Pit Road Week 35: Phoenix

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 35

By Richard Tix

The Chase race in Phoenix brought us some excitement that we normal wouldn't get this late in the season. Thats because if it wasn't for the new Chase format then fans would have just watched Kevin Harvick drive around all day dominating. That sounds like a fun race as a Harvick fan, but a boring one for most race fans.

But, with all the drama of who will make the cut for the finale in Miami it actually kept most race fans engaged until the very last lap. 

Again, Kevin Harvick dominated and he has now won the last 4 out of 5 races here (all on the new repave). I picked against him figuring he couldn't possible keep this streak going, I was wrong and Jeff Nathan's was right (along with a handful of other Twitter Followers and NASCAR fans). The big story past Harvick locking himself into the finale as a Championship favorite with his dominating performance at Phoenix was Ryan Newman.

Late in the race Newman held his own destiny, but he could lose any spots. Then came Kyle Larson who worked his way around Newman, leaving (at that moment) Newman out of the four driver finale and Jeff Gordon in. Just as it looked like Newman's Cinderella Chase run was over (he doesn't have a win in 2014, but a lot of consistent finishes) he started catching Larson. On the last lap Ryan went hard into trun three and in turn four made pretty significant contact with Larson. Larson shot up to the wall and Newman finished off the race in front of Larson and as the fourth driver into the final race at Miami.

I know some fans are upset with Newman and how he raced Kyle (a lot of them Gordon fans) but it was crunch time and a Championship on the line. Again, we see this week after week, but I think we will see it season after season with this format. That's because it puts drivers in an uncomfortable spot where they have to make decisions they normally wouldn't. In almost any other format, Newman would have sat back and taken his good points day to Miami. But, new Chase, new rules.

That brings me to the fans complaining about "win means more." First off, NASCAR can never win with us fans. NASCAR has two largely different target markets at the time being. One being the older generations, who grew up with NASCAR in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Then there is the new fan base, those that NASCAR has been trying to bring in since the market crash (which also comes around the time that NASCAR started to see attendance drops (as did other sports). Obviously, a lot of fans fall in between, and even some fans from each target market may have differen opinions than the general consensus of each market. Fact is, for the most part eash target market is way different. 

That means, every change (or a change NASCAR doesn't make) will bring a huge disappointment. The older generations seem to not like the change, or there is too much change. The newer demographic need more to keep there interest, more drama, more action, etc.  So, NASCAR can never win because one fan base will get upset and not realize NASCAR is doing it because they have too. 

NASCAR can't stand still if they want to continue to grow, that's the way businesses work. I will say, as a fan who falls a bit in the middle (raised on 90's racing) I think NASCAR needed a new Chase. And for the people who want no change, the Championship would have been decided 4 races ago. Please tell me how you tell an outside NASCAR fan that the Champion was decided with 5 races left in a season. I understand, the most far Champion is a season long points race, but sports aren't fair. No, I don't even mean to compare it to "stick and ball sports" like many of you think that's how NASCAR looks at its changes, but rather just sport in general. Almost all sports world wide have some kind of playoff. Where best teams show they can continue there run through adversity to get to the final goal. 

This mentality of people complaining about winning is supposed to mean everything this year, yet Newman is in the final. NASCAR didn't say winning is the only thing. Yeah, he hasn't won and can win the Championship, but did you see how hard he was racing to get there? It is making drivers run more aggressive when they have to, when the season is on the line. Desperation is what this sport lacked for awhile, same with emotion. People have been calling for drivers personalities and emotion for years, now we get it because of a NASCAR Chase system, and fans don't want it... What do you want? Back to winning, it does mean more. Harvick got to the final only because of that win. If he would have been passed by anyone and finished 2nd he wouldn't be in the final. So, winning does mean more and it is forcing drivers to push there limits.

I don't mind if you have another opinion, because that's what make sports great. However, I think no matter where you fall you have to realize you are part of NASCAR's problem. It's easy to rip them, but it truly isn't easy being them and deciding what to change and what not to change when everything is scrutinized. Trust me, they can take the heat. They have been for years because we as fans are a passionate and loyal fan base. 

One last thing talking about the new Chase. Under just a points system or under last years Chase format, the Championship would be all but decided....

Points Only:

1. Jeff Gordon 1217
2. Joey Logano -29
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr -72
4. Brad Keselowski -79
5. Kevin Harvick -93
6. Ryan Newman -124
7. Matt Kenseth -124

2013 Chase Standings:

1. Joey Logano 2368
2. Kevin Harvick -29
3. Brad Keselowski -48
4. Jeff Gordon -56
5. Ryan Newman -57

Two things from these standings. As I said before, the Championship would be all but wrapped up and this was about the points difference before Phoenix as well (in case you were wondering). Second thing, yes, Gordon would have won with points, but that was 11 years ago... Even under last years format he wouldn't have won the Chase. Also, notice even though he doesn't have a win, Newman is 6th and 5th under both other formats (not far from the lowest he will finish this year, 4th). So, yes some other drivers may deserve the last spot more (BK or JG), but Newman played the game and can't be counted out. The real thing we are missing here is that some fans are calling for Newman to be out because he doesn't have a win, but Denny Hamlin has had a way worse season to date. The only reason fans aren't calling for him is because he has 1 win. I just don't see how one win matters when you would be so far out of any other Chase compared to Newman would would at least be on the radar. 

But don't take that the wrong way, Denny played the game and should be in this final. He did what he had to do and got hot at the right time. I just don't see why fans point there anger at Newman just because of zero wins (and don't say just because of his move Sunday, fans were saying this about Newman before the move).

Anyways, as normal, no matter your viewpoint, enjoy the last race of 2014!

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 35 (Week 34)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- What a way to enter the finale at Miami. I still am in shock he has taken 4 of the last 5 at Phoenix. But, the only one that matters this season now is Homestead.
2. Joey Logano (LW-1)- From the front, to temper tantrum, to damage, to back to the front. It was a long day for JoLo but he made his way into a spot he knew he was locked into. JoLo came into 2014 looking to make himself a title contender and he has done just that.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW-3)- I would say that DH hasn't had the easiest of season's. He struggled most of it, yet I bet he would do it all again is he knew he would make the final every time. If you said Cinderella (and take all name and past season's out of it), I would say Denny. He was so far down in the points he wouldn't have ever had a chance at the title without the new Chase. He has a great track record at Miami, so watch out for NASCAR Behind the Wall's Cinderella. 
4. Ryan Newman (LW-5)- Yes, zero wins in 2014, so what? He didn't have many points ruining days this season. I find that as the great thing about this Chase. Not only can you get in by a lot of wins (Harvick, JoLo) but you can also get in on great points days and consistency. 
5. Jeff Gordon (LW-4)- I understand JG fans being frustrated, but everyone knew the rules and what they had to do to advance. That being said, I would also like to note he would have had no shot at the title under the last 10 years rules either. However, for you fans that want to go back to just points standings, where the last five races meant nothing because the Championship was locked up, well Jeff would be your Champ. It was a great season for the #24 team and he will be bac in 2015.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- BK came up short this time around. It was a great season for the #2 team, but they were going title or bust (as seen at Texas). In 2014 he picked up many haters along the way, but I think in the next few season we will see a lot of drivers names pulled through the same mud with Championships on the line. NASCAR needs guys like him and Kyle Busch, because it would be boring with all the same personalities. 
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-10)- Jr had a great season in 2014 from the very beginning. He has rattled of three straight top 10's (so its really unfortunate he didn't make this last round (he would have made the final). Having said that, he would have been out of contention even in a points only race (see above). A fresh new start awaits him in 2015.
8. Matt Kenseth (LW-7)- The #20 car just didn't have it in 2014. Kenseth was't good, but couldn't find the consistency to truly contend (see Newman, its possible to move on without a win). I think there is a good chance JGR could make a comeback in 2015 and Matt will find a few wins again.
9. Kurt Busch (LW-11)- Rowdy had a rough ending to what was a pretty good day Sunday. He was running pretty well all day until he ended up in the wall, leving him to finish 34th. All in all he had a rough 2014, but a good finish at Homestead will give the 18 confidence for 2015. 
10. Carl Edwards (LW-8)- Carl got booted on Sunday, but Ill give him this: I never thought he was going to make it as far as he did. The #99 team kept fighting until the end, but at some point you can only go as far as the car gives you speed, and in 2014 RFR just didn't have that. Carl will run his last race with RFR at Miami before heading to JGR.
11. Greg Biffle (LW-NR)- Another RFR driver who has struggled to find speed and consistency in 2014, Biffle has strung together a few decent finishes down the stretch. Most recently he finished 9th at Phoenix. 
12. AJ Allmendinger (LW-NR)- Guess who is above Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, and Kasey Kahne in point this season? You may have guessed it because of who's name this is on....But, if not for that I bet most fans wouldn't have guessed AJ. Most of that is due to his 5 top 15's (one top 10) in the Chase. He also only has three finishes outside the top 20 in that time, and all of them better than 24th (23rd, 23rd, and 22nd). 

I'm thinking your safe bet was a good bet....

Hey, #4 got you #4 on the season. 4/35.

Well, Harvick was the easy choice this week and also the smart choice. I probably would have had even more tweets here is I started out asking who the winner would be earlier in the week. 

NASCAR heads to Homestead for its final race of 2014. It will mark NASCAR Behind the Wall's last Pit Road edition of the 2014 season! Thanks for checking the blog out, today, and all season long!