Chase is Working

By Jason Jarrett

Way back when the Chase points system was introduced I was a critic of changing the point’s format. The last few years have proven to me that a "playoff" type system makes things much more interesting. There are probably still some critics out there but it is hard to argue that 84 points separating the top 5 drivers is much more exciting than one driver leading by some huge margin. I think that the Championship will come down to the last lap of the Homestead race and that is the way it should be.

The NASCAR Busch Series had an unfortunate situation this year with the championship being clinched so early, but you have to give it to Harvick and his teams, they were on their game this year. I have heard a lot of people say that they need the same system for the Busch Series but I really don’t think it would work the same. There is such a mixture over there with all of the Cup drivers that I don’t think it would build the same type of excitement. I will say that it could be worth a try if someone is going to win the points by 600 plus points.

NASCAR has done a great job with the creation of the Chase. I like to think of it as a playoff system but I am not sure they like it to be used in that context. The reason I think of it that way is simple. During the NCAA basketball tournament you might have a team that wins the tournament that had a rough start to the season or you might have the team with the best record win the championship. At least more that one team had a chance to compete and maybe even show that they could recover from a few bad games. They still have to win the most games in the tournament. Some teams are better than others but you have to be the best team once you qualify for the tournament. The NCAA does not just go ahead and crown the team with the best record before that team goes through the tournament. The Chase reminds me a lot of a playoff system. It is as close as NASCAR Nextel Cup racing could get to a playoff system.

Overall I like the system, but like anything, I have my ideas on some things that might need to be changed or at least tweaked. First, I think winning races needs a little bit more of a bonus. Maybe it is just five more points, just like leading a lap, or leading the most laps but there should be more of a reward for winning. Next, I would give bonus points for the top three qualifiers or at least give the pole winner 3 to 5 points as a bonus. Let’s face it, qualifying is boring. I like the number of drivers in the Chase and the formula for being within 400 points of the leader after the 26^th race but I think it could be expanded to maybe 500 points. You don’t want to water it down or make it where too many drivers make it but there could be a few more Chase qualifiers.

Should the previous year’s champion be automatically in the Chase? Or in if he is in the top 15 or so. I am just throwing that out there but I think the champion from the year before should be included somehow. It just so happens that the champ from last year did not get in but is in contention for the 11^th place bonus. I think it would add to the hype a little if the year’s previous champion was in the Chase.

Look, I am just throwing my ideas out there. Some of them are pretty far fetched but I am sure we all have some things we want to change. NASCAR does a good job with all of this but it can’t hurt to have our own thoughts about how to make it better.

Who will peak at the right time?

I think the next three races play in favor of Jimmy Johnson and Dale Earnhart Jr. I guess we will see!

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