■ 04 November 2010 | 10:59 AM
Is the tight title race saving the Chase or only hurting NASCAR further?
As Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick race for the championship, there are other bigger issues that could be impacted by what happens in the next three weeks.
There's never been a three-man race for the title this close this late in the season since the Chase debuted in 2004. The question is will this Chase impact what NASCAR does or doesn't do to the Chase for next year.
Remember, back in July, NASCAR Chairman Brian France spoke openly about looking at ways to make the Chase better _ some would suggest that was a trial balloon by him to help gauge fan reaction to the Chase. Well, a few things come up now.
# Could NASCAR really alter its Chase if this goes on to become as close a Chase as in 2004 (when Kurt Busch beat Jimmie Johnson by 8 points and Jeff Gordon by 16 points)?
# With most of the Chase races showing a 20 percent decline or so in TV ratings from last year, what is this a sign of? Is this a sign that more excitement needs to added to the Chase so more changes need to be made? Or the Chase needs to be done away with? Or the races need to return to ABC instead of ESPN? Or simply that the NFL TV ratings are just rolling over everything that the main focus needs to be how NASCAR compares to college football or some other sports?
# What if Jimmie Johnson wins again? While no one can question the accomplishment of winning five titles in a row, would this be a sign that the Chase has failed that one person dominated (even though no one could have predicted this when the Chase was created)?
# Or will this title race save the Chase and that despite the decline in TV ratings in the Chase, NASCAR will see the benefits of the Chase and keep the system the same?
# Or will this lead to minor modifications to the Chase where maybe a winner gets more points or something along those lines (maybe even the regular-season points leader getting a bonus heading into the Chase)?
Here, as a reminder, is some of what Brian France said in July about possible changes to the Chase:
"The main reason is we want to make sure it's giving us the biggest impact moments it was designed to do. That means, it is over a 10‑race schedule in itself. Everything to us means pushing the winning envelope to mean what it needs to mean in our sport.
"It's different because there's 43 teams, not 1 or 2, 2 or 3, some tournament thing here. We're in a situation where, you know, in some cases winning can't be possible. So we can't have a winner‑take‑all, per se, like some of the other playoff systems.
"On the other hand, we'd like to have it balanced correctly. We're going to look at that more carefully than ever because we also have some historical things we thought would have allowed winning and big moments on a big stage. Maybe they did or maybe they didn't. What's important is we got a chance to look at a lot more seasons than we have up until now.
"So it wouldn't be surprising for us to take back the original objectives. We're happy with the Chase. It just means that if we can enhance it in a pretty significant way, we may do that. So that will be the thing that we decide in the next couple of months.
"We like a playoff style format for sure. It distinguishes us in motorsports, number one, distinguishes our national divisions number two. And, number three, the big design is to have playoff‑type moments that only can be, in any sport, created when there's a lot on the line at any one moment, right? That's what the essence of Game 7s, eliminations and all that are.
"We've always had in motorsports a challenge with that because there's a continuity issue because there's 43 teams. Nobody can win a winner‑take‑all scenario. And we have to balance sort of the body of what you've done as a driver across the board. So continuity will always be a factor in our playoff‑style format.
"What we're talking about is, you know, enhancing it in a way that will bring out more of the winning moments, the big moments that happen in sports. And if there's a way we can do that, and there are a couple of ways, we're going to give that a lot of weight.
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Imporving TV ratings
Let me comment on this including adding one idea.
1. I like the Chase and look forward to it. I think if the TV ratings are down it most likely occurred prior to the chase and does not necessarily reflect on the chase format. I assume the ratings been down all year and getting the ratings back up will require more complex changes, and than take time. I think over the last year your readers have commented on a large number of things that frustrate them and hopefully someone at the NASCAR offices pay attention to your columns.
2. I don’t like to see races decided by teams that gamble on fuel or tires. That said, especially during the Chase I’d like to see mandatory cautions towards the end of each chase race, lets say with 20 laps to go that requires everyone on the track to get fuel and 4 tires – no tweaking the car or if they do tweak a harsh penalty will be given. During that caution I’d like to see the cars returned to the lineup in the exact order they were running when the flag was thrown. That gives teams time to make sure the lugs are tight etc. I’d also like to see the lap count stay at 20 for the green flag and no lucky dog.
That’s it for now.
NASCAR is commiting their own suicide
The most single thing is NASCARS bumbling attempt to "arrange" things so Toyota and Hamlin will win the championship. They already had to get Bowyer out of the way but Harvick and Johnson aren't playing their game. I suspect that NASCAR will have a payback for that.
Make the championship be the winner of the most races and that's all. Then watch the fun begin.
it's not like that in any other sport
The team with the most wins doesn't always win the championship (see Washington Capitals below). But hey, by your formula then Denny wins! Whaddya say, NASCAR? No better time to change the rules like right now!
I'm a newish fan, I've only been watching since 2007
And while I get the concept of the chase/points system, points racing is not car racing and quite boring as a spectator to watch. When no one is trying to win except Kyle Busch, the rest are just trying to protect their previously obtained points. In every other sport, only the winners of the most games get to the top of whatever sport they play. During the race in Richmond, lots of fans were heard complaining that drivers who hadn't won a race all year or in two years, how was it fair that they were in the chase, they'd done nothing, but collect points. And if it's all just about points, why not have 50 lap shoot-outs that don't waste so much time and money, since most drivers don't drive to win, they just drive to collect points.
not necessarily
"In every other sport, only the winners of the most games get to the top of whatever sport they play."
Look at the NHL Washington Capitals. For two years running they were the best team in the regular season and #1 seed, but lost to the #8 seed in the playoffs. As far as most drivers not driving to win, that is because most drivers in the field know they have absolutely no chance of winning. They make a lot of money, just like any NFL, NBA or NHL player who plays for a team that has no chance of winning it all. Professional sport is, after all, entertainment.