Comments on: The Chase Isn’t Disappointing (For Me At Least)

By: knobcreekfan

knobcreekfan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:26:11 +0000

Holmes – my general thinking is to use something like the current points system to get into the playoffs, but add some “wildcard” spots for drivers with wins, most podiums, whatever. Maybe you end up with a minimum of 15-20 drivers in the playoffs.

Shorten the length of the playoffs so it is not so long. I hate the Stanley Cup playoffs. They start in mid-April and go until mid-June. It is impossible to maintain the fans’ attention or excitement that long. So, maybe it is 5 races.

As someone mentioned above, let’s do sudden death. Forget previous points, wins, etc. Of the 15 guys in the playoff, the lowest finishing 3 are out. You end up with 3 guys in the final race that have a shot at the championship.

By: Holmes

Holmes — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:34:45 +0000

I am not certain that the present is best, I am not completely convinced the Chase is the best possible format to play out the season on. But I don’t have a clue what possible framework would lead to a better result and in years of surfing and reading nearly everything written concerning the chase, I don’t think anyone has verbalized a clear-cut alternative to either the old-style season or the new chase. So let’s hear some workable clever ideas, and we’ll get on the bandwagon.

By: marc

marc — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:12:11 +0000

switters – “The format is totally disappointing, and it has awarded Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson (twice) with championships they didn’t deserve.”

If I had a buck for every time I’ve read this argument I’d buy out Hendrick Motorsports.

Both drivers and their respective teams were aware of the rules prior to season start correct?

Both drivers and their respective teams operated within those rules and did in fact deserve the accolades received.

It’s not like they hit 70 home runs while bloated by steroid use correct?

By: Neon

Neon — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:01:36 +0000

Why have points at all? Each race simply pays money based on finishing position w/ a premium for a single winner. He/she that wins the most races gets a special bonus at years end.

In the end, the driver/team w/ the most wins, or combination of wins and finishing positions garners the most coin anyway. Seems simple enough, Ay?

By: knobcreekfan

knobcreekfan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:50:30 +0000

Neon – I heard they were putting in a past champions provisional for the Chase.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:48:06 +0000

I like the chase format for the most part. I think it rewards consistency not just wins. I have only one change I would make. I think that whoever the points leader is at the time the chase ends should get 10 bonus points as if he had an extra win.

By: Neon

Neon — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:15:34 +0000

Don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure NASCAR has a plan in the works to award the first driver outside of the Chase points a Lucky Dog free pass to get in. Why not? They race each week like that. Insert sarcasm.

By: swinters

swinters — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Christopher,
” Back before the Chase it seems that by the time August rolled around, all but maybe 3-5 drivers were out of it. And a lot of the drivers that were out of it were good drivers who were deserving of a championship”

If they deserved it, they would have shown it by August.

By: knobcreekfan

knobcreekfan — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:40:07 +0000

Journo – I agree with you, but I would like to see them take the Chase even further towards a real playoff. Maybe even allow more cars in. I think the excitement/drama of not knowing who is going to advance each day is what makes other championships attractive to fans/viewers – whether they are die hard fans or casual ones.

Forget the “season-long” championship. What other sport rewards people for being consistently good for the year with a championship? Even in college football you have to win the title game to be a champion.

I have heard people say, “but what about getting caught up in a wreck, blown engine, had a bad day, etc…” Tell that to an Olympic athlete that has trained for years and stumbles over a hurdle, slipped on the dismount, etc… They are done. Maybe they will have a shot at gold in four more years. Or maybe they will have aged out of their sport by then. But they are not given a gold because of what they had done in the past.

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has a huge draw every year. A huge part of that draw is that there are upsets and Cinderella stories…or at least the chance for one. A team could be the #1 seed and they still have to play the game. Their season (and maybe basketball career) could end that day. Not, “Oh well, we still have a good lead and try to stay out of trouble next week.”

I get tired of….He only has to finish 14/15th in these last 3 races to clinch. Or, he just has to start the race next week.

Look at 2007-2008 NCAA season…before the season began a lot of pundants had them & Hansborough winning the championship and then Tyler would leave to go pro. Guess what, they had a really good season. If they were to award the championship based on the regular season alone, they would likely have gotten it. But they actually had to play in the semi-final and they were horrible. They lost & went home.

Let’s see an underdog win – or at least give them a shot.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:47:51 +0000

Sure some things need to be tweaked, but I don’t understand how anyone hates the Chase as compared to the old way of merely having a points winner.

Maybe some of you old timers can tell me what I’m missing (I admit, I’m a very new fan). Back before the Chase it seems that by the time August rolled around, all but maybe 3-5 drivers were out of it. And a lot of the drivers that were out of it were good drivers who were deserving of a championship.

I do think the 10 points for wins doesn’t separate drivers enough once the Chase starts. Martin’s 4 would give him only 40 points advantage over those who have zero wins. I also think wins alone shouldn’t be the bonus scenario. Maybe 20-30 points for wins, 10 points for top 5’s?

That would help the regular season be more exciting. Of course racing for wins is important, but racing for a top 5 puts a lot of drivers more “into it”