If you’ve been reading here any length of time, you know I really try to be a fair-minded guy. A number of the moves made by NASCAR that many of you decry, I’ve tried to see from the other point of view. I get the idea behind the CoT and the Chase, and also the attempt to grow the sport into other markets. I don’t think the execution has always been handled well, but that’s another story for another time, and you can’t please everyone.
At the same time, Brian France’s pronouncement that there would be “impactful” changes to the 2011 Sprint Cup schedule was something I anticipated philosophically. I figured it might be like Jeff Foxworthy’s assessment of getting ready to change a dirty diaper: “It’s like getting a Christmas present from your grandma. You don’t know what’s inside, but you’re pretty sure not gonna like it.”
Sorry, Mr. France, but I must shake my head. Yeah, I know I’m chiming in with the media that Tony Stewart says is the cause of doom and gloom in NASCAR, but so what? He is not hesitant to call a spade a spade and so am I. At least what I am going to do is attempt to propose a solution. It’s one that no one in any position of power will listen, but hey, it’s my opinion, and it’s not better or no worse than yours.
It would take forever to go through all the changes you could make to the full season schedule, so I will focus on the Chase. yes, I know many of you would just as soon do away with it. I won’t disagree, but assuming that’s going nowhere, the least we can do is examine how we might make NASCAR’s “showtime” schedule better.
If your “playoff” is going to be a big deal, you’ve got to start it at a signature track. Let’s start the Chase at Darlington. Yep, let’s give them back a second date and start the Chase on a Saturday night. From there, test their mettle on the concrete of the Monster Mile at Dover.
From there, I’d head west to Sonoma. Yes, it’s time to put a road course in the Chase, and the early Fall feels pretty good in Northern California. Then it’s south to Arizona for a race in Phoenix on a one miler with nice proximity to the SoCal market. I’d do this one on a Saturday night to avoid issues with the heat.
Now, it’s time for the thrills and spills of Talladega. You’ve got to have one of the super speedways there, and it does throw a bit of an “X” factor into the Chase.
Now, we’re at the halfway through the Chase, and to kick off it’s second half, go to the heart of NASCAR country at Charlotte. At this point, I’d consider some kind of bonus (cash or points) for the halfway leader, or if there has to be some form of elimination, have it happen at this race.
Then it’s off to Martinsville. The pressure is building up, so are the emotions and the track is a fan favorite. I’d be very intrigued at the possibility of running at Homestead after that. Now you’re going to need a warm weather venue. After that, go run that Saturday night race in Texas.
Then, let’s run the season finale at Las Vegas, home to the awards banquet. Sin City has all that you need to put a bow on the season in style.
You get a little bit of everything with this schedule: fan favorites (Darlington, Martinsville), a road course (Sonoma), a super speedway and casual fan favorite (Talladega), Saturday night racing and intermediates.
Now, that’s schedule changing with an impact. Now, if I really wnted to dream, I’d say throw in a dirt track and let’s get Iowa in there too. I’m sure my proposal needs some refinement, and there’s variables the powers that be have to think about that I don’t know, but this, in my mind makes a lot more sense than Chicagoland.
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That’s not a bad Chase list.
But…
It’s not enough.
1. There should be an season ending (after 26 races, if that’s the schedule) champion and a “Chase Cup” winner. They might end up being the same driver, but it also would make the “season” mean something other than a way to set the “playoff” players.
This also would free up teams/drivers to go balls out for wins, which may make the races “exciting.”
Also points would continue to be added in the last 10 races, except for “Chasers” who get placed at the front of line in the season ending point standings. E.G. Chasers get positions 1-12, the rest get the remaining 8 positions. To make a total of twenty.
Complicated? Not really.
2. Tighten the Chase points. If there are “X” drives in it, then have “Chase” points go to them, with the highest Chase finisher getting “X” points and a the rest on a sliding scale.
And the difference in the “points” should be really narrow after 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
3. Dump the current points system. Period. Have the regular season only get points in the top twenty finishing points AND at the end of the season (if Nascar insists on guaranteeing starting positions by points) those in the top twenty are guaranteed starting positions for the next season. Everybody else races their way in.
4. Make it a true driver’s championship–points go the driver, so even if he’s fired he still has his/her points earned and if he lands a ride his points go with him, not the car.
5. Set up an owner’s championship–points going to a particular car number–not unlike a manufacturer’s championship.
6. Have pre–selected regular season bonus points races where the points are worth double, etc.
7 Races within races. Extra points for leading specific laps in races, etc.
8. From positions twenty on back the points are the same if you finish 21st – 30th. 31st – 40th get the lowest points and are exactly the same. 41st – 43rd No points at all.
I have a simple solution for the championship. The driver that wins the most races wins the championship. Like Dale Sr. said, second is the first loser. Close should only count in horseshoes and hand grenades.
I’m not a fan of the play-off system but as they’re trying to make NA$CAR into a stick and ball sport, they need to pull the non-contenders off the track after 26 races, eliminating them the same way the stick and ball sports do. That way, there’s no outside interference from them such as wrecks that might take out the play-off participants. The sponsors may not like it but it would give the teams a real incentive to actually compete the following season instead of just driving around points racing. And as boring as the season has been for the cookie-cutter tracks, we might actually see some real racing on them too, which would be a first.
As to the actual play-off tracks, they need to have 10 tracks that they don’t race on during the regular season. A true champion should be able to handle any track, whether it’s a short, medium, cookie-cutter 1.5, or road course. Fix up Texas World Speedway and add another plate track to the mix that nobody who’s currently racing has ever raced on. Bring back the Rock, North Wilkesboro, South Boston, and Myrtle Beach to give them some short track flavor that’s missing.
As it is, the impactful thing that’s going to happen with these changes is going to be the impact on TV ratings and empty seats in the grandstands.
Jim,
I totally agree that IF we’re going to be saddled with the Chase, & it looks like we are. Then it needs to be a true all around drivers test. Not who’s best on the Cookie Cutters.
Personally, I’d skip ‘Dega, as it’s too much like throwing darts. The driver is pretty much a passenger there. He can make a boo, boo, & take out 1/2 the field, but otherwise it’s hold it on the floor, & trust to luck. Think I’d go with Bristol instead. With the new configuration, it actually races pretty well.
It looks like Mr. Stewart has gone into self preservation mode. He is now towing the NA$CAR line because he wants to continue to be a millionaire. He might not like what is being shoveled, but it pays the bills.
King Brian is listing to well paid marketing companys that has changed their direction for several years. They are trying to replace an aging fan base with younger fans at the same time driving away those that made them so popular. A marketing decision which has not worked well. Back to root problems, now a spec series, ruled and regulated to death, turning it into a manipulated SHOW, the chase sucks, the top 35 sucks, the pole means nothing anymore, etc. They are using every reason in the world to explain their problems while missing the point. If it quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, its a duck. You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig. They have destroyed what so many enjoyed for years and refuse to admit reality. If you like what your watching by all means do so, if not, like myself, dont’t.
First off, they’re shouldn’t be any chase. But you guys are completely out of your mind if you think that Nascar will take 2/3 of the field out of the final events. Examples, how many people are going to contionue watching if Jr. or Kahne isn’t in the field. The most popular (arguably) drivers are going to miss the chase this year. There isn’t enough full-time sponsors as it is those teams that are not in the final 10 races would end up leaving the sport and buying more ad space to be aired during the race! Best thing that needs to happen loose the Chase, add Iowa and turn the all-star race into some kind of faux championship to appease all those play off fans.
Nascar was willing to have the awards banquet in Las Vegas but that’s as far as they are going to go. They will never, ever have the final race of their season at an SMI track, regardless of the attractions around Las Vegas Motor Speedway. People need to start accepting this and stop trying to make it the final race of the season.
I will grant you, Homestead is a terrible last race. If it wasn’t for the championship being crowned there, it would be just a boring follow the leader race, as Chicago, Kansas etc. But the France family will not have their season finale at one of Brutons’ tracks. Plain and simple. And since France doesn’t want to have to travel any further than he has to in order to be present, there you have it.
J.J. – We already have items 4 and 5 on your list and have for a very long time.
@Kevin: You’re only partially right. While there is a driver’s and manufacturing championship when a driver leaves a team the points he/she earn stay with that car. That’s why when a team is sold (like the 26 the points earned went to the car, not the driver–and it allowed that team to be guaranteed a spot in the field.
What I’m saying is end that way of doing business. Let the DRIVER have the points so if he gets canned or leaves for some reason the points he earned the previous season go with him if he lands a ride.
Let’s say somebody like JR gets fired from Hendrick (if could happen, don’t laugh) and he’s 20th in points. Hendrick replaces him with another driver who hasn’t been in Cu before and has no championship points. Under the current system that driver gets an automatic 20th place in the field because the CAR has the points, not the driver. I’m saying end that and let the driver have the points, it makes him more attractive for another car owner AND forces Hendrick in this case to make his new driver race his way in.
Jim…. “walks like a duck” and “you can put lip stick on a pig”, for moment there I thought you talking about Dale JR.
Nice list of tracks to end the season with, but I hate the Chase format no matter where they are racing. Would rather see a modification of the old system. Maybe instead of counting the points for every race, count each driver’s best 30 races (or whatever number). This would get wrecked cars off the track, track selection for the chase would not favor any driver, and guys could race for a win without having to worry about losing points if they wreck.
If we are going to have WWE type of racing let’s just do it. I think the chase is the worst idea ever. But as long as we have it it’s time to have a WILDCARD race. The top ten are set and the race just before the chase sets the final two positions. (The top ten are not racing for this event…. a by week if you will.) To quaify to “race to make the chase” you must have competed in or attempted to compete in all previous races for that season. The winner is seeded 11th and second place is seeded 12th. Hold the race at North Wilkesboro… allow no testing. Now you would have guys driving their guts out and see some real racing … maybe for one race but some real get up on the wheel race your guts out driving. I for one would love to see these drivers and that means every driver on the track give it everything they have for 250 laps. I know for sure there would be no comments like “we just rode around and protected our points or it was a good points day.” Oh and as long as we are on points… I think only the people that qualify for the chase should have a guaranteed starting spot for the following season….. after all they earned it. It’s time to see the fastest 43 cars on the field race.
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