Chase classes of ’05, ’06, ’07 and ’08. You match the years.
Head2Head: Thrill of the Chase?
Does NASCAR need to tweak the Chase formula?
October 23, 2008
11:40 AM EDT
With a 149-point lead, Jimmie Johnson is on cruise control for his third consecutive title in five Chase seasons. It’s that success that has some fans saying the Chase isn’t working and is becoming a little boring with all of Johnson’s success.
So, should NASCAR alter the Chase if Jimmie Johnson wins his third title in a row in an effort to make it more competitive? Read both sides of the argument and then weigh in with your take.
Should NASCAR alter the Chase to make it more competitive?
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
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Jimmie Johnson is well on his way to a third consecutive title and if he does win it, I think NASCAR will need to tweak the Chase a little bit in an effort to make it more competitive. All major sports have made recent tweaks to their playoff format so this isn’t uncharted territory. One issue for me is wins don’t count as much as bad finishes. Kyle Busch had eight wins in ‘08 and a 30-point lead going into the first race of the postseason. Two mechanical issues later, Busch’s season is a waste and he is never a factor again. Add to that Greg Biffle, who won the first two Chase races this season and yet STILL wasn’t the points leader. Both these instances need to be looked at in the off season. One thought is the Chase drivers having their own point system; another would be to give more points for wins. I’m not sure what the best solution is, but there is a way to even things out. Another issue I have is the procedure for qualifying being washed out — it rewards the points leader too much. Set the grid by points if you must, but pit stall selection should be random. If rain washes out qualifying, use the qualifying order to pick pit stalls. The Chase isn’t, nor will it ever be, perfect. But that doesn’t mean changes can’t be made to try and make it a little more competitive — and in the end that’s all the drivers, crew chiefs, owners and fans really want. • Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM |
The idea that the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship needs altered in some way because Jimmie Johnson is about to win it for the third consecutive year is ludicrous. Fans only now are starting to get used to the fact that the 10-race Chase represents Sprint Cup’s equivalent to the playoffs in other sports. And even though Johnson seems poised to win it for the third year in a row and it may need tweaked in the not-too-distant future, now is not the time. It would only confuse fans and competitors alike. The fact is, the Chase was put in place to keep interest in the championship race at a high level down the homestretch of the season — and it has done that. Fans will be tuning in the next four weeks just to make sure Johnson doesn’t screw up (he won’t). Meanwhile, the Chase also has served another intended purpose: putting the emphasis back on winning races. For anyone else to catch Johnson, they’ll have to put pedal to the metal and do something really special these last four weeks. Carl Edwards keeps saying that all he has to do is win four in a row. The fact that Edwards, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton will be out there trying harder than ever to do that because they still have a mathematical chance to win the Chase makes it worth watching, and means the current system is working. • Joe Menzer, NASCAR.COM |
