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The battle for 11th could be as good as the chase
I was looking at the run down on who made it and who didn't and it made me think about some of the teams that are running for the 11Th place spot. There are a bunch of good teams that are all going for that 11Th place spot. You got the 8,42,24,88,38,9 just to mention a few. I think it will be fun to watch both the chase for the championship and the run for 11Th. Its kind of like the NIT vs. the NCAA Tournament, everyone wants to be in the big dance but the teams in the NIT are no slouch. Its going to be harder and harder to get into the chase as each year goes by. Already from last year to this year there have been three teams that didn't make it last year and made it this year. Over a ten year period very few drivers will make the chase every year. I think the competition is going to get so good that all teams will be looking over there shoulders. Jeff Gordon proved it this year, no one is guaranteed a spot in the chase. Its off to New Hampshire we go.
September 12, 2005 in Race talk | Permalink
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I posted this in the last blog but it looks like we posted at the same time so I thought I'd copy and paste it here as well.
Trent, congrats to you and the 12 team! All that hard work finally paid off. I'm not a normal poster here but something that happened this weekend has me really confused - maybe you can help. During an interview one of the NASCAR guys spoke to the vice president of NASCAR. In the interview they asked about a tie. He said, if I understood his comments correctly, That NASCARS main goal was to get as many drivers as possible into the race for the chase and that if there was a tie for any position that both drivers would have that position. The were mostly talking about a tie for 10th (for example if there was a tie for 10th then both guys would make it and there would be 11 drivers in the chase) but if you carried that over then wouldn't it make sense that since there was a tie for 8th then Newman would be 9th and Sadler would make it in 10th? During the interview he as an example if there was a tie for every position there could be as many as 20 drivers in the chase. I don't know who at NASCAR to ask about this or if it's even worth it but Trent, if you had any information I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks, and again....great job!!
Posted by: Mary-Ann | Sep 12, 2005 8:40:19 PM
I couldn't agree more... lots of good racing ahead on both sides of the Chase. My money is on Gordon to "clean up" over the next several weeks, probably winning a race or two in the process. I know he's not everyone's favorite (me included)... but the guy is still one of the best wheelmen in the sport and he's long overdue to end the schnide.
Good luck in New Hampshire... Trent, were you there in 02 for Ryan's first cup win? Still seems like yesterday.
Posted by: Hemi | Sep 12, 2005 8:45:43 PM
Mary-Ann, from Nascar.com:
RICHMOND, Va. -- NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter raised a ruckus Friday when he misspoke during the Nextel Cup Series qualifying broadcast while trying to explain various scenarios were teams to leave Richmond with an equal number of points.
Hunter explained that "all ties in the top 10 positions qualify for the Chase," meaning if drivers tied for every position within the top-10 that 20 drivers could possibly make the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
In fact, the only position that particular rule applies to is 10th.
Were four drivers to tie for 10th position overall, all four would make the Chase, thus meaning 13 total drivers would qualify to race for the championship.
If two drivers tied for ninth, just 10 would make it.
Posted by: Darth Dan | Sep 12, 2005 8:55:00 PM
thanks for that Darth Dan.... I was rooting for a tie and was all excited when I thought Sadler made the race as well. Then to find out he didn't....well, it was just disappointing. :( Thanks for clarifying.
Posted by: Mary-Ann | Sep 12, 2005 8:57:54 PM
About odds, most people really aren't giving Newman much of a chance. From speedtv.com they give Ryan:
10. RYAN NEWMAN Odds 25:1
Why he’ll win: Newman almost always qualifies well. Maybe he can make that translate into more top-five finishes.
Why he won’t: He hasn’t won a race this year and hasn’t been the best performer on his own team. Plus, he drives a Dodge.
For the other top 10:
Tony Stewart 2:1
Greg Biffle 4:1
Rusty Wallace 8:1
Jimmie Johnson 8:1
Kurt Busch 6:1
Mark Martin 10:1
Jeremy Mayfield 25:1
Carl Edwards 50:1
Matt Kenseth 4:1
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/19543/
I think Newman has a lot better chance than what they give him. Got kicked in the head last year with 4 dnfs in the last 10, but they are usually good in those last 10, and actually in most of those races they were running really good when something happened. Well good luck in the next 10 races, go out there and win some or at least be consistant and shut everyone up that is saying the 12 team doesn't have a chance!
Posted by: Darth Dan | Sep 12, 2005 9:09:36 PM
Hemi
I was there in 02 for his first win. Ive been on the team since Ryans first Arca race and havent missed a race yet. Oh, I did miss one race, it was when I worked for Rusty in 00'. The Bristol night race conflicted with Ryans Arca race and I had to go to Bristol. We ended up winning the Bristol race and the Arca race. Other than that I have been with Newman since his first days in the shop.
Posted by: trent | Sep 12, 2005 10:57:13 PM
GO 12 GO!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Toni | Sep 12, 2005 10:57:47 PM
Hey, Trent, how's Dewey?
Posted by: Toni | Sep 12, 2005 10:58:27 PM
I think you're right, Trent. The battle for 11th will be just as competitive as the one for Champion. The Chase format truly accomplishes one of its main goals in spreading the interest and excitement over more drivers. Without it the only question the rest of the season would be, "Can Biffle or Johnson catch Tony?"
It may be a long shot, but for 11th place I say, "Go Kyle Busch!"
Posted by: MBVoelker | Sep 13, 2005 9:50:21 AM
I never in a million years thought that I'd be cheering for Ryan Newman to win the championship. But I am, so good luck, and please beat those Roush freaks of nature.
Posted by: G | Sep 13, 2005 11:01:57 AM
Trent, I think you are absolutely right - the battle for 11th is going to be crazy. I think those guys that are going to be battling for that spot are relieved of a lot of pressure (trying to make it into the chase) and they are just going to go balls out to try to get that 11th place position. I'd look out for the 8 (ugh), 24 (double UGH) and 38 (woohoo!!) LOL
And as much as I can't believe I'm saying this - I hope the #12 team proves everyone wrong and goes out there and makes a great run for the title! I'm rooting for anyone that doesn't drive for Roush or Hendrick!
Good Luck!!
Posted by: Christina | Sep 13, 2005 11:31:10 AM
It would be pretty interesting if Earnhardt and Gordon each won 5 of the last ten! Now that would give everyone something to think about during the run up to Daytona :^)
Posted by: massracin | Sep 13, 2005 11:46:20 AM
You've got to be kidding - good racing for 11th in points?
What about RACING FOR THE LEAD?????????
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 13, 2005 1:01:10 PM
I agree that the race for 11th will be somewhat interesting, but everyone is leaving out Joe Nemechek. Nemechek has consistently been better at the 1.5 mile tracks than Gordon, Jr., Harvick, and those guys. I think it'll be between Sadler and Nemechek.
Posted by: 19Jay12 | Sep 13, 2005 1:14:44 PM
Bingo Jay! Was reading this not believing that Joe didn't get a mention. Have not seen ANYTHING to think that the 8 or 24 will do any better. I take the blame for cursing the 24, as I took him in the stockcar challenge. If you have not done the espn game, it is free and a blast. The scores all reset for the final 10 races, so you could be on even track. Takes a bit of time to sign up, but once you do it's good 4ever. Did not experience any spam or anything bad, except my girlfriend kicking my @#@. Trent, thanks for this ride! It will be easy to stick a 1 in front of my 2 stuff, next year.
Posted by: Larry | Sep 13, 2005 6:20:41 PM
Congratulations Trent! The 12 team does very well at a lot of the tracks in the final 10, so I have no doubt that yall will put some skepticism to bed. For the upcoming race at Loudon, you've got an average finish of 8.86 with 3 poles, 1 win, 3 top 5's, and 2 top 10's. In fact, the ONLY time you've finished outside the top ten was last year in this race when we lost an engine. Great job guys!
Posted by: tx12fan | Sep 14, 2005 7:28:55 AM
Chartreuse Do you really think any of those drivers give a fart about finishing 11th and getting the "first big loser" award in NYC in December??? Yeah the guys want to finish as high as possible outside the chase but I doubt any of the drivers or crew chiefs are sitting up all night saying "OK here's what we have to do to secure that fantastic 11th place finish..." more likely they will be sitting up all night trying to figure out why they are not in the top ten and how they are going to get there next year. Personally I don't care if Jr or Gordon finishes 11th or 20th this year because this year (points wise) is over for them. What I care about is that the fix what is wrong and get into the chase next year. Of course NBC will be shoving 11th place down our pie-holes every week and I am sure the ticker will have a special color for the 11th place driver...maybe Chartreuse will be good.
Posted by: Gary | Sep 14, 2005 7:53:40 AM
Congratulations to the 12 Team (yea!!!) and to the other 9 teams that made it into the chase. That said though.......
I have to say. I'm not a big fan of this whole chase format.
I'm not sure, and can't really say if it's the chase itself that is what makes these last ten races exciting (well at least for me anyway). I really believe that whether you are in the top ten, or whether you are on the outside, looking in (so to speak). There is soooo much talent on both sides of the fence.
Chase or no chase. There are 43 drivers out on the race track each and every week. They all want to win races, and each of them will be racing as hard, and with everything they've got to get the best finishing position they can. ummmmm.....seems to me, they were doing this before the chase, and they will still be going it if they ever get rid of the chase. They are racecar drivers afterall. nothing else to be said.
For me....some of my favorite drivers made it into the chase, and some of them did not. I will still be rooting for each one of them to run a great race, do the best they can, and get the best possible finish. Just like I always have/will .....Chase or no Chase.
Best of luck to the 12 Crew !!!
Posted by: Ann | Sep 14, 2005 2:50:05 PM
I cannot stand the chase format and mainly because of the drivers outside of it. Thankfully Ryan has gotten in, but it's still not fair. Edwards can have 10 DNF's in the last 10 races and still finish no worse than 10th, and Kevin Harvick can go out and win the next 10 races and get no better than 11th...I just think it's so unfair. And some say, well, they have 26 races to get the job done, well the point is, in those 26 races there can be so many things that happen out of the drivers/crews control that can cause a bad finish, while there can be good things in the last 10. It's no fair.
Posted by: Toni | Sep 14, 2005 6:05:30 PM
Toni... fair? It is what it is... for 2 years now these drivers have known that in order to win the CUP they have to PERFORM in 26 races... Not one of those drivers outside the top 10 is out because of accidents... for the most part they have not PERFORMED...(with the possible exception of the 18... but still the performance isn't there) the 17 picked it up... they knew what they had to do and did it!... the 29 had the same shot... and although the 12 team took a hit at Bristol... well we can't blame 1 race for the ill performance of 50% of the races. When a championship actually comes down to the LAST LAP OF THE LAST RACE... that's what makes the CHASE good.
Posted by: BlueDeuce | Sep 15, 2005 10:36:54 AM
I didnt like the Chase either when they first announced the format, but I was standing on my couch jumping last year come the last 20 laps of Homestead and I'm a fan now!
Yes, they could have had terrible luck in the first 26 races, but the same could be said for the last 10 races. At least there's a flippin competition for the title now instead of knowing with five races to go who the champ is.
Is the Chase fair? Quite frankly I'm not interested enough to sit down and figure the numbers and odds all out, but I know that it's more fun now!
Anyway, I think Sadler's gonna get 11th.
Posted by: Sammie Mae | Sep 15, 2005 1:44:22 PM
Has anyone noticed that thatsracin.com says Newman is 40 points behind the leader and NASCAR.com has him 45 points behind? I know it has to do with the tie for 8th place, but which is correct? 5 points could be the difference in winning the championship or not!
Posted by: goryan! | Sep 16, 2005 5:51:04 PM
He's in 10th spot, so he's 45 points behind the leader.
Posted by: Sammie Mae | Sep 16, 2005 5:59:33 PM
Well, I'm not going to even pretend I know a thing about the chase. I just love watching the race and cheering my favorite driver on. There are some races that are great and others that I end up throwing stuff at the t.v but other than that it's all good.
I play the P10 Select Fantasy Racing picks every week, and I'm doing pretty good I must say, 21st spot out of 139.
All I can say is, "Rocketman get out there and do your best, give em' hell!!!"
I'm a fan no matter where you finish.
Oh ya, we finally have a store here in town (Canada) that finally got some #12 items in and my van is all Nascared up with the #12 window cling and..get this...the antenna ball!! WWWOOOHHHOOO!!!!
Can't wait till they get more stuff in. LOL :)
Posted by: Nascar_Lady | Sep 17, 2005 9:01:41 AM
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