[Bob Tanner]

As we said in the Navy, "Stand by for heavy rolls while ship changes course."

I just pulled this off Jayski:
NASCAR to expand Chase field and more points for wins in 2007: The Nextel Cup 2007 season will feature more points for victories and more drivers in the Chase for the Cup, NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter said this afternoon. How many points and how many drivers are being determined, Hunter said during a visit to USA TODAY's newsroom in McLean, Va. "We're still running the models," Hunter said, adding that an official announcement will be made during NASCAR's media tour Jan. 22-26 in Charlotte.NASCAR added the Chase for the Cup in 2004 with the top 10 drivers in the points standings and anyone within 400 points of the leader, competing in the final 10 races for the Cup championship.(USA Today)(1-4-2007)

The increase in points dosen't worry me. I don't see NASCAR doing anything close to what could be done to make the racing more competitive and do away with the damn "Points Racing." I'm betting any points changes will be token, but I could be wrong.

I'm interested in seeing how they change the field for The Playoff. Going by NASCAR"s history, I'm betting on one, or more, of the following:

(a)Raise the 400 point cut to 500

(b)Have a Champion's Provisional (the last ex-champ who isn't in the playoffs amkes it by virtue of his past championship)

(c)Give a free pass to the team who has the most wins who hasn't made the playoffs by any other manner

(d)The "Humpy Wheeler Option." After the Richmond race, have the fans go to NASCAR.com and vote for their favourite driver that they'd like to see in the playoffs.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

The increase in points dosen't worry me. I don't see NASCAR doing anything close to what could be done to make the racing more competitive and do away with the damn "Points Racing." I'm betting any points changes will be token, but I could be wrong.

I'm interested in seeing how they change the field for The Playoff. Going by NASCAR"s history, I'm betting on one, or more, of the following:

(a)Raise the 400 point cut to 500

(b)Have a Champion's Provisional (the last ex-champ who isn't in the playoffs amkes it by virtue of his past championship)

(c)Give a free pass to the team who has the most wins who hasn't made the playoffs by any other manner

(d)The "Humpy Wheeler Option." After the Richmond race, have the fans go to NASCAR.com and vote for their favourite driver that they'd like to see in the playoffs.

I'm willing to wager that option D will come into play, and people will cry foul over it.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

As we said in the Navy, "Stand by for heavy rolls while ship changes course."

I just pulled this off Jayski:
NASCAR to expand Chase field and more points for wins in 2007: The Nextel Cup 2007 season will feature more points for victories and more drivers in the Chase for the Cup, NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter said this afternoon. How many points and how many drivers are being determined, Hunter said during a visit to USA TODAY's newsroom in McLean, Va. "We're still running the models," Hunter said, adding that an official announcement will be made during NASCAR's media tour Jan. 22-26 in Charlotte.NASCAR added the Chase for the Cup in 2004 with the top 10 drivers in the points standings and anyone within 400 points of the leader, competing in the final 10 races for the Cup championship.(USA Today)(1-4-2007)

The increase in points dosen't worry me. I don't see NASCAR doing anything close to what could be done to make the racing more competitive and do away with the damn "Points Racing." I'm betting any points changes will be token, but I could be wrong.

I'm interested in seeing how they change the field for The Playoff. Going by NASCAR"s history, I'm betting on one, or more, of the following:

(a)Raise the 400 point cut to 500

(b)Have a Champion's Provisional (the last ex-champ who isn't in the playoffs amkes it by virtue of his past championship)

(c)Give a free pass to the team who has the most wins who hasn't made the playoffs by any other manner

(d)The "Humpy Wheeler Option." After the Richmond race, have the fans go to NASCAR.com and vote for their favourite driver that they'd like to see in the playoffs.

I'm not sure any of the reasonable guesses/choices would really make any difference. If they increase victory points then they will need to increase it to 500 just to insure that 10 get in. I know 10 are in anyway but I don't think the 100 points would make a large difference. "B" & "C" have no valid reason for even being considered. I go back to my pay based on performance stand. If you don't make the cut I don't care what you did last year, that was last year. "D" would be about the same. This year Tony may have gotten the nod. Fact is he didn't do what was needed in the first 26 races so plain and simple .... you're out !!!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I'm not sure any of the reasonable guesses/choices would really make any difference. If they increase victory points then they will need to increase it to 500 just to insure that 10 get in. I know 10 are in anyway but I don't think the 100 points would make a large difference. "B" & "C" have no valid reason for even being considered. I go back to my pay based on performance stand. If you don't make the cut I don't care what you did last year, that was last year. "D" would be about the same. This year Tony may have gotten the nod. Fact is he didn't do what was needed in the first 26 races so plain and simple .... you're out !!!

(d)The "Humpy Wheeler Option." After the Richmond race, have the fans go to NASCAR.com and vote for their favourite driver that they'd like to see in the playoffs.

Gawd! I put in "(d)" facetiously; I just threw it out there as a joke!? You folks took it seriously?! Wow! That, in itself, makes a statement about what insanity we fans think NA$CAR is capable of.

Wow. I am afwraid. Wery, wery afwraid.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

(d)The "Humpy Wheeler Option." After the Richmond race, have the fans go to NASCAR.com and vote for their favourite driver that they'd like to see in the playoffs.

Gawd! I put in "(d)" facetiously; I just threw it out there as a joke!? You folks took it seriously?! Wow! That, in itself, makes a statement about what insanity we fans think NA$CAR is capable of.

Wow. I am afwraid. Wery, wery afwraid.

Sadly enough Bob, I think D is probably a good bet too. Mr. France claims he is all bout the fans, while at the same time has proven he is even more about money. He's probably thinnking, "what better way to expand this new fanbase ($) than to set up some sort of system to determine "free pass" candidates and charge a small fee fans to vote for them. At the same time, I think that may just be rediculous enough for even him to pass it up. Sure, letting fans vote for who they want in the chase and have them wait to see who gets in will add drama, but its drama we could do without.

[LSC9901]

Hells bells Bob ... on those Idol shows they do a call in thing I think. If it's good enough for them why shouldn't it work for NA$CAR ?????? It would take a lot of the fumbling guess work out of the Brian theory of doing things.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Hells bells Bob ... on those Idol shows they do a call in thing I think. If it's good enough for them why shouldn't it work for NA$CAR ?????? It would take a lot of the fumbling guess work out of the Brian theory of doing things.

May I repeat:

"I am afwraid. Wery, wery afwraid."
__________________

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Hells bells Bob ... on those Idol shows they do a call in thing I think. If it's good enough for them why shouldn't it work for NA$CAR ?????? It would take a lot of the fumbling guess work out of the Brian theory of doing things.

I can see it now... Jimmie Johnson and/or won't make the chase and the Hendrick family will get online and vote over and over to get him/them in.

[thunderfoot]

Do you think the powers that be might have heard some complaints? You think they might want to rectify that situation? Some one here is not from planet earth. If you want to be in the chase for the championship it needs to be earned, not handed down.

I would agree with you on 2 points Bob. The fans have should nothing to do with the winning of the cup. As for a provisonal spot for a past champion? WRONG! That makes it too easy for last years champion to "points race" all season long. I would think a driver with a concious would feel like he cheated to get in the running.

As we used to say in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club, "Kick the tires and light the fires", lets see what comes up.

One of D E's favorite quotes "All I wanted to do was rattle his cage".

It has been rattled. Lets see who is on top of the pile at the end.

[thunderfoot]

You must have been a Tin Can sailor. Airdales dont know about heavy rolls. If the waves were big enough to toss around the Connie, the little guy's would run for the safest port. "Any port in a storm."

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

You must have been a Tin Can sailor. Airdales dont know about heavy rolls. If the waves were big enough to toss around the Connie, the little guy's would run for the safest port. "Any port in a storm."

Tell ya what. I was an airdale on the Fightin' Hannah and there was one time when I was sure we were history. The expansion joints were moving so much I was trying to figure out which of the 3 sections might stay afloat. Sorry to be off topic but some of those seas out there were a bit rough.

[Quality88]

My lil Bro is on the Enterprise. He has talked about some rough seas. Now back to topic. Just to be an a$$ and say it even though it isn't gonna happen... TAKE IT BACK TO THE OLD POINTS SYSTEM! There, now I feel better. Hey bout they have a sack race out of 11th to 15th place to determine the extra drivers that make it into the chase.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Quality88

My lil Bro is on the Enterprise. He has talked about some rough seas. Now back to topic. Just to be an a$$ and say it even though it isn't gonna happen... TAKE IT BACK TO THE OLD POINTS SYSTEM! There, now I feel better. Hey bout they have a sack race out of 11th to 15th place to determine the extra drivers that make it into the chase.

Sounds good but if JJ didn't make the top 10 then Chad would have to do some "Knausing" with the sack.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Sounds good but if JJ didn't make the top 10 then Chad would have to do some "Knausing" with the sack.

True, how true... how do you think he'll do it? Maybe a rubber stitch for some extra bounce?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

Do you think the powers that be might have heard some complaints? You think they might want to rectify that situation? Some one here is not from planet earth. If you want to be in the chase for the championship it needs to be earned, not handed down. :

Oh, I'm sure that many have heard the complaints, and the complaints are many. I've heard, on XM and now Sirius, Brian Z., Mike Helton, Jim Hunter, and Ken Darby all interviewed and take phone calls from fans. These guys take a fair bit of heat, do a lot of tap dancing and usually try to placate each caller with some form of the old, "We'll take it under advisement..." routine. They've heard the complaints. The BIG question is: Have they listened?
Your last sentence pushes one of my main "hot buttons." I'll take the sentence one step further... I think just being IN a race should be earned, not given. I say do away with ALL provisionals.I don't care if you're leading in the points, if you were Cup Champion in 1992, or if you're the fan's most popular driver. If you can't qualify in the fastest 43, then you put it in the trailer, go home and try again next week! I'd rather see them modify the current qualification procedure to give second chances rather than keeping this out-of-date, unfair, preferential piece of thrash they now use to select who starts and who doesn't.

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

I would agree with you on 2 points Bob. The fans have should nothing to do with the winning of the cup. As for a provisional spot for a past champion? WRONG! That makes it too easy for last years champion to "points race" all season long. I would think a driver with a conscious would feel like he cheated to get in the running.:

"Driver with a conscious..." Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray both shook hands with their team owners, signed a contract, then, when they felt that it would benefit them, they bailed out. Kasey Kahne shook hands and had a contract with Ford, but when Everham made him a better offer, he decided that he owed Ford and his BGN team owner nada and he jumped to EMS. Back in 1992 Jeffie-Pooh had a handshake agreement to go to Cup with both Bill Davis and Ford. The Felon made him an offer and <poof!> Bill Davis hears his future went down the tubes on Charlotte's 6:00 news.

Maybe I'm just too "Old school," but I firmly believe that a man is only as good as his word. If a man tells another person that he's going to do something, then he'll do it to the best of his abilities. His promise isn't situational and good only until something better comes along. I have a whole lot of trouble getting a grasp on the fact that, in today's culture, commitment and conscious have become archaic concepts.

Unfortunately several of the better known drivers out there today have become self-serving egomaniacs who, in their "rock star status," have become concerned with only what benefits them, not what necessarily is the right thing to do.

Sorry for the rant, but you just hit another of my "hot buttons."

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

As we used to say in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club, "Kick the tires and light the fires", lets see what comes up.

We'll all just wait and see what this possible tsunami washes up onto the beach. It will be interesting and discussable, I'm quite sure.

IRT another post questioning whether I rode greyhounds: I rode mostly DD's, FF's and cruisers. I did spent ten years on a bird farm one month and can't say that I thought it was the best experience I've had since a night in The 007 Bar, in Subic.

BTW, isn't "Airdale" only one-half of a word? <VBG>