NASCAR Makes Dramatic Changes to Chase System
2014 Will Have a New Points Look
By Richard Tix
Last week news broke in the NASCAR World that a possible points change might be coming to the Sprint Cup Chase. I took the weekend to think it over and let it set in and then wrote NASCAR's Change in the Making. If you haven't, check it out as it will give you my initial thought on NASCAR's idea's and some insight before you start this one. (You will notice my views haven't changed too much)
I wont be going into huge detail of all of the changes, point by point. So take a look at this NASCAR Article for the run down of all the changes. Its a good starting point if you are looking to get caught up.
When news first broke of a possible change I did like most of it. I had reservations about the final race and how points would start from zero (I wanted tier points, 1st starts with 9, 2nd with 6, 3rd with 3, 4th with 0). I also wanted the final track rotated with a few other tracks every year.
Well, the major change from the first set of rules that were leaked and the actual new rules is the fact that if you win during the Chase segment you move onto the next. I was hesitant on this rule when I first heard it. I thought, wow you can finish 35th and 40th in the other two races and then win and move on. I'm not a fan of it when I think of it that way, but the longer I thought the more I realized the guys who are hot win anyways. Last year our first three winners of the Chase were Matt Kenseth (twice) and Jimmie Johnson.
So, even though I hate the idea of a guy winning and finishing 40th twice, I dont think it will happen a whole lot when it comes down to the last 8 drivers. Maybe a guy will sneak in when going from the round of 16 to 12, but overall the most consistent will move on most of the time.
I still think the final race should not have points zeroed out. I think a tier system should be put in place like I mentioned before. I also think the track site should rotate between a few tracks (think PHX, Miami, Las Vegas, Texas, places like that). This assures it doesn't always come down to who runs great at Miami. NASCAR still has time to build this in, remember its just year one of this new era.
I do like that bonus points will be eliminated for the final race (once again, i would like it with a tiered points system in the last race to reward the driver who runs well in races 1-9, but i don't see that happening). It simplifies it and makes it the best man wins.
If you take anything from this article take this; the 2014 season will be fun, entertaining, breathtaking, and sometimes frustrating. Drivers always want to win, and push at all costs, but now there is so much added drama and pressure we will see it week to week at the track. Peoples tempers will be brought to the forefront, I just hope NASCAR lets them voice there opinion on other drivers without mediation. Let the drivers have a personality. This will prove to have some of the most entertaining racing in awhile.
However, lets go back to that point about being frustrating. Many NASCAR fans do not want to just be like all the other sports (Stick and ball), but at some point NASCAR has to change and evolve otherwise it will die. Risks have to be taken in order to flurish again like NACAR once did. Is this the right move? Well no one knows right now, we have to wait and see. Some years the best driver will not win the Championship. But as in all sports that doesn't always happen and it is frustrating. This frustration fuels a sport. NASCAR has had seasons where a dominant driver who has won a bunch of races ended up second to someone with 1 or 2 wins. It happens. (1985 comes to mind, Bill Elliot won 11 races, 16 top 5's, 18 top 10's, and 10 poles. He finished second to Darrell Waltrip. DW had a great season too, but check out the stats. 3 wins, 18 top 5's, 21 top 10's, and 4 poles. Looking at the stats and a lot of fans would say the most dominate driver of the season, the guy who won the most, didn't with the Championship. Oh, and Elliott lead 1,920 laps on the season compaired to 969 of DW. That's almost a 1,000 more laps!) So like I said, it happens.
In the end you can not tell me you wont be entertained. You may hate it, or love it, but for the sake of being a NASCAR fan let it play out before ruling it out. NASCAR fans are a rare bread, we watch no matter how much we hate the changes, or think we will hate them (and we put up with a lot of change). We will watch every week even if we have the same Champion year after year. So even with a change in the points bringing a fun, entertaining and even frustrating new style fans will still watch and most likely be on the edge of there seats week by week. This new points system will bring in even more and different strategy that we have not seen yet. Just think, if you aren't a fan of a JJ, Smoke, Kenseth, etc your driver has a chance.
Behold, a new era has begun in 2014, the Chase Era 2.0.
With this new era, check out NASCAR Behind the Wall's All-Time Greatest drivers split up by past Eras:
A few more points articles:
- Chase Facts- NASCAR.com
- Larry Mac's Take on the Chase- FoxSports
- Carl Edwards Says Changes Could be Harmful- USAToday
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