[LSC9901]

I'd be interested to know what the true financial difference, to NASCAR, has been in the past three years with the chase. Prior to that everyone had a chance, so to speak, at the championship. If nothing else they could have moved up into the top 10 (now 12). I don't want to get into a discussion about the chase itself but just wonder what difference, if any, it has meant to the coffers of NASCAR ?

I'm really on the edge of yapping about the chase but I'll wait for a new thread.

[wardfan]

I'm with you LSC. I can't imagine that the TV ratings or attendance is any difference because of the chase. I find it hard to believe that anybody tunes in just because of the chase. Granted alot of people tune into stick & ball sports only during the playoffs, but somehow I don't see that carrying over into NASCAR. I think its just another gimmic being tried that will hopefully go away soon.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Couldn't agree with you more on that. It's absolutely absurd that teams that can't win the Cup are allowed to compete in the Chase.

I think I understand your statement, Chuck but your terminology is a bit confusing. The "Chase" is only twelve drivers. And, in the "Chase," I think that all twelve drivers have, at the very least, a mathematical chance of winning it all. The contrived, manipulated Chase format ensures this "made-for-TV finish.

I believe that you are talking about the season as a whole, IRT rivers "having no chance of winning." Isn't this just the way all sports and businesses are?

Are the Washington Senators going to be a pennant contender each year? Is Junior Johnson's [now legal] Moonshine going to outsell Seagrams this year, or next? Is Lamborghini going to outsell Toyota, in total sales, in the foreseeable future?

Try as it may (and it is trying at a horrific pace) NASCAR has not been able to totally eradicate the fact that many people are involved in the team levels of NASCAR purely because they enjoy the sport and have the financial resilience to engage in it. These folks just plain enjoy pursuing auto racing ownership as a hobby, and all that they ask for is their small slice of the pie, with the Walter Mitty possibility that sometime the stars may align perfectly and they will have Andy Warhol's "fifteen minutes of fame."

[LSC9901]

I really believe they are trying to cash in on the idea of "The Playoffs" but in no way does it resemble a playoff as in the other major sports and I'm not sure that it could survive in the same format, that being just the 10-12 or whatever number they choose. If they want to hype the last 5 or so races as a playoff but include all 43 teams I might agree with that but not the way it is.

I guess once again we have wandered away from the original topic

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I think I understand your statement, Chuck but your terminology is a bit confusing. The "Chase" is only twelve drivers. And, in the "Chase," I think that all twelve drivers have, at the very least, a mathematical chance of winning it all. The contrived, manipulated Chase format ensures this "made-for-TV finish.

The Chase is the name for the final set of races, the "playoffs" if you will, correct? What I'm saying is that anyone who's been eliminated from contention for the Cup (i.e. not in the top 12) by that point should be done for the season. If you're going to do a playoff, do it right. Does that clear up what I'm saying a little bit?

[LSC9901]

I understand what you are/were saying but to send 33 plus teams home after a 26 race season isn't what I want to see. I'd rather they just run 36 races and crown a champion. Last year Tony was blocked from entering the top 10 in points due to the chase. Had they been using the old system he would have been rewarded with a top 10 in the points standing at the end. Naturally there is some discussion over that theory. Had he been in the top 10 at the beginning of the chase he may not have run all out to get the wins. At that point in the season he had nothing to lose by going for the wins.