the driver who did best in the last ten races. In my opinion, all the chase does is turn off long time fans, and shortens the season. If they want a play-off, let it be after the season, and everyone else goes home. NOT a very good idea. But neither is a play-off in a sport with no divisions. That’s how you make a play-off. Your team is the best in your division.

It will always be exciting watching NASCAR racing. At least in my opinion. But it would be more exciting if there was no chase and they raced for wins (more points for winning) and getting into and out of the top ten to get onto the stage for the awards. In my opinion. NASCAR, are you listening?

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Another thing. The media talks as though there has never been anything but the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jeff Gordon has four Winston Cup Championships. Jimmy Johnson is the only winner of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kurt Busch has one Nextel Cup trophy, as does Tony Stewart. Yet the media insists everything is NSCS. I wonder why that is.

Race Review: Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Welcome, race fans, to the final race of the regular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 will determine who will race in the Chase For The Sprint Cup. Richmond International Raceway, in Richmond, Va., hosts this final event. And, in my opinion, this .75 mile track is the perfect place for such an event. Since The Chase for the Championship began in 2004, this one race determines who is in and who is out. According to NASCAR News, there are 11 drivers vying for 8 spots. 11th in points is 16 Greg Biffle. 12th is 17 Matt Kenseth. 13th is 83 Brian Vickers. And in 14th is 18 Kyle Busch. The race should be exciting and entertaining. RIR is a neat little track with room to pass.

5 Mark Martin is on the pole with a speed of 126.808. Beside him, on the front row is 1 Martin Truex, Jr. 09 is NASCAR Nationwide driver, Brad Keselowski. 7 is David Gilliland. Owner/Driver, Robby Gordon is off racing in an off-road event. 71 this time is Mike Bliss. 36 is Michael McDowell. Only one driver had to go home. In my opinion, all 44 entries should have raced. The 22nd row should have been filled. But I don’t make the rules. That one driver was 37 Tony Raines.

9 Kasey Kahne is the in-race reporter. Just before the festivities began, there was a sprinkle. But the driers come on the track and there is not much of a delay before the race starts. Although, the dryers blew the rubber off the track, so the outside groove will have to wait awhile to come into play.

So, here we go. 5 Martin leads from the pole. And the first caution comes out before the completion of the second lap. 17 Kenseth doesn’t have a very fast car, so he makes a pit stop. 24 Jeff Gordon gets by 48 Jimmy Johnson. 9 Khane and 48 battle, with 9 getting by. 2 Kurt Busch gets by 83 Vickers for ninth. 29 Kevin Harvick finally gets by 12 David Stremme. 2 gets by 18 Kyle Busch. 2 gets by 48 for sixth.

The second caution comes out when 14 Tony Stewart and 43 Reed Sorenson spin together. Tony says it was his fault. 14 made it three-wide with 12 and 43 and got loose into 43. 6 David Ragan is the Lucky Dog and gets his lap back. The top five out of the pits are 11 Denny Hamlin, 24, 5, 2 and 1. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. gets by 18. 29 and 18 battle. 24 is all over the back end of leader 11. 26 Jamie McMurray and 47 Marcos Ambrose get together.

The third caution comes out for 78 Regan Smith stopped on the track. 43 Reed Sorenson is the Lucky Dog and is back on the lead lap. 88 gets by 5 for fourth. 24 and 11 battle for the lead. 24 takes the lead. 11 comes back to battle 24 for the lead, but 24 keeps it. They battle some more, but 24 stays in the lead. 83 and 18 battle and 83 gets by.

The fourth caution comes out for debris. 17 was seconds away from going a lap down. He misses his pit and has to back up. 24 retains the lead. 83 and 9 get together. 2 and 5 battle with 5 getting by. 88 and 9 battle. And the fifth caution comes out. Again for debris. 17 stays on the lead lap again. 7 David Gilliland gets the free pass. 6 turns 09 in the pits and 09 makes his stop backwards in his pit. 99 Carl Edwards has a miss in his engine. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya looses eight positions in the pits. 24 chooses the inside for the restart. 11 drives into the corner to take the lead. 44 A. J. Allmendinger, 9 and 99 are three-wide. 24 is all over the back of leader 11. 24 takes the lead. 24 and 11 battle for the lead, and 11 takes the lead. They battle for the lead some more.

The sixth caution comes out when 78 blows a tire. They speculate that the brakes were overheating the tires. 24 leads them to the pits. 11 comes out first. 48 and 2 battle for fourth, with 2 taking the spot. 33 Clint Bowyer gets by 18 for eighth. 11 puts 88 a lap down. 48 and 18 battle with 18 taking the spot.

The seventh caution comes out when 1 gets into the wall. The caution is for debris on the track. 7 David Gilliland is again the Lucky Dog. 1 goes to the garage. 17 makes more changes. His front tire changer takes the lugs out of the rear tire while they make the changes to the right rear. Great team work. 48 won’t let 18 by. 18 finally gets by 48. 83 gets by 42. 20 Joey Logano, 31 Jeff Burton and 14  are three-wide. 00 David Reutimann bumps 31. 12 gets his pipe into 31’s tire and 31 blows the tire.

The eighth caution comes out for debris from 31’s blown tire. 31 Jeff Burton is the Lucky Dog and will get back on the lead lap. The caution was for debris, not because 31 wrecked. They restart with 75 to go. 33 dives below leader 11, 11 blocks and 33 gets into 24, who looses spots.

The ninth caution comes out when 55 Michael Waltrip slides into the grass. He stayed out to lead a lap, but he is just getting into the way. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is the Lucky Dog and gets back on the lead lap. 33 and 18 battle. 2 gets by 18. 18 and 83 (the two of them trying to get into the Chase) for fifth. 83 gets by. 24 and 18 battle, and 24 gets by. 18 and 48 battle, and 48 gets by. 14 gets by team mate, 39 Ryan Newman. 48 and 18 battle side by side and 18 gets by. 83 gets by 33 for fourth. 29 and 48 battle, with 29 getting by. 11 the leader is in heavy traffic. And they go to a commercial.

The tenth caution comes out during the commercial. 09 blows an engine. In the pits, 14 comes out of his pit and gets into the tire carrier of the 00 team and the tire gets loose and rolls down pit road. The tire carrier is not hurt. 17 and others take the wave around to stay on the lead lap. 11 chooses the inside. 5 spins his tires and 2 gets by. 24 and 18 battle. 83 and 77 battle. 24 gets by 18 and then by 5 for third. 83 and 77 are still battling. 83 finally gets by.

And 11 Denny Hamlin finally wins on his home track. 18 Kyle Busch misses out on the Chase by 8 points. 83 Brian Vickers makes it into the Chase. 17 Matt Kenseth finishes in 25th and is now fourteenth in points. Denny does burn outs all around the track so all his fans can see them. He had all his “lucky stuff” from his Pocono win with him for this race. And they worked.

So, now The Chase for the Sprint Cup is set with 5 Mark Martin on top with his four wins.

1. 5 Mark Martin  4 wins
2. 14 Tony Stewart  3 wins
3. 48 Jimmy Johnson  3 wins
4. 11 Denny Hamlin  2 wins
5. 9 Kasey Kahne  2 wins
6. 24 Jeff Gordon  1 win
7. 2 Kurt Busch  1 win
8. 83 Brian Vickers  1 win
9. 99 Carl Edwards  0 wins
10. 39 Ryan Newman  0 wins
11. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya  o wins
12. 16 Greg Biffle  0 wins

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NASCAR’s Top 12

Winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship in 2008 is Hendrick Motor Sport’s #48 Jimmy Johnson. This is Jimmy’s third Championship in a row! That has only been done once in the history of NASCAR racing. Cale Yarborough accomplished the feat thirty years ago. Jimmy is good at this new Chase system.  The last ten tracks that make up the Chase are at his best tracks. In my opinion he will win every Championship until NASCAR figures out they need to change which tracks are in the chase.

Dale Jarrett says he’s one of the good guys. And he’s my Grandson Trystan’s favorite! Like him or not, with the help of his crew chief Chad Knaus, he knows how to race and win Championships.

Jimmy started the season 27th at Daytona. And after five races was only in 13th place in the points. But by the end of the year he had 7 wins, fifteen top 5’s, twenty-two top tens and six poles.

This is Jimmy’s fifth appearance in the Chase. The only other driver to do that is Rouch Fenway Racing’s #17 Matt Kenseth. But Jimmy shines in those last ten races like no one else. In 2008 Kyle Busch had eight wins heading into the Chase. That put him on top of the points and Jimmy only in third with only four wins.

However, in the chase, he had three wins, six top fives and seven top tens. Jimmy’s worst finishes were at Texas and Homestead Miami, where he finished fifteenth! He won at Kansas, Martinsville and Phoenix. That gave him seven wins for the season. Less than Kyle, but he won the races that counted. Jimmy will be a contender for the Championship for many years to come.

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NASCAR’s Top 12

Finishing the 2008 season in third place is Roush Fenway Racing’s #16 Greg Biffle. Greg is the only NASCAR Sprint Cup driver that had a chance to become the only driver with a Championship in all three NASCAR top Series. He won the Rookie of the year in the Craftsman Truck series, and went on to win the Championship in 2000. He then went on to the Busch Series, was the Rookie of the year and became the Champion in 2002. Greg was not the Rookie of the year when he came to Cup racing. But he has a chance to be the Champion in 2008. He finished second to Tony Stewart in 2005.

Greg started the Chase in ninth place. And promptly won the first two Chase races at New Hampshire and Dover. And finished third at Kansas. However, he crashed out at Talladega and finished 24th. In the last six races, his worse finish was 18th at the finale at the Homestead-Miami Track. He held on to third, but was not close enough to contend for the Championship.

Greg did not make the Chase in 2006 or 2007. In 2008 he had three DNF’s (Did Not Finish) but was never out of the top 12 to get into the Chase. He started the Chase with four out of five top ten’s and finished the Chase with four out of five top tens. If Greg can perform better next year, and get some wins before the Chase starts, he will once again be in contention for the Trophy.

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NASCAR’s Top 12

Finishing the NASCAR sprint Cup series in fourth place is Richard Childress Racing’s #29 Kevin Harvick. Kevin finished ahead of team mates, #07 Clint Bowyer and #31 Jeff Burton. Kevin missed the Chase in 2004 and 2005. But this was his third straight year in the Chase.

Kevin won the 2007 Daytona 500 in 2007, but hasn’t won a race since then. He was second twice in 2008 at Bristol and Miami-Homestead. Homestead being in the Chase. He had six straight top 10 finishes to climb from 13th in the points to seventh, securing himself a spot in the Chase. This is Kevin’s third straight Chase appearance.

Kevin started the Chase in eleventh place. He had three top tens in a row to start the Chase. And he never did worse than 20th at Talladega. He finished 13th twice at Lowes and Atlanta. And had seven top 10 finishes in the chase. Not bad, but not enough to win the Championship.

Kevin needs more wins all year long to be a contender in 2009. RCR is not quite there. The teams perform well, but winning takes them to the top and all three teams don’t have enough wins. Look for Kevin again in 2009. If he can win, he’ll be a challenge.

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Visit my site: http://www.ilovemynascar.com

http://www.blitzcorner.com/index.php?category=NASCAR

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