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A different situation
With only five races to go our 12 car is sitting 90 points out of 12 and 120 + out of 11th. Here's the problem, in order for us to get in we need the 1,8,and 2 to have bad races. Its hard going to the track and watching our teammate win the race and then realize that they are the guys we are competing against for the chase. Now, ideally we both can still make the chase. DEI is having the same problem, its coming down to teammate against teammate to see who makes it and who doesn't. I still pull for the 2 car every race and hope they do well, but you have to be kidding yourself if you think it going to be easy to watch your teammate get in and you watch from the side. Now, there is still a lot of racing to be done and I personally think that its going to be a four team race that comes down to Richmond to see who gets in and who doesn't. This weekend will be a huge factor in the fact that anything can happen on a road course. I know all the drivers can drive well at road courses but with all the road specialist that are going to be there it might throw a wrench in things. I guess all we can do is finish well and see where the rest of the guys end up. Either way I think its going to be an interesting Penske vs. DEI race to the chase. Its time to put up or shut up so we better get going. Holla.
August 9, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
The Chase is a totally stupid concept for auto racing. You're racing for 12th for a chance at a title??? The reason you're racing for 12th is because that's how your season has played out. It's totally lame that teams that far back get to try for a championship.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 9, 2007 10:01:52 AM
It might be totally lame - but isn't it great Keith:)!! Good luck Trent and hopefully we will see both Penske guys in the chase.
Posted by: cgs | Aug 9, 2007 10:07:26 AM
I tend to agree , but on the other hand, the season would practically be over for all but a couple of teams now. I think the previous seasons, that the eventual champion would have won using the old system as well. But now, the first time a guy comes from 10th or 12, and wins, then there will be an uproar!!
Posted by: Clay | Aug 9, 2007 10:11:43 AM
Yeah Keith, and it will be so much more interesting watching a guy win by 400 points. If you like that idea, watch the Busch Series. Realistically, we want Newman in the Chase, because he is easily a top twelve driver, but its obvious that the 12 team will have a tough time outperforming the 24, 11, 20, and 48 in a ten-race stretch.
Posted by: keith12 | Aug 9, 2007 10:17:39 AM
All good points, I hope both Penske Teams make it. A long shot but very possible. The 12 Crew is peaking, maybe the best Stops ever at Pocono, a little luck will put both Teams in the Chase. It ain't over but the Fat Lady is slapping on make-up and warming up the Limo, Go Gettem'
Posted by: MoparDave | Aug 9, 2007 10:33:01 AM
Trent, you need to forget about the DEI cars and Kurt Busch and forget about points; concentrate on winning races, let the points sort themselves out. If you don't make the Chase, so what? Win races.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Aug 9, 2007 12:11:54 PM
Yo Trent -
Congrats on the Checkers pit crew award at Pocono. You boys beat out some tough competition for that one!
DT
Posted by: DT | Aug 9, 2007 12:26:52 PM
If Ryan Newman wins the Nextel Cup this year from 10th or 12th place going into the Chase that will be great. I'm kind of hoping that either he or Jeff Burton wins the title so we can see an awkward ceremony with the Nextel/Sprint corporate guys and the NASCAR suits having to crown the AT&T or Alltel driver as their series champion. That would be especially ironic considering the court cases going on with Nextel and NASCAR vs. AT&T and Alltel.
Even better, let's have the #01 team make the owner's Chase and have Ryan Newman end up 12th in driver's points after Richmond (which would cuase the 12 team to miss the owner's Chase because they would have been 13th in owner's points). Then Ryan Newman goes on to win the driver's Chase and the #31 team wins the owner's Chase. Then we can all watch as Nextel promotes their banquet in which they will be honoring the Alltel driver as the driver's champion and the AT&T team as the owner's champion. Poetic justice for Nextel and NASCAR? I think so.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Aug 9, 2007 12:32:25 PM
keith12,
The old system wasn't near perfect, but it seems there were a few good championship battles in there over the 50 years or so they used it. You're 12th because you weren't good enough to be 11th, and certainly nowhere near #1. The Chase is a TV reality show.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 9, 2007 1:07:27 PM
Anyone 700 points behind first place doesn't deserve to win the championship, period. And yes, the 'crapshoot' is a made for TV racertainment almost reality show. Playoffs work if all teams don't 'play' each other every week. Definitely not Nascar...or, it didn't use to be.
Posted by: Sal | Aug 9, 2007 1:58:19 PM
True, the Chase is a gimmick, but it is much more interesting than a guy winning by 400 pts, so I just watch it instead of wasting my time complaining.
Keith, I'm not sure if there is a perfect pts system for a 36 race sched.
Posted by: keith12 | Aug 9, 2007 2:47:54 PM
Hey Trent, hope to see the 2 and 12 in the chase!!
I think the chase at least puts a little more excitment in racing. Makes for several races within the race. All the people on this forum complaining must be Jeff Gordon fans because without the chase, he has already won......
At least with the chase we get to see more drivers having a shot at the championship.
Good luck to the Penske crews!!! =D
Posted by: Kristy | Aug 9, 2007 3:12:55 PM
kristy,
Anyone liking the Chase must be a fan of an "also ran." Or, they just like artifical excitement. I could care less if Gordon takes it home. I'm not a fan of his, but at least it would be an honest title and not "racertainment," as Sal points out.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 9, 2007 3:19:05 PM
Honestly, I too like the old format before the "Chase" was thought up by some marketing guy, although the old format could have been tweaked a little to make it better. But, we are stuck with the Chase, the COT, and everything else Brian can do to ruin our favorite sport (say,,,Thank You NASCAR). So we might as well make the best of it and make it fair for everyone (at least as fair as can be).
So, with that said...there should be two cups.
Cup One - the Bill France Drivers Cup: Awarded after the first 26 races and recognizes the most dominate car/Driver for the "regular" season (similar to those other sports since that is what NASCAR is trying to do). Give'em that and a 1 million dollar check - nothing to anyone else (same as it is now after 26 races). I think it is ridiculous for a driver to dominate 26 races, rack up points, and then with two strokes of bad luck (their own or someone else's) in the final 10, lose it all. AND, it has nothing to do with the driver in that position this year. I am a NASCAR fan now that my driver is no longer with us, and pull for several drivers.
Then, a second cup (Nextel, Sprint or whomever the sponsor is that year) for the winner of the final leg of the chase (top 5, top 10, top 12 - doesn't really matter). Whatever number they come up with, those drivers start from scratch on race 27 and race for wins, top 5's, top 10s, etc). The one on top of the heap at the end of ten races wins the ????? Cup and whatever goes with it.
Same thing with the qualifying issue - forget the top 35. Race winners from the previous year are locked into the races the following year for the first 5-10 events. Everyone else qualifies on time. Then the top 20 in DRIVERs points (not owner points) after that. Seems pretty simple to me. A past champions provisiional can be thrown in there as well for the first 5-10, but only if they are a full time cup driver, not someone that is retired or semi-retired. Would not be fair to let a part-timer take a space in the race away from someone trying and sometimes struggling to run the full schedule.
My 2 cents ---
Posted by: Corvette Racer | Aug 9, 2007 3:24:10 PM
Keith,
No I'm just a FAN. No more, no less. Been a fan through a lot of the changes in NASCAR.
All the bitching and moaning you'll are doing, isn't going to change how NASCAR does the chase. Instead you sound like a bunch of old women in a sewing circle. Bitch, bitch, bitch, nag, nag, nag.
I figured if this is how the chase is, so be it. We as fans, do not make the rules or really have much say. I don't agree with the polls in College Football, but know that bitchin about it, doesn't do squat.
I agree that racing was much more interesting back in the 80's but the "old way" of racing is dead. Everything changes, that's how life is, so why should NASCAR be any different? Everyone needs to just get over it and either watch the races or not.
Posted by: Kristy | Aug 9, 2007 3:36:33 PM
Kristy,
LOL, if you don't voice an opinion when you don't like something, then you get what you deserve. NASCAR fans are voting in blogs and in lowered attendence figures that they don't like things. Maybe, we'll never be heard, but we didn't just go with the flow because we thought we didn't matter.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 9, 2007 4:39:09 PM
stricklinfan
I like your thinking!!!!
Everyone knows how much I dislike the chase.My reasons are more personal though.I feel the chase takes away a lot from anyone who is not in the top 10,12 or 15(next year?).The sponsors of the snaller teams deserve their day in the sun also.Some races you're not even sure if they are in the race.
Did you hear Jr last weekend when he said something about the #12 spot getting the most attention.It was suppposed to be funny and instead,it was sad.
Posted by: Short Lady | Aug 9, 2007 4:43:11 PM
Hey Trent,
Glad that you see the situation as it is. It would be great to see both Penske cars in the chase. Win and you'll be in. Both teams seem to be running well at the right time to make it in.
The chase is cool. It's like having 20 mulligans. Next year, it may be the top 14.
Posted by: Larry | Aug 9, 2007 6:19:33 PM
Good Luck this weekend Trent!!! I'm still holding on to hope... but if it does come down to Richmond, I'm going to be a basketcase!
And as Dennis said, Congrats on winning the Pit Crew Challenge! Very proud of you guys! Great job!
Posted by: darlene | Aug 9, 2007 8:46:56 PM
Keith,
I hope more people stop going to races so that maybe the price will come down and more of us can afford to go more often!! I've been to a few races and there is NOTHING like being there. The sights and sounds are so amazing. It's very surreal. Even got to shake my drivers hand and get his autograph! Priceless!!!
Yes I agree that voicing an opinion can get things to change, but think that is what made them decide to do a chase format to begin with. NASCAR will never be like it was years back, because nothing is. This is the first year of 12 in the chase, so who know what NASCAR will do next year with the chase. I think it will be an evolving format for several years until they find what works. NASCAR was probably fully aware that it would take years to get just the right chase format going.
Posted by: Kristy | Aug 10, 2007 8:35:08 AM
Whoever, wins the most races should win the cup. Period. If that were the case we would see better races week after week, and would have nothing to complain about. Might be somebody I don't like but it would be a lots better than this mess they have now. Oh, I would love to see Ryan or Jeff B win the cup, since I can't change the way its awarded.....anybody but the 8, sorry 'e' fans, I hope he doesn't even make the chase. If he does, everybody else can record the race and watch later, you will be able to fast forward through 95% of it, because it will be all about baby 'e'.
Posted by: 9fanatic | Aug 10, 2007 8:39:36 AM
Trent, CONGRATULATIONS on winning the Cheker's Pit Crew Award last week. You guys pulled off some awesome stops and deserved it.
Best of Luck to you at Watkins Glen and in making in the chase. I'll be there to see it.
Posted by: JenInIL | Aug 10, 2007 8:02:30 PM
Corvette Racer,
You're in the right area with your proposals - better than what we have now.
Posted by: JWSmoke | Aug 11, 2007 10:49:10 AM
Hey Keith,
Kristy has got your number dude. lol
I would share your passion, were it directed to ticket prices. While the chase may be adjusted, we know it's not going anywhere.
It will be interesting to see how attendance holds up during Richmond, and the chase races. As mentioned above there is nothing like being there. But the insane price and hassel of going to a race makes you feel like a sheep going to slaughter, or at least sheared. ha.
enjoy this weekend's racing!
Posted by: Larry | Aug 11, 2007 12:20:22 PM
The Race for the Chase is so great, the ratings are DOWN! Instead of promoting points welfare (which is really what it is...giving points to teams that don't earn them), NASCAR needs to fix the actual PRODUCT...they need to make the RACING better, instead of producing all this fake drama! And so what if a guy wins by 400 points...that just means the other teams need to work harder! Why punish the team that is working the hardest? The Champion should be the team that EARNS the most points during a season.
And no, the Chase champion hasn't always ended up being the one who would have won under the old system. The year that Kurt Busch won, he should have actually finished 4th and Jeff Gordon should be a FIVE time Cup champion.
And interestingly enough, last year's Championship would have been CLOSER without the Chase, then it was with it.
And Kristy...if you don't like people "complaining", then stay off the internet. It's called having an opinion! And I agree with Sal...anyone 700 points behind doesn't deserve to be in the running for a Championship. If only the last 10 race are really going to count, then let's save our crew guys, and cut the schedule to 10 races....if that's all the races that is going to determine a champion.
Posted by: Carol | Aug 11, 2007 9:34:31 PM
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