The Chase

[SBG]

I've been out of the loop with NASCAR for the last few years and am curious about The Chase. According to NASCAR.com the points are adjusted to

1st 5,050
2nd 5,045
3rd 5,040
4th 5,035
5th 5,030
6th 5,025
7th 5,020
8th 5,015
9th 5,010
10th 5,005

I get that much. But what I'm trying to understand is do all the drivers race? Or is it only the drivers in the chase that race the final 10 races?

All drivers race

[Jason]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been out of the loop with NASCAR for the last few years and am curious about The Chase. According to NASCAR.com the points are adjusted to

1st 5,050
2nd 5,045
3rd 5,040
4th 5,035
5th 5,030
6th 5,025
7th 5,020
8th 5,015
9th 5,010
10th 5,005

I get that much. But what I'm trying to understand is do all the drivers race? Or is it only the drivers in the chase that race the final 10 races?

[/ QUOTE ]

All drivers do race. But like in Wrestling the winner is alreay picked.

[SBG]

Thanks. But if all drivers race, are the ones out of the chase racing for money only? And what happens if a non-Chase driver wins the race? If this is the "post season" of NASCAR, all drivers racing doesn't make much sense to me. Wouldn't that be like having all the other NFL teams competing while the playoffs are going on?

[Jason]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks. But if all drivers race, are the ones out of the chase racing for money only? And what happens if a non-Chase driver wins the race? If this is the "post season" of NASCAR, all drivers racing doesn't make much sense to me. Wouldn't that be like having all the other NFL teams competing while the playoffs are going on?

[/ QUOTE ]

Its all a money racket. Nascar does what it takes to get more money. I refuse to watch another race because of all the rule changes. I miss the good old days.

[SBG]

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I miss the good old days.

[/ QUOTE ]

As do I.

[ChrisSabo]

In the "good ol' Days" the points race would already be over with either Kenseth or Johnson winning the title. Everyone from 3rd on back would be out of the Championship hunt. With the new system, 10 drivers are back in the hunt for the Title.

Not saying I agree or disagree with the new system, but it does add some added excitement to these middle races. The Richmond race and the previous 2 or 3 were pretty exciting watching people try to get themselves into the top 10.

[imported_BleedingBlue]

That's exactly right.. I love the chase.. It adds a new level of excitement to the sport.. Would you rather see the champion clinch the title 3 weeks before the final race or would you like to see 5 drivers have a shot at it in the final race?? That's a no brainer to me. To answer your question about what the non-chase drivers are racing for, they are racing for 11th place which comes with a $1 million check and a trip on stage at the banquet.

[imported_Coach]

the new points are established so that nobody out of the top 10 has a mathematical chance at winning the title now. if stewart, biffle, edwards, or anyone else who isn't in the chase wins a race, they still get credit for the win and prize money. the non-chasers are still racing for a million dollar bonus for 11th place. i do wish they come up with a way that the top 10 has a different point system though. i like the new system. all races now are important and interesting to some degree. by now under the old system, kenseth and johnson would be the only battle on the track worth watching.

[TheBeast]

I have reservations about the new points system. I don't like the way that someone can't race their way back into the top 10. Any of the drivers 11-15 could get back into the top 10 with the old system, now the best they can do is 11. I do believe that their sponsors would be happier with a top 10 finish instead of an 11 and the driver getting a million dollar bonus. Most of the drivers got bonuses in the 6 figures for finishing in the top 10 anyway.

They could use the new system and determine a champion and then after the champ is decided at the end of the season revert back to the old system and see how things would have changed. I bet their would be a good 3-4 spot swing to who is in the top 10 and who isn't.