The Frontstretch: What's the Call? 2006 Chase is LESS Exciting? by Amy Henderson and Ren Jonsin -- Thursday August 31, 2006

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What's the Call? 2006 Chase is LESS Exciting?

Amy Henderson and Ren Jonsin · Thursday August 31, 2006

 

Welcome to this week’s edition of What’s the Call? Each week, two of your favorite Frontstretch writers will duke it out in a debate concerning one of NASCAR’s big controversies. Don’t let us be the only ones to speak our minds, though…be sure to read both sides and let us know what you think about the situation in the comment section below!

This Week’s Question: Given the closeness in points between 3rd-13th place this year, and with 14th-18th still close (but mathematically eliminated from contention from the Chase) does locking in the top ten in two weeks actually make the championship run LESS exciting because ten will be locked in, keeping five or six teams from battling it out with the teams in third-10th to get into the top ten by Homestead?

The Chase Makes the Championship More Exciting
Ren Jonsin

Here we sit, 12 races away from the season finale in Homestead, and we’ve got two drivers leading the rest of the field by a nearly insurmountable lead of over 300 points. Fortunately for us race fans though, in two weeks, this will all be reset to allow everyone up to tenth place to pull within 50 points of the championship leader. You know that of course; it’s all they’ve talked about on the race broadcasts for the past couple of weeks, so much so that some people think it’s to the detriment of the race broadcast. Don’t look for them to stop anytime soon though.

A fair sized minority of fans are very vocal on their dislike for the Chase. They grouse that it’s just not right, and the team with the highest number of points throughout the season should win the Championship. That’s how it’s always been done and there was no reason to change it just to manufacture excitement. Brian France is ruining the sport just to bring in the new fans and in doing so, he is alienating the fans that got NASCAR to the level of success they are enjoying now.

This writer says no. You’re wrong, Mr. or Ms. Old-school-fan! The Chase has bought the most excitement to this sport since some Roman jumped on his chariot and proclaimed “Let us drive fast Dalicus, and then we shall turn to the left!” Now, with 12 races left, we can enjoy two races of 11 drivers fighting for the eight spots left in the Chase for the Championship, nine of which actually have a pretty good shot of being there going into New Hampshire three weeks from now. There, the contenders for the Chase, all ten of them and not just the two that would still be in contention without the Chase, pull within 50 points of each other and get ready to fight it out for ten races to determine the 2006 Nextel Cup Champion.

Even now, the third place driver, Kevin Harvick, can leave this week’s Sony HD 500 either locked into the chase, with a third place finish, or he can arrive in Richmond as far back as tenth in the 2006 Nextel Cup standings. Meanwhile, the driver sitting in 11th on the outside looking into the Top 10, Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 Dodge, can leave California as high as fourth place. At the same time, all of the Top 10 drivers are racing for the highest finish in the standings before the Chase begins.

Which brings us to the actual Chase. Sure, without the chase, some team that wasn’t in the Top 10 as of race 27, could end up in the Top 10 at season’s end, but the fact is that tenth place is actually ninth loser. Yet in NASCAR’s always fair, and fan friendly wisdom, just to satisfy the everyone-gets-a-trophy fans, eleventh place does get to go up on stage at the awards banquet in New York so that their self esteem won’t be hurt in the future. Meanwhile, the teams that earned their way into the Chase will still have a shot to win the championship for several weeks and, if history goes as it has, there should be more than a few drivers in contention at Homestead, Although the point separation to start the Chase is a cool five points per position, the 2004 Chase winner, Kurt Busch, took home the trophy with only eight points to spare, while the 2005 title margin was a not-as-close-as-it-seems 35 points. And in 2005, the driver that won the Chase, Tony Stewart, did so convincingly, showing that the best driver throughout the season CAN win the Chase, even with a reset ten races out.

Close racing, close points standing, that’s what makes the Chase exciting and that’s what made the Chase the right decision for Nextel Cup.

2006 Chase Is LESS Exciting
Amy Henderson

It's kind of ironic, really. When the Chase for the Nextel Cup was instituted in 2004, it was supposed to make the end of the season more exciting. By locking in the top ten in drivers' points, NASCAR could reset the points to manufacture a tight championship battle. In two years, it has produced a champion who was able to overcome the rule and win the championship anyway, and another who was able to take advantage of it and win a title he never could have otherwise. But it's kind of funny that in the third time around, this manufactured excitement is backfiring. In less than two weeks, race fans will know exactly who will appear on stage at the Waldorf-Astoria in December. And this year, the race for the stage would have gone down to the wire.

Under the Chase rules, the drivers in third through thirteenth are not mathematically locked in yet. There is a chance that one or two in the top ten could falter, or one of those in 11th -13th could win twice and push their way in but it isn't likely. Kurt Busch, who sits 390 points out of tenth in fourteenth, is effectively done. Sure, he could grab the million-dollar bonus for finishing eleventh, but that consolation prize is hardly a consolation.

Under the old system, there would still be fourteen to sixteen teams fighting for a top ten berth. Sure, the guys who currently sit twelfth on back probably have no chance at a title, but they would all have a legitimate shot at the top ten. Even Casey Mears, who sits just over 400 points behind tenth-place Mark Martin, could have put together a run and made it in. Yes, it’s unlikely, but were it possible and happened, it would be a story told for years. Instead, NASCAR has made sure it will never happen.

As if locking six to eight legitimate top ten contenders out of contention wasn't bad enough, here's another way that the Chase could make the championship picture less exciting, even for one week. It could actually expand the point lead. Unlikely, but possible. If either Jimmie Johnson or Matt Kenseth leads the other by less than five points in two weeks, the points are still reset to a spread of five. Granted, those couple of points’ difference would probably disappear in a couple of weeks in one direction or the other. Granted, the title probably won't be decided by less than five points, but it could.

It's time for NASCAR to admit the Chase is a colossal mistake. Even if race fans wanted manufactured excitement or a manufactured champion, they're being cheated. This year, fans are being cheated out of a sixteen-way battle royal for ten spots. Where's the excitement now?

 

©2000 - 2008 Amy Henderson and Ren Jonsin and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!

skool
08/31/2006 11:27 PM
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I don’t remember any “Chase” in Ben Hur.
Now THERE was some “rubbin is racin”!
Imagine the fines that were levied after that race!

Sally B
09/01/2006 06:14 AM
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I guess Brian France had to try something to get people to watch the final 10 races, too many of which are held on tracks that produce parades…unless there are enough strategically place cautions to help the ‘racing’. As for eliminating point racing, it has actually increased it. Without it this year we have 2 drivers extremely close for a title. That works for me!

Chris
09/01/2006 07:44 AM
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I agree with Amy…
The Championship should be about the WHOLE season. Here we got two teams head and shoulders above the rest. They should battle it out amongst themselves to decide the championship.

Now we got this silly ‘chase’ that will make for better “entertainment” and bring in team that have NO chance and they could “steal” a championship. I know, I know,.. everyone is only playing within the rules provided,.. but that don’t make it right.

ALSO locking in just 10 is a STUPID number. If we are gonna be stuck with this darn chase,.. they should lock in 15.
Lets look at it THIS way. After they lock in 10 (after race #26), it’s all said and done. The 10 guys going to the Banquet in NY is set. IF they would lock in 15,.. that would give more guys a chance to compete (afterall if it’s “entertainment” they want,.. then more competition makes more entertainment)
Also with 15 drivers in the chase.. they ALL still have a “GOAL”. No one is locked into the banquest with still 10 races to go.
If some teams see they don’t have a shot at winning the championsip,.. at least they can still work to “Earn” their way to the Banquet… so there is a work / reward incentive. It keeps some tems from throwing in the towel early if they see they are locked out of EVERYTHING.

Finally,.. if we have to have this “chase”.. I’d make a minimum of 10 points between positions when the chase started. The folks leading DESERVE at least THAT much. Some may say “Well thats 150 points back when the chase starts,.. and too big a gap to overcome”. I say,.. if they take 15 spots,.. they are IN when they would have been OUT,.. and 150 points is a WHOLE lot closer then they are now.

M. B. Voelker
09/01/2006 08:55 AM
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Amy, if we didn’t have the Chase anyone who wasn’t a Jimmie Johnson fan/hater or a Matt Kenseth fan/hater would already be losing all interest in the Championship.

Nascar has the longest season in sports. We need the Chase to prevent those boring, runaways where all but 2-3 drivers are out of contention 3 months before the season ends.

Amy
09/02/2006 10:47 AM
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I could almost buy that point. However, it could also be said that as of right now that any Kurt Busch fans/haters have now lost all interest in the championship because he was eliminated at Bristol. Every year, 42 drivers’ fans and one driver’s detractors are going to be disappointed, that’s the nature of the beast. NASCAR doesn’t need to manufacture a point race or a champion for it to be exciting.

johnny
09/02/2006 01:43 PM
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I agree with Ren and disagree with Amy. Just because “Its always been that way” doesnt make it the perfect system, and something to hang on to just because “it once was.”

Amy, what makes this “Waldof-Astoria” banquet so special that we need to hang on to the old system to INSURE the Final Top 10 is that of what its always been? The funny thing about the banquet is there is more fans who are worried about it, but a lot of the drivers look at it as another weekend of their time and a hastle. Do you watch the banquet on the edge of your seat and thats why you want to hold on to this old system Top 10 in Nascar?

Why is Kurt Busch, with the season he is having, such a worry about him not being able to climb into the top 10 by seasons end under the old system? Who cares! I’ll give him a voucher to Outback Steakhouse if its a dinner we are worried about here!

In a 36 race season, there had to be some sort of post season added to this sport. People try to explain how the Chase eliminates drivers when in all actuality, it pulls alot more drivers back into the mix! The Old System eliminated drivers for worse than the Chase does.

If Matt Kenseth and Jimmy Johnson had the ability to pull away in the points early on, then they should be able to step up over 10 races to become Nascars Champion. Isnt that what a Championship season is all about? Doesnt Sept on count in this sport or is it about “Cruising to a Championship” in the Fall, year in year out?

People like Amy who say “They need to make it 15 guys” etc are wrong. What did guys do under the Old System who were 1,000 points out 15th in the points with 10 races to go do back in the day? They raced. They should just pipe down and race now too. They couldnt win a champiosnhip them and they aint winning one now. That hasnt changed.

More times than not now, i think we’ll see what we saw last year. The cream rising to the top. Guys putting a stamp on their Championship season. Tony Stewart was leading the points last year with 10 to go, and he ended up the Champion. He earned it, and Nascars Chase made him earn it. I’d bet we see the same this year as well. If Kenseth or Johnson arent the Champion, I will be suprised.

If it a steak dinner that you’re racing for in the end, stay home!

Amy
09/02/2006 02:37 PM
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For the record, I did NOT say they need to make the Chase 15 drivers-opening up the championship scenario to five MORE guys who otherwise had no chance of winning the title is even more rediculous than the present rule. My argument is that while there are probably only two-maybe three-teams that would have a real shot at the title under the old format, this year there are several teams that could make the top ten-or drop out of it-before the end of the season if the Chase wasn’t a factor. The way it is,we know for sure who the top ten arein less than two weeks-taking AWAY from the excitement of a maybe ten-way race for maybe five spots. You ask why the banquet is important-as fans,we all want to see OUR driver there-so why lock drivers out of it so early? The last thing NASCAR needs to do is expand the Chase. And you’re right- Johnson (and it’s JimmIE, by the way)or Kenseth SHOULD win the championship. The problem is, under this manufactured format, someone with far lesser stats COULD win it (see Busch, Kurt-and compare his actual stats to those of Jeff Gordon, who would ahve won under the old rules)...and that’s not what NASCAR has ever been about.

johnny
09/02/2006 03:46 PM
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Its not manufactured. Its pro sports in the modern era. Did a team like the Steelers NOT deserve to be Super Bowl Champs last year? Did the Boston Red Sox NOT deserve to be champins and “reverse the curse” a couple of years ago because they got into the playoffs as a wildcard, and not like the old way of baseball?

I know people want to say “But racing isnt like those stick and ball sports” and I agree. Each sport is indeed unique, but there is nothing wrong with looking at why those sports are having so much success and trying implement a similiar blueprint to move forward.

If you are so into the top 10 and who gets in and who doesnt, without looking it up, do you know who was 10th in the points 5 years ago? Does it really matter? No.

Since the Chase, only ONE driver could have moved into the top 10 but couldnt because of the Chase. That was Jamie McMurray in the 1st season of the Chase. Even Jamie said that he would much have rather have had a shot at miking the Chase even though he didnt, over finishing 9th all said and done. If its good enough for a driver who was shut out of the top 10 and a piece of steak in New York, why isnt it good enough for the fans?

People whined about the wildcard in baseball 10 years ago. It “Was not good for the sport, its going against tradition, etc etc” but 10 years later, the wildcard was the best thing that ever happened to baseball.

To hang on to something that really wasnt all that exciting besides a few select years (plug in 1992 here) is just crazy. Its not like they took away something that was so special because it really wasnt if you look at it as a whole.

Instead of having all but 2 teams “gearing up for 2007” already, we still have 11 to 12 teams still fighting for their lives. In Sept, thats a good thing.

May the Chase be with you!

Amy
09/02/2006 06:05 PM
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There is a reason that the wild card in baseball works. Because of the watered down talent in MLB, often the wild card has as good or better a record than at least one other team in the playoffs. Can’t say that about a tenth place driver’s team, can we? NASCAR, as screwed up as the sponsor situations and rules can be, has far more parity than baseball at the top level. Therefore, the wins,top fives and top tens mean more. Beating Tony Stewart and Jeff Grodon every week is a lot harder than beating Kansas City. The schedule setup in racing, where the best teams go head to head EVERY WEEK is not condusive to a playoff system. Those guys in 5th-10th? They had a great season and deserve to be in the top ten. But to take a title from a team that has been by far more consistent all year long? No way.

Johnny
09/03/2006 02:18 PM
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Consistency! Ahhh yes, that dreaded word of Nascar! If Peyton Manning only could win on consistency, his trophy case would be full of hardware!

Kidding aside, I can buy your reasoning if a certain few drivers win the this thing in the last 10 races (besides the 48 & 17) without winning a race and coasting in on shear luck. Then your point is valid.

But you cant tell me that if a guy like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, or Kevin Harvick (My 3 real wildcards that I think might have a chance) go out and win a few races in the last 10 races, and actually surpass the 48 and the 17 in total wins all said and done, that they arent “worthy” champions just because they couldnt accumulate the same amount of points from 7/8 months ago over a grueling 36 race schedule.

As Mike Helton would say Amy “It is what it is” at this point. If Kenseth wants to be a 2 time Champ, bet the bank hes not parking his car in the last race like he did in 2003! If Jimmie J wants to be champion, he better get off this “Big Picture” crap that has been his achilles heal now his entire career.

Lets let the dust settle in 2006 before we say “it aint workin”

Stop counting up the points and go learn some new tricks, because the old way is like a bone in the backyard, dead and buried! Thank god!

Mark
09/04/2006 09:47 PM
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Everybody gets hung up on “consistency” They don’t understand why a guy that averages an eighth place finish and wins only one race should win the championship over a 10 race winner. It is quite simple. No other sport, not football, not baseball or basketball has all its major league teams competing on the same field at the same time. And while first place just beat 42 other teams, fifth place just beat 38 other teams. And this goes on for thirty six weeks. Looked at this way, there are 903 races taking place on the track every single event. Now, not all of those are important, because not all drivers are serious championship contenders.
Do away with the chase, in the immortal words of Tin Cup, let the big dog eat.

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