If the NA$CAR season were a Mel Brooks movie, there would be a character (before his death, it would have been Marty Feldman) running through every scene looking nervously behind him crying, “The Chase is Coming! The Chase is Coming!”
Mel, like myself has a marvelously understated style. As Mel has so far ignored NA$CAR, it’s been left to the writers to carry the water for the Chase and we’ve done Mel proud. He couldn’t have done it better.
Every since Daytona, we’ve been bombarded by inspiration-starved writers with stories on the common theme “The Chase is Coming, The Chase is Coming.” As it draws nearer, the trickle has become a flood. Think back to how many drivers interviews that you’ve heard that the Chase was coming. In this respect, I’d have to say that it’s been the success that NA$CAR envisioned when they launched it in ‘04.
The Chase was started for a variety of reasons. Many fans were upset by Matt Kenseth winning the 2003 title while only winning one race. Never mind the fact that three drivers had done this previously: Bill Rexford, in 1950, Ned Jerrett, in ‘61 and Benny Parsons, in ‘73. Makes me wonder if Matt is destined for a career in broadcasting, after he hangs up his helmet?
After The Glen, we currently have 4 drivers in the top 12 with 0 wins- the highest placed being Cousin Carl in 6th. Another four only one, highest being Jeff Gordon, in 3rd. It’s not likely, that someone will win the championship, with no wins, or only one, but it’s still possible.
The Chase was originally supposed to be fought out among the top 10, but after both Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr. missed the top 10, it was watered down to the top 12. As it turns out, they can’t water it down enough to keep Jr. in.
The Chase has become like “death and taxes”- meaning it’s probably here to stay.
Because the fans are concerned with wins, here is a tweak I would love to see:
The top 10 make the Chase on points in this system. Places 11 and 12 would be filled by wins by cars not in the top 10. Say three or more have one win, then the two highest point cars get in.
Under the current system, the 11th and 12th spots would be Mark in 11th with four wins, Kyle in 12th with three. Matt Kenseth, who currently is in 12th with two wins would be out. As he currently is ahead of Kyle in points. He would need to be racing for a win, rather than just points to put himself back in. Under my proposed system, wins would have a premium over points for the final 2 spots and would change the way people race for them.
Another big reason for the Chase was to try to better compete with the NFL for late season viewers. I think that the ratings pretty much tell how well this is working. Some things just aren’t going to happen and I think this is one of them.
One unexpected consequence of the chase, has been to encourage “points stroking.” According to writers better informed than I, (that field is pretty wide open) NA$CAR is upset with JPM for openly stating that he had turned into a points stroker. What did they expect? Given the situation, how many chances can Matt take? This type of racing by the bubble chase teams is pretty much built in, and I’m not sure that’s what most fans want to see.
In 4 more races the Chase field will become frozen. Then the 31 cars, drivers and sponsors that miss it will be almost totally ignored. In this time of shrinking sponsor dollars, how good an idea is that? The only ways that a car will get any meaningful air time will be to either wreck or win the race. About the only people who have pulled off chase wins while out of it are Joe Nemechek and Tony.
If Kyle were to miss this year, he would be a good candidate to spoil the party.
The chase is supposed to give us more exciting championship finishes. The only one remotely approaching 1992, (which I think will never be topped. That one was won by heads up strategy. Alan Kulwicki and Paul Andrews will go down in my history as probably the most deserving champions ever) would be the 2004 initial version. This one was an 8 point spread, but it was decided by luck, not strategy and it was over a 10 race stretch, not an entire season.
Therein lies the crux of my dislike for the chase. To me, it’s just like a late race debris caution, something to artificially close things up and manipulate the finish. Before, we had a true season champion, now we get a 10 race Champion. One bad race can keep the most deserving team from winning. Under the previous system Jeff Gordon would be a six time champion, racing to put his name along side two of the greatest “Real Champions” the sport has ever known.
Nothing I have written, is meant to in any diminish what JJ and Chad have accomplished. With just a bit of luck in 2004, they would be racing to become 5-time champions. In 2004, they had four wins IN THE CHASE, compared to Kurt’s one, and if Kurt had lost his wheel any other place, or Johnson not have lost an engine at Talladega, resulting in a 37th place finish, JJ and Chad would have won.
As for this year, unless someone else digs deep and finds something they’ve missed, it’s pretty much a two horse race. Remember, most of these guys are racing for the chase, not the championship.
Oh well, like it or not- and as Marty Feldman isn’t available- I guess I’ll have to fill in.
“The Chase is Coming, The Chase is Coming.”
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Big freaking deal. The 10 race do-over, “FARCE for the CHUMPIONSHIP” is a JOKE.
good article and very good points. I agree with overra88ted’s point of view.
Yeah, Johnson & Knaus are the masters of the 10 race run for the money, but NASCAR has become a bore. With the IROC car, that doesn’t even look like a race car and the same old same old, can’t pass on the track because of the aero problems (BTW wasn’t this car supposed to fix that?), NASCAR just isn’t fun to watch any more.
Aero racing is the only problem. The tire grip needs to be better than aero handling. That will fix the rest of it.
Guys,
As you can see I don’t like the Chase, or the COT, either, but as long as Brian is calling the shots we’re going to have to live with them, in some form. Like Faux, & ESPN they choose not to listen to the Fans, & the fans are voting with their money, & their time.
The Net, IS the voice of the fans, both the broadcasters, & NA$CAR need to start listening.
You’re preaching to the choir. It’s become totally ridiculous, the ‘chase’ overshadowing everything else. It completely trivializes the first 26 races, and limits TV coverage to the ‘top 12′. Nascar and
tv keep blaming the economy for the empty grandstands and dropping ratings. Maybe it’s time they realized it might be more that fans are voting with their wallets, and staying away from something that has become so filled with gimmicks it has become a ‘game’, rather than a ’sport’.
I agree totally with SB.THECHASE is was and always will drive the core fans away.Brian hasn’t a clue . the top 35 was the straw that broke the camels back, proving what an idiot this man is.